The All Creatures Podcast

Chris sits down with Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS (US), to explore the organization’s frontline conservation and rescue work in India, with a special focus on Asian elephants. With only 35,000–40,000 Asian elephants remaining worldwide — and India home to roughly 60% of them — the species has declined significantly due to habitat loss, expanding infrastructure, and human-elephant conflict. Nikki shares how Wildlife SOS moved from ending India’s dancing bear practice to rescuing captive and wild elephants, supporting anti-poaching efforts, and protecting species from sloth bears to star tortoises. The episode highlights innovative solutions such as community WhatsApp alert systems and emerging AI tools to reduce train collisions, while also addressing the emotional realities of trauma in rescued elephants. The mission is clear: end elephant exploitation, reduce preventable deaths, and empower people everywhere to protect wildlife — starting with refusing elephant rides and supporting ethica