By Monica Verma | Manager
Every life saved is a victory for wildlife conservation — and thanks to your generous support to our "Help rescue wild animals and birds in India" appeal on GlobalGiving, two such victories were made possible. This report brings you two incredible rescue stories — one from the snowy valleys of Arunachal Pradesh and the other from the coastal waters of Odisha — that remind us of the power of swift action, community involvement, and your invaluable contribution.
1) Saving an Endangered Black-necked Crane in Arunachal Pradesh
On March 6, 2025, a male Black-necked Crane — a species classified as vulnerable — was found seriously injured in the remote Chug Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. It was likely attacked by a feral dog. Fortunately, Dr. Anurag Vishwakarma, a researcher working in the region, spotted the bird and immediately alerted local authorities and WTI.
Responding through a Rapid Action Project (RAP), WTI supported the provision of emergency veterinary care on-site the very next day. To prevent further attacks, a temporary enclosure was built with the help of local villagers, who also joined in monitoring the bird.
Due to the severity of its wing injuries, the crane was later moved to a rescue centre in Dirang for advanced care and surgery. Special attention was given to replicating its natural diet and foraging patterns during recovery. The bird is now recuperating in Morshing in a safe enclosure, awaiting the next winter — when its mate is expected to return to Chug Valley. If his recovery continues, he could one day return home and rejoin his partner.
While advanced care usually falls beyond the scope of RAPs, the initial emergency support funded by your donations played a critical role in saving the crane’s life. This intervention also fostered community involvement and created greater awareness about the importance of conserving this rare species.
2) Protecting Odisha’s Living Fossils: Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Awareness
Along Odisha’s Baleswar coast lives an ancient and ecologically vital species — the Horseshoe Crab, often called a "living fossil." These creatures play a critical role in coastal ecosystems and are a vital food source for migratory shorebirds. But they face mounting threats from coastal habitat degradation, entanglement in ghost fishing nets, and a lack of awareness about their protected status.
To address this, WTI launched a RAP in March 2025, supporting a local conservation partner to:
Importantly, the project also focuses on engaging local women and fisherfolk in long-term stewardship of Horseshoe Crab habitats. In just a few months, this initiative has already rescued 215 crabs and reached over 300 local stakeholders, laying the foundation for lasting change through education and community ownership.
Together, We Make These Rescues Possible
These rescues are only possible because of your trust and generosity. Every donation, every share, and every word of encouragement empowers us to act quickly when animals are in urgent need of help — whether in icy mountain valleys or sandy coastal shores.
Thank you for standing by India’s wild residents and the people who protect them.
We look forward to sharing more stories of hope and recovery with you.
With gratitude,
Team WTI
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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