Securing Rewilding Corridors for Odisha Elephants

Dear [First Name],

I am preparing to travel to India for an extraordinary moment—and I wanted you to be among the first to hear about it.

We are about to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for a 52-acre plot of farmland in Odisha, which we have secured as a safe corridor for elephants. This land will reconnect two fragmented forest patches, giving elephants a vital route to migrate freely and safely. Your support has made this possible, and I will not only be witnessing this historic transformation firsthand, but will also be bringing you all the juicy details.

Already, our restoration efforts are bearing fruit. More than 40 elephants, including young calves, have begun returning to this region (images of footprints attached; we never chase/ harrass elephants to gather images or videos). As we expand and nurture the corridor, we expect many more elephants to reclaim their ancestral lands, finding sanctuary in what is becoming a living corridor of hope.

Across Odisha, our work continues on multiple fronts. We have planted over 100,000 elephant-friendly, fruit-bearing saplings across the forest ranges of Pallahara, Balasore, and Susab. Hundreds of Indigenous and tribal community members are employed—especially women—are actively engaged in planting and caring for these young forests, while men have helped create nine permanent waterholes, providing year-round relief for elephants and other wildlife, while also providing these tribal communities with livelihoods and sustenance. These nine oases are already attracting elephants back, offering refuge from the heat and restoring ecological balance.

Traveling from the central Indian state of Odisha to the southern Indian state of Kerala, during the upcoming festival season, I will also be unveiling two life-size robotic elephants in two prominent temples, aiming to replace live captive elephants in cultural parades. This initiative directly challenges the exploitation of elephants (for profit) in the name of culture and religion. No religious scripture—of any faith—calls for animals to suffer to appease the divine. Yet the reality remains grim: in 2025 alone, 20 elephants have died in Kerala. Elephants deserve to roam wild, not remain shackled amid noise, crowds, and terror.

To carry forward the progress we’ve made—and ensure that we can continue to expand these corridors—I make a heartfelt appeal for your ongoing support for this sacred work. Your generosity directly enables the rewilding of habitats and the protection of migration routes essential for elephant survival. If you are inspired to make a monthly donation, CLICK HERE to contribute $25 or $30 or any amount that you can spare. The good news is, it will be matched by GlobalGiving after four months of recurring donations.

Finally, our 2025 Annual Report is now available on our website. It details our projects, donor impact, and financial transparency—including a breakdown showing just over 26% of funds allocated to administration and salaries, ensuring the majority of resources go directly to programs on the ground. CLICK HERE for our 2025 Annual Report.

We could not do this work without the collective power of your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping elephants not merely survive—but, with your continued generosity, truly thrive in the years ahead.

As I prepare for this journey, I carry your generosity and trust with me every step of the way.

With deep gratitude,
Sangita Iyer
Founder & Managing Director
Voices for Asian Elephants

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