We pledge to give back to our planet and the incredible animals that share it with us. In August, we are donating 1% of our revenue to Wildlife SOS, a non-profit devoted to protecting Indian wildlife, rescuing displaced and captive animals, and conducting research to continually improve their conservation and care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their sanctuaries are home to rescued elephants, bears, leopards, and many more species. Crucially, their work with communities that have historically made their living through animal exploitation empowers them to develop alternate livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty that leaves them with no other option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all love elephants – there is something about their gentle demeanor that has always warmed our hearts. In India, the elephant is their cultural symbol. With connections to the Hindu god Ganesh, they are often used in religious ceremonies. In fact, India is home to almost 60% of the world\u2019s Asian elephant population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Asian elephants are classified as endangered by the ICUN red list. They are threatened on every side: habitat loss, poaching, human-elephant conflict, and the trafficking and capture of young elephants for human entertainment. There are less than 22,000 left in the wild, and too many held in captivity by humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elephants are not domesticated (like dogs or horses) and those who use elephants in their work force them to undergo \u201cphajaan\u201d. They are confined to a small space, deprived of food and water, and beaten until they follow commands. Captivity is a lonely life, and elephants regularly experience neglect, illnesses that go untreated, malnourishment, or even systematic abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n