December 8-17, 2024
Discover the magic of India on our inaugural journey to this unforgettable land. Travelers will be enchanted by Indian culture while they witness HSI/India’s life-changing and groundbreaking work for wildlife and street dogs. Your trip will be led by a superb local guide while our expert field staff immerse you in the program work that is a leading force for animal protection.
Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is for informational purposes only. Additional scheduling details will be provided to all registered guests in advance of each trip.
- Day 1: Arrival in Dehradun
- Day 2: Visit to local equine sanctuary
- Day 3: Catch and release street dogs, participate in a spay/neuter clinic and help feed the dogs
- Day 4: Flight from Dehradun to Bangalore
- Day 5: Drive from Bangalore to Coorg
- Day 6: Visit private coffee estate to see work to reduce human-elephant conflict
- Day 7: Snake tracking with world-renowned herpetologists and visit a rural school to paint an educational mural
- Days 8-9: Boat and jeep safaris in the serene Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
- Day 10: Departures out of Bangalore
Street dog program background
HSI/India is a leading force for animal protection, including critical work to protect wildlife and street animals. Street dogs are plentiful in India—some estimates put their population as high as 70 million—and they present a variety of health and safety challenges. Conflicts between humans and street dogs are heightened by people’s perceptions of the dogs and misunderstandings about their behavior. Through spay/neuter and educational campaigns, HSI/India’s programs are changing residents’ hearts and minds while providing essential veterinary care and resources the dogs need. Uttarakhand is the first state where HSI/India is creating a model for street dogs by working in a range of locations and landscapes. In the capital city of Dehradun, over 40,000 dogs have been sterilized since 2017, including over 6,000 animals brought in by community members.
Wildlife program background
HSI/India is also working to address issues affecting both wildlife and humans across the country, including humane conflict mitigation for snakes and elephants in high conflict zones surrounding agricultural communities where resources are limited.
Coffee plantations in the district of Kodagu are enveloped by protected wildlife sanctuaries and portions of the Nagarhole National Park, all host to sizeable elephant populations. Due to changes in cropping patterns over time, an increase in human population, land use and infrastructure development, and evolving socioeconomics of the region, incidents of interaction between elephants and humans have become increasingly negative, even causing 30 human deaths in the last four years. While reactive measures, such as the capture and relocation of elephants in conflict, may appear to address the issue, the resolution lies in fostering an increased tolerance towards the wild animals. HSI/India’s integrated approach aims to enable coexistence between communities and elephants, resulting in no capture, or relocation of elephants over time.
Snakes have also affected communities in India. In fact, the country is the snake bite capital of the world, with research showing 58,000 human deaths every year, and even more cases of life-changing morbidities resulting from bites. In addition to the human toll, snake persecution is a real conservation and welfare issue across India that sees many thousands of snakes needlessly killed every year. Together with local partners, HSI/India uses a unique pilot program that uses radio telemetry to track snakes, distributes of solar lanterns and gum boots to rural communities, and focuses on safety education.
Being part of the team providing essential care for street dogs.
Witnessing our work to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
A safari in the serene Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
Interacting with animals on Humane Journeys
Humane Journeys maintains a responsible and respectful animal-watching program. You will be accompanied by HSI program experts, local guides, trackers and safari drivers into areas where animals are part of this itinerary and we will take necessary precautions to help ensure that our presence does not disturb them.
To reserve your spot or get more information, contact us.
Space is limited to 10 people. Participation is $12,500 for single-occupancy accommodation and $20,000 for double-occupancy accommodation. Proceeds will benefit Humane Society International’s programs in India. Your contribution less $5,500 per person is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Ground transportation, one-way flight from Dehradun to Bangalore, plant-based meals and five-star accommodations are included. International flights, alcohol, gratuities and items of a personal nature are not included.
