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Message from the Founder

Neha Panchamiya

"Grow through what you go through. RESQ was founded in 2007 to provide emergency aid to animals in distress. Since then, the rescue and rehabilitation work of the organisation has provided aid to thousands of animals of over 200+ species, improved public health and safety outcomes and actively worked on preventing human-animal conflict across urban and rural ecosystems.

As I reflect on the 15 years that flew by, and deeply introspect the work RESQ has done, I feel an overwhelming wave pass over me followed by a deep sense of calm. We have evolved and always adapted to the rapidly changing needs of the environment around us. As an annual exercise, whenever I have assessed our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, it has helped me plan - for the animal lives we touch, for the community that surrounds them, and for the RESQ teams who work day and night towards the cause. 

Every time we have embraced change, it has been an outcome of mindful deliberation. Sometimes the changes have been a result of our work successfully filling the gap in the needs of the environment around us, sometimes it has been in response to realisation that our efforts are futile unless reforms in policy and its implementation is pursued with determination. Today, we work on the frontlines, at the grassroots level with animals and the communities that surround them, because I believe we cannot protect or help animals if we cannot influence the sensitization and awareness levels of the people who share their spaces with them.

Maharashtra is home to a diverse population of wild animals, many of whom are key species identified to be globally declining. In 2017, when scores of wild animals began getting affected exponentially in and around western Maharashtra due to rapid development and shifts in agriculture patterns, that's who we went on to help. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation are wildlife management tools that when used effectively can not only help support the efforts toward conservation of biodiversity but also provide the much-needed support to injured, sick, orphan, and trafficked wildlife with the goal of reintroducing them to their natural habitats. 

Using a multidisciplinary approach linking people, animals and the environment, our social impact objectives are powered by a team of 60+ employees. Together, we work towards the organisation’s vision of conservation and coexistence between wildlife, communities and their animals through our response and prevention activities. Annually, the work done by RESQ impacts over 10,000+ animal lives directly by providing emergency animal rescue, medical aid, and rehabilitation care. Additionally, our outreach and education efforts allow us to connect with communities, urban and rural, and we believe our proactive efforts of preventing humans and animals coming into conflict protect thousands of animals in their habitats, in human-dominated landscapes.

Proudly, today RESQ is authorised by the Government of Maharashtra to conduct state-wide wildlife rescue and run a Wildlife Transit Treatment Centre in Pune in association with the Maharashtra Forest Department to provide veterinary aid and rehabilitation for injured, orphaned and trafficked wildlife. To support our theory of change, we dedicatedly conduct community education initiatives and capacity-building programs to raise animal rescue and wildlife management standards, and actively contribute our expertise towards bridging the gaps between public policy and its implementation in India.

Times change, people and situations change, the only thing constant is change… and because change is constant, we also ensure that our ability to evolve with change is constant - to be able to continue to work and make a difference. It's been over 15 years of RESQ helping animals, people and the place we call home - a long and enriching journey so far, but one whose path we relentlessly continue to walk on and from the looks of it, there is no stopping or turning back!"

With joy, love and determination, 

Neha Panchamiya
Founder & President, RESQ

RESQ Vision, Mission and Values

We envision a world where animals and communities peacefully coexist in the environment they call home. Our mission is to reduce animal suffering, human-animal conflict and to raise animal rescue and wildlife management standards by proactive action, building awareness, developing and implementing effective systems to protect animals and their habitats. We embrace, above all, kindness, respect, mindfulness and integrity in all aspects of the work we do towards our mission and vision.

Hands-on!

The problems our world faces are urgent and complicated. To solve them we have to match fresh thinking with bold action. We approach them with positivity, work with local communities, governments, NGOs and institutions and together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. Our team isn't afraid to get hands (or feet!) dirty or braving swift waters in a flood to save an animal. Whether it's rescuing an animal or spending hours at night patrolling, we're out on the frontlines to create better outcomes for animals, for people, and for the place we call home.

Organization Chart

RESQ Organization Chart

RESQ Team

Neha Panchamiya

Neha Panchamiya

Founder & President

Fiyana Elavia

Fiyana Elavia

Trustee (Secretary)

Tuhin Satarkar

Tuhin Satarkar

Director - Wildlife Management

Nachiket Utpat

Nachiket Utpat

Director - Wildlife Conservation

Kiran Rahalkar

Kiran Rahalkar

Director - Conservation Action

Jessica Roberts

Jessica Roberts

Director - Education

Shreyas Dudhgaonkar

Shreyas Dudhgaonkar

Director - Finance & Administration

Pallavi Gowda

Pallavi Gowda

Head - RESQ Centre

Shomit Bhide

Shomit Bhide

Sr. Manager - RESQ Centre

Dr. Chetan Vanjari

Dr. Chetan Vanjari

Director - Veterinary Department

Dr. Kalyani Thakur

Dr. Kalyani Thakur

Sr. Veterinarian

Dr. Nikita Mehta

Dr. Nikita Mehta

Sr. Veterinarian

Dr. Sushrut Shirbhate

Dr. Sushrut Shirbhate

Sr. Veterinarian

Dr. Purva Nimkar

Dr. Purva Nimkar

Veterinarian

Dr. Manohar Nagare

Dr. Manohar Nagare

Veterinarian

Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi

Manager - Communications

Sagar Shinde

Sagar Shinde

Sr. Rehabilitator

Pooja Chavan

Pooja Chavan

Social Media Manager

Sonesh Ingole

Sonesh Ingole

Head - Rescuer

Harshad Nagare

Harshad Nagare

Rescuer

Sayli Pilane

Sayli Pilane

Rescuer

Amit Todkar

Amit Todkar

Rescuer

Aakash Raut

Aakash Raut

Rescuer

Shreenath Chavan

Shreenath Chavan

Rescuer

Naresh Chandak

Naresh Chandak

Rescuer

Aizaz Sheikh

Aizaz Sheikh

Rescuer

Yash Surve

Yash Surve

Rescuer

Jyoti Swami

Jyoti Swami

Rescuer

Vaishnavi Bhangare

Vaishnavi Bhangare

Rescuer

Raju Tayyab Sayyab

Raju Tayyab Sayyab

Rescuer

Shubham Singh

Shubham Singh

Rescuer

Nachiket Awadhani

Nachiket Awadhani

Rescuer

Shreyas Kamble

Shreyas Kamble

Rescuer

Prashant Koulkar

Prashant Koulkar

Rescuer

Rishikesh More

Rishikesh More

Rescuer

Abhijeet Mahale

Abhijeet Mahale

Head (RESQ Nashik Division)

Vaibhav Bhogale

Vaibhav Bhogale

Wildlife Management (Nashik)

Ayush Patil

Ayush Patil

Rescuer

Samarth Mahajan

Samarth Mahajan

Rescuer

Darshan Patil

Darshan Patil

Accounts

Balendra Singh

Balendra Singh

Facility Manager

Amruta Shinde

Amruta Shinde

Office Administrator

Snehal Khaire

Snehal Khaire

Facility Manager

Rohan Sharma

Rohan Sharma

RESQ - USA

Fatima Ghachi

Fatima Ghachi

Office Administrator

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