My learning experience as a part of Round Square Community, during my visit to The Lawrence School Sanawar, was an eye opener for me and my friends.

We had the honour of meeting Mr. Kartik Satyanarayan, a well known wildlife conservationist, who has been tirelessly involved in wildlife conservation, animal welfare and nature protection for over twenty five years.

In 1995, Mr Kartik founded Wildlife SOS, a non-profit organization with Ms Geeta Seshamani, to protect India’s environmental and wildlife resources from unsustainable exploitation. He opened our eyes towards the barbaric practices undertaken by rural communities towards animals like elephants, monkeys, snakes and bears. These communities exploit the freedom of these animals and participate in their illegal trading. Mr. Satyanarayan and his team provided means of  livelihood to the communities previously dependent on such practices.

He elucidated how bears and elephants are captured from the forest, away from their herds and tortured with little or no food and limited supply of drinking water and trained to beg on streets.    Mr. Satyanarayan aims to expand his organization from not just saving elephants and bears but also saving other animals like tigers, monkeys, snakes, street dogs, etc.  Mr. Satyanarayan envisions the coexistence of humans and animals in a happy environment.

By- Aryaman Soni
Class- VII B