Redefining Patriotism For India
The web of life holds strong only when every species is safe and healthy. Many humans seem to be testing the strength of this complex web, but there are some individuals who quietly strengthen every node. As though their life depended on it, they spend virtually every waking moment protecting the natural world through strategies, programmes, studies, communication, and even physical interventions! The Sanctuary Wildlife Service Awards 2025 honours eight guardians of the wild who bring home the realisation that environmental protection is patriotism in action. Such women and men lead us to safer, more secure lives on planet Earth, our only home.
Through unwavering perseverance and community-driven action, Dr. Rajendra Singh, widely known as the ‘Waterman of India’, has revived more than 14 once-dry rivers, restoring ecosystems and renewing the lives and livelihoods of the communities that depend on them. Photo Courtesy: Tarun Bharat Sangh.
Over several decades, the Lifetime Awardee has consistently worked to protect natural ecosystems. Their ability to drive change at the local, national and global level is making the planet a better place for human as well as non-human animals. They inspire and bring millions together, shift minds in the community and among decision-makers, and carve a path for a sustainable future.
Dr. Rajendra Singh
River rejuvenator, water conservationist, changemaker
Just as the term ‘Herculean effort’ is inspired by the mighty Greek hero Hercules to describe an extraordinary feat, Indian languages have their own equivalent – ‘Bhagiratha Prayatna’. This phrase honours the mythological King Bhagiratha, whose relentless devotion brought the sacred Ganga river down from the heavens to flow on Earth. Today, while the Ganga struggles under the weight of pollution and neglect, a real-life Bhagiratha walks among us – Dr. Rajendra Singh, the ‘Waterman of India’. Through sheer perseverance and grassroots action, he has not revived just one, but over 23 rivers that had run dry, thus breathing life back into the Earth and its dependent communities. His work is living testament to what true, modern-day Bhagiratha Prayatna looks like.
Dr. Rajendra Singh, born on August 6, 1959, in Doula village of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, has dedicated his life to restoring harmony between people and nature. Armed with degrees in Ayurveda and Hindi literature, he chose a path of service, one that would transform parched lands and forgotten villages into thriving ecosystems of hope. As the founder and president of Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), a grassroots organisation he established in 1975, Dr. Singh has inspired generations to reclaim their natural heritage. From its headquarters near the Bhikampura-Kishori village, on the edge of Rajasthan’s Sariska Tiger Reserve, TBS has grown into a beacon of community-led water conservation across India. For almost five decades, Dr. Singh and his team have worked hand in hand with rural communities to construct over 15,800 johads (traditional crescent-shaped rainwater harvesting structures) that have brought water security to an astounding 2,000 villages. These community-built marvels have revived groundwater, rejuvenated forests, and enlivened once-barren landscapes. What were once drought-stricken, desolate regions now flow with water and renewed purpose. In the last 50 years, TBS has worked on more than 10,600 sq. km. to ensure climate change adaptation and mitigation. Through Rajendra Singh’s unwavering vision and the collective spirit of the people, Tarun Bharat Sangh has not merely brought rivers and ecosystems back to life, but restored dignity, prosperity, and faith in the power of human resolve.
In 2023, Dr. Rajendra Singh assumed a global leadership role as Chair of the newly established People’s World Commission on Drought and Flood. Under his guidance, the Commission launched over 500 international programmes addressing the escalating crises of droughts and floods that endanger both rural livelihoods and urban resilience worldwide. And Dr. Singh’s impact extends far beyond advocacy. Known for his moral courage and being a steadfast voice for the environment, he has consistently stood against actions harmful to nature. Alongside the late Professor G.D. Agarwal, TBS’s Vice President, Dr. Singh played a pivotal role in a landmark environmental movement. When hydroelectric dam projects Loharinag Pala, Pala Maneri, and Bhaironghati were being built along the Bhagirathi river, a vital headstream of the Ganga, the duo recognised the irreversible harm these projects would cause to the river’s natural flow and sacred ecology. Together, they led a determined campaign that ultimately achieved an unprecedented victory: for the first time in India’s history, both the Central and State Governments formally acknowledged the need to preserve the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga.
A firm believer in traditional water wisdom, Dr. Rajendra Singh champions the revival of ancient practices, the restoration of groundwater, and above all, the empowerment of communities to take charge of their own natural resources. Photo Courtesy: Tarun Bharat Sangh.
Dr. Rajendra Singh has taken his mission far beyond the borders of India, inspiring a global movement for water conservation and ecological responsibility. In April 2015, he launched the Water Ethics, Justice and World Peace Tour – a powerful international campaign aimed at uniting communities around the shared challenge of water scarcity. The journey spanned continents, ultimately reaching over 60 countries across Africa, Central and West Asia, and Europe. At the heart of this initiative were human stories of individuals and families forced to flee their homes because of drought, water shortages, and environmental collapse, as water refugees in search of survival. This remarkable tour remains one of the only to-scale efforts of its kind in the world today.
A firm believer in the wisdom of traditional water conservation methods, Dr. Singh champions the revival of ancient practices, restoration of groundwater levels, and, above all, the empowerment of communities to take charge of their own local natural resources. For him, the future of sustainable water management lies not just in policy, but in the knowledge, participation, and stewardship of communities. Understandably, numerous prestigious honours have come his way, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2001 and the Stockholm Water Prize in 2015, often referred to as the ‘Nobel Prize for Water’.
By dedicating his life as a passionate spokesperson and tireless guardian of India’s rivers, educating the world about the importance of water in an era of climate crisis, and for enhancing the water security of thousands of villages, he has set a global example, and has left a lasting mark on India’s conservation legacy. For this we honour Dr. Rajendra Singh with the Sanctuary Lifetime Service Award, 2025.
The Sanctuary Wildlife Service Awards
Researchers, frontline defenders, forest officials, communicators, inspired wildlifers, and others who dedicate their lives to protecting the biosphere are our Wildlife Heroes. There are so many brilliant individuals who live for the wild, with compassion, determination and courage, from among whom we chose these five individuals. They are an inspiration!
Parveen Shaikh
Avian ecologist and conservation biologist
Parveen Shaikh combines rigorous science with community engagement, training local residents to protect and monitor nests, record data, and safeguard Indian Skimmer eggs and chicks from potential threats. Photo Courtesy: Parveen Shaikh.
With its little belly, the Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis made a depression in the sand bar by the flowing Chambal to lay its eggs. Little did it know that a lot had changed with the river – higher water needs, dams, sand mining, and lift irrigation, to name a few, which could threaten its future.
But not with Parveen Shaikh, a conservation scientist par excellence, assuming responsibility! On the shifting sandbars of the Chambal river, Shaikh has been leading a remarkable conservation story for the Indian Skimmer since 2012. She and her team have made steady progress to save the bird through research and communication skills that have roped in considerable support from the local community, the Forest Department, and even from religious leaders! With over a decade of experience in avian ecology and species conservation, her pioneering work combines rigorous ecological monitoring with strong community engagement, particularly along major river systems such as the Chambal and Mahanadi.
Currently a Scientist with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Shaikh is also the founder and coordinator of the Indian Skimmer Count – a citizen science initiative that has mobilised birdwatchers across the species’ range since 2020. She has played a key role in compiling national species status reports under the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan, and continues to contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, and stakeholder training programmes. Her work includes developing long-term nest monitoring protocols, conducting bird ringing and banding to study the migratory movements of skimmers, and formulating species-specific national conservation action plans.
Shaikh’s journey with Indian Skimmers, she says, was born of curiosity. A Mumbai resident, she first travelled to the Chambal when little was known about the species – only that they nested along the riverbanks. The Chambal, home to a significant portion of the global Indian Skimmer population, is a crucial breeding habitat. Early in her research, Shaikh observed that eggs and chicks were heavily predated by free-ranging dogs and jackals, leaving barely any of the three or four chicks per nest alive or capable of flight. Alarmed, she and her team set out to protect the vulnerable colonies, ultimately developing the Nest Guardian Programme.
All her conservation efforts blend rigorous science with community participation. Local residents are trained and employed to guard and monitor nests, record data, and intervene when eggs or chicks are at risk – from predators or wandering cattle. For many participants, this is the first time they have seen themselves as stewards of the river rather than mere users of its resources. “When communities become guardians,” Shaikh notes, “conservation stops being an outsider’s job.” The results speak for themselves: in 2024, the number of nesting birds rose to over 800, from about 400 in 2017. Overall nest survival in the National Chambal Sanctuary improved too, from under 15 per cent to over 25 per cent.
The programme’s impact now extends beyond skimmers, benefiting other species that nest on the same sandbars. This includes the endangered Black-bellied Tern, Little Tern, River Tern, Small Pratincole, and even riverine turtles.
Photo Courtesy: Parveen Shaikh.
Shaikh acknowledges that her journey has been supported by many hands – her teachers, mentors like Dr. Asad Rahmani (former BNHS Director) and his successors, colleagues and friends such as Delip K. Das (Bisharga), plus grant agencies including the Conservation Leadership Programme and BirdLife International. “This would not have been possible without my husband’s and parents’ constant support,” she adds. Securing funding for a species that was not yet endangered was a formidable challenge, but Shaikh often jokes that she owes a debt of gratitude to the dacoits of Chambal whose presence, in an unexpected way, helped protect the river and its biodiversity. Undeterred by the region’s notoriety, she continued her fearless forays into skimmer conservation.
The Forest Departments of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan proved immensely supportive, providing full on-ground assistance given the challenges of being a woman researcher working in difficult terrain. She also received help from Harigir Maharaj, a local religious leader who used his influence to temporarily halt sand mining on a sandbar until the chicks had fledged. He even conducted a puja for the success of the nests.
Shaikh holds a master’s degree in Environmental Science, and was placed first in her university when she graduated. Since then she has received several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Graeme Gibson Fellowship (BirdLife International, 2023–24), the Conservation Leadership Programme’s Future Conservationist and Continuation Awards (2016, 2021), and the Ravi Sankaran Fellowship (Inlaks, 2018).
A passionate advocate for inclusive and science-based conservation, Parveen Shaikh is a true guardian of the Indian Skimmer and its Chambal habitat. She continues to bridge the gap between field research and policy through collaboration, training, and public outreach. For this, we honour Parveen Shaikh with a Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award, 2025.
Babban
Forest and wildlife guardian, biophiliac
Dressed in the tan uniform of the Forest Department, Babban keeps a vigilant watch for poachers, protects the forest from fires, and responds dedicatedly to negative human-animal interactions. Photo Courtesy: Neel Soni.
Babban walks with authority and ease in the forests of Uttarakhand. This is their home, their safe space. A forest guard in the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, they are prepared to fight for the wilderness and all its inhabitants, for they are a part of each other. Babban’s relentless efforts, often in the face of life-threatening moments, to protect the natural heritage of India make them a beacon of hope.
Corbett’s wild landscape has been Babban’s backyard. Born in the Kalagarh range of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, Babban’s father was a forest guard and on his untimely death, following tradition, Babban was offered a job as a forest guard in the Uttarakhand Forest Department at the young age of 18 years. “When I am in the forest, I am happy. This wind, this jungle, these valleys, they teach me. They talk to me,” says 40-year-old Babban, who assiduously looks after the forest, chasing down poachers, putting out forest fires, and tracking injured animals, just a few of the many dangerous responsibilities that forest guards across India bravely and uncomplainingly undertake.
“The forest saved my life,” says Babban. “The birds and animals here have showered me with even more love than my family and friends have given. The forest – its biodiversity, the undulating terrain, the streams born from the land – healed Babban, bringing them hope. They are a personification of the biophilia hypothesis – that humans hold an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and all forms of life.
Dressed in the tan uniform of the Forest Department, Babban keeps a sharp eye on poachers, protecting the forest from fires and dealing with human-animal interactions. Additionally, maintaining waterholes with the help of workers, or patrolling on foot at all hours of the day or night, involves chance encounters with carnivores, or elephants.
Little understood are the mental health issues that someone in Babban’s position has to cope with: “When I go to the jungle, I feel very happy when I see a herd of wild elephants with its calves, I feel like I have found my family. Look at their affection, how much love they show their young ones. When we go on patrolling tours, sometimes when we come face to face with them, the elephants immediately form a circle around the calves to protect them.”
Babban now wants their story told before the world, a wish that has been translated into reality by 23-year-old Neel Soni’s sensitive documentary ‘Babli By Night’. Soni, who spent four years making the film, says, “Baban transforms into a woman at night, stepping into this alter ego called Babli. So, it’s Babban by day, and Babli – sometimes Bobby – by night, depending on which identity feels strongest at the moment.”
“I want to spend my life happily in the jungle, so that I can die in peace,” Baban says with quiet clarity, fighting for happiness and living life the way it should be lived, transcending gender and beyond. A fight for identity in the life-giving forest, and defending the forest that is home.
Babban is a pillar for the future of our biodiversity, as well as our food and water security. Their commitment to the sanctity of the forest and all its biodiversity, and the courage and strength they embody as a frontline protector of nature, is truly inspirational. For this we honour Babban with a Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award, 2025.
Siddharth Agarwal
Environmental trailblazer, innovator, advocate for climate action
Over the past seven years, Siddharth Agarwal has walked more than 6,000 km. along and across the rivers of India. He has designed and led all of Veditum’s projects since its inception, and he also serves on the steering committee of the India Rivers Forum. Photo Courtesy: Siddharth Agarwal.
In 2016, Siddharth Agarwal, a young IIT graduate in Aerospace Engineering, set out on a 3,000-km. walk along the Ganga, beginning at its delta in Sagar Island, West Bengal, and ending at its source in Gangotri, Uttarakhand. He undertook this extraordinary journey to understand the condition of the river that sustains millions of lives, while observing the people whose lives are intertwined with its flow. Before this, he had cycled across India and walked across Rajasthan to explore India’s social and cultural realities. These journeys, he says, exposed him to the everyday struggles faced by communities at the grassroots, ultimately inspiring him to embark on his long walk along the Ganga.
The Ganga Walk sought to draw public attention to the growing disconnect between people and the natural world to remind us of the river as a living entity. “While more and more young people venture into the wilderness for treks and adventure, many remain unaware of the disastrous environmental policies and projects being implemented,” says Siddharth. He documented his six-month journey in the film ‘Moving Upstream: Ganga’, part of the Moving Upstream Project by the Veditum India Foundation, which he founded. The walk, from June 2016 to April 2017, explored the act of walking, people’s reactions to a slow traveller in a fast-paced era, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The film amplified the voices and concerns of riparian communities – a deeply underrepresented segment of Indian society.
Siddharth did not stop here, nor did his mission. In the next seven years, he walked over 6,000 km. across India, tracing rivers and their tributaries, listening to the stories of those who live by them, and engaging in countless conversations along the way.
Since founding Veditum, Siddharth has designed and led all of the organisation’s projects. Based in Kolkata, it is a not-for-profit research, media, and action-oriented organisation working at the intersection of environmental and social justice. Its current focus lies in India’s river ecosystems and freshwater resources, and the communities, biodiversity, and governance systems that depend on them. When Veditum was founded, its purpose was to learn, to prepare for meaningful action through observation and documentation. Today, those years of walking and learning along India’s rivers have matured into impactful partnerships, well-attended events, and strong collaborative networks that bring together researchers, activists, and policymakers.
Photo Courtesy: Siddharth Agarwal.
Veditum’s long-term vision, Siddharth explains, is to influence how environmental governance takes place in India. Its specific focus, shaped by nearly a decade of walking, lies in protecting India’s river ecosystems. “There are many people working on restoration, with the belief that it will lead to conservation. But I think there’s an equally important role for organisations like Veditum, which prioritise non-destruction as a pathway to conservation,” Siddharth says. “We do this by building accountability in our systems, capacity for collective action, and leadership for the future.”
Years of walking along India’s rivers also brought Siddharth face-to-face with a growing crisis: unsustainable sand mining. What began as scattered observations – mounds of sand, earthmovers gouging riverbeds, trucks hauling away heavy loads – soon revealed a far larger pattern of ecological destruction. Rampant, often illegal sand mining was damaging river ecosystems, displacing communities, and even altering the rivers’ natural courses.
This concern led to the creation of India Sand Watch in August 2023, an open, public-facing platform dedicated to tracking and exposing unsustainable sand mining across the country. The project combines storytelling, citizen observations, and machine learning to build transparent, accessible datasets that empower journalists, researchers, policymakers, and grassroots organisations. At its heart lies a living archive of articles, surveys, guidelines, tenders, and legal documents, all aimed at holding extractive industries accountable and safeguarding India’s rivers from silent, granular destruction.
Today, Siddharth continues his journey across India’s diverse landscapes, connecting communities through the message of water, sand, and environmental justice. With every step, he inspires others to join in building a more equitable and sustainable future. What began years ago with a single step has grown into a powerful movement – one that flows, like the rivers he walks beside, toward renewal and resilience.
By walking new paths with purpose, stitching rivers, sand, and people into a powerful story of resilience, and standing at the frontlines of climate action with quiet resolve, Siddharth Agarwal has shown that he is a true earth warrior. For this we honour Siddharth Agarwal with a Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award, 2025.
Dr. Sonali Ghosh
Wildlife innovator, administrator, academic
With more than two decades of service in the Indian Forest Service, Dr. Sonali Ghosh has earned a reputation as a skilled and forward-thinking steward of India’s wildernesses. Photo Courtesy: Dr. Sonali Ghosh.
The floodwaters were receding, but another wave was certain. For Dr. Sonali Ghosh, the first priority was to ensure safe passage for the wild animals of Kaziranga. The second was the welfare of the forest staff stationed across more than 200 anti-poaching camps within the tiger reserve – teams who live there year-round, often cut off from road connectivity during the monsoon.
Floods are a regular occurrence in Kaziranga, but Dr. Ghosh’s presence was historic. In 2023, as the floods unfolded, she became the first woman Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam. Her appointment marked a new chapter for women in conservation leadership, even as she remained acutely aware of the magnitude of her responsibility and the time it takes for meaningful change to take root. For Dr. Ghosh, serving in the famed national park was also a personal homecoming. She had begun her career here in 2002 as a young trainee officer.
With over two decades in the Indian Forest Service (IFS), Dr. Ghosh has earned a reputation as a skilled and visionary administrator of India’s wildernesses. When informed of the Sanctuary Award decision, she was quick to add a modest disclaimer: “I am accepting this award on behalf of the entire Kaziranga team.”
Dr. Ghosh has made it a habit to set the bar high. On October 10, 2025, she became the first Indian to receive the Kenton R. Miller Award for Innovation in National Parks and Protected Area Sustainability, conferred by the International Union for Conservation of Nature – World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). She was recognised for her pioneering approach to Protected Area governance that critically examines the colonial origins of conservation while affirming the rights and roles of Indigenous and local communities in safeguarding biodiversity.
The daughter of an Army officer, Dr. Ghosh grew up across India, nurturing a lifelong love for the outdoors. Her formative years in Dehradun, often called the ‘Mecca of Forestry’, played a defining role in shaping her career choice. Surrounded by the Forest Research Institute, the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in nearby Mussoorie, she was inspired to pursue forestry as a profession. With a Master’s degree in Forestry and Wildlife Science, she chose to dedicate her career to working for nature, from within the system.
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Sonali Ghosh.
Her early postings took her to the Kaziranga National Park as an Assistant Conservator of Forests, followed by a stint at the Assam State Zoo Division. She was later posted at the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, where she worked on the conservation of the endangered golden langur. Before returning to Kaziranga as Field Director, Dr. Ghosh served as Chief Conservator of Forests (Research, Education, and Working Plan Division) at the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Guwahati. She also played a vital role in the revival of Manas National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During her field tenure in Kokrajhar, she oversaw the first successful rehabilitation of captive-bred clouded leopard cubs into the wild – a landmark achievement in wildlife conservation. In 2013, she received the WWF-PATA Bagh Mitra Award and the King’s College Marsh Marjan Award for her courageous work in areas affected by armed conflict.
After 15 years in the field, Dr. Ghosh returned to the Wildlife Institute of India as a scientist, where her research focused on ex-situ conservation, Protected Area governance, and nature-culture linkages in heritage conservation. She co-edited two books: Cultural Landscapes of Asia and Wild Treasures: Reflections on Natural Heritage in Asia. In 2017, she was appointed Director, Swachh Bharat Mission, by the Government of India. During the COVID-19 years, she served with the Central Zoo Authority, with additional charges for the National Zoo in Delhi and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, for a smooth post-pandemic transition for over 150 zoos and rescue centres.
Dr. Ghosh holds a degree in Systems Management, an M.Sc. in Wildlife Conservation and Forestry, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Law from the National Law School of India University. She earned a Ph.D. in Physical Geography from the United Kingdom under a Commonwealth Scholarship, focusing on tiger habitat suitability in the Indo-Bhutan Manas landscape.
From managing floods and wildlife in Kaziranga to reshaping conservation governance at a global level, Dr. Ghosh’s journey stands as a testament to courage, innovation, and dedication to India’s natural heritage.
By her exceptional leadership in safeguarding India’s wildlife, Dr. Sonali Ghosh has created new avenues for women in conservation. She has shown that a forest official can be pragmatic yet compassionate. For this we honour Dr. Sonali Ghosh with a Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award, 2025.
Saroj Kumar Panda
Forest Department official, leader, conservationist
Saroj Kumar Panda patrols the forest with his team. Under his steady leadership, the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha, has made remarkable progress. According to the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Satkosia rose from the ‘Fair’ category in 2014 to ‘Very Good’ in 2022. Photo Courtesy: Saroj Kumar Panda.
Project Tiger, launched in 1973 with the identification of nine key tiger strongholds, marked the beginning of one of India’s most ambitious conservation journeys. Since then, it has expanded to include 58 tiger reserves across the country. With the return of the tiger to many forests, these landscapes have witnessed a revival not only of the big cat but of entire ecosystems teeming with flora and fauna. This resurgence, much like the tiger’s own recovery, has been made possible by individuals who consistently place the wellbeing of the biosphere above all else. One such dedicated guardian is Saroj Kumar Panda, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Satkosia Wildlife Division, Odisha Forest Department.
Though his early academic interests leaned toward mathematics, it was the wild world surrounding his home in Odisha that shaped young Panda’s curiosity and passion for nature. His connection with wildlife grew not from textbooks but through countless moments spent observing the natural world first-hand. That early fascination eventually led him to study wildlife and later explore it through the lens of his father’s Pentax SLR camera, marking the start of his journey into wildlife photography.
With over 30 years of service in the Odisha Forest Department, Panda has served in several key postings – as Range Forest Officer in Badrama, Khalasuni, and Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuaries; later as the Assistant Conservator of Forests at the Satkosia Tiger Reserve; and, since 2021, as Deputy Conservator of Forests for the Satkosia Wildlife Division. From his early fieldwork to his current leadership role, Panda has steadily risen through the ranks through dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife.
One of the most testing moments in his tenure came early on, during the capture and relocation of a tigress named Sundari. Introduced to Satkosia as part of a tiger reintroduction programme, Sundari soon became the centre of escalating conflict between local communities and forest officials. The operation to capture her demanded exceptional caution, logistical precision, and courage. Panda led this high-stakes mission under intense public scrutiny and local resistance. Looking back, he recalls the tension and close encounters of those days vividly, experiences he says that still send shivers down his spine.
Under Panda’s steady leadership, the Satkosia Tiger Reserve has made remarkable strides in recovery. According to the Management Effectiveness Evaluation by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Satkosia rose from the ‘Fair’ category in 2014 to ‘Very Good’ in 2022, a testament to his vision and perseverance.
Photo Courtesy: Saroj Kumar Panda.
But Panda’s care extends beyond tigers. His compassion for all living creatures has guided numerous conservation successes. He is an active member of the Chadhei Club, which promotes sparrow conservation, and has played a pivotal role in the revival of the endangered gharial in Satkosia. This year, 29 gharial hatchlings were discovered on a sandbar in the Mahanadi Gorge. The Satkosia Gorge, situated within the tiger reserve, was declared a Ramsar Site in 2021, recognising it as a Wetland of International Importance.
Beyond the gharial, Panda has been deeply involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of a range of species across Odisha, including leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and others, often stepping in personally during high-conflict or dangerous situations. His hands-on approach has earned him the trust of both his colleagues and the communities he serves.
Thanks to his consistent efforts, herbivore populations in Satkosia have rebounded, signalling a healthier, more balanced ecosystem. Community engagement initiatives and sustainable livelihood programmes have reduced human-wildlife conflict, while stringent anti-poaching enforcement coupled with local participation has helped curb illegal activities. These collective measures have now paved the way for the translocation of 16 tigers to Satkosia in a phased programme – a new chapter in its ecological recovery.
Beyond the borders of Satkosia, Panda continues to collaborate with NGOs to strengthen conservation work across western Odisha. As a photographer, he captures the spirit of the forests he protects, using imagery to inspire empathy and awareness.
The future he envisions is one where humans and wildlife coexist in harmony. In Panda, we see not only a fierce guardian of the tiger but also a restorer of its home, a protector of all that wild India stands for.
Saroj Kumar Panda has consistently met challenges with courage, protected India’s wild heritage with deep commitment, and breathed life back into ecosystems through meaningful action. He is a true guardian of the wild. For this we honour Saroj Kumar Panda with a Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award, 2025.
Sanctuary’s Young Naturalist Award
A young person driven by their love for nature, someone who takes proactive steps to protect and conserve the wild. This person sets the bar for commitment to the planet, and pours energy into building a sustainable future where they and their dear wildlife can be healthy.
A young person driven by their love for nature, someone who takes proactive steps to protect and conserve the wild. This person sets the bar for commitment to the planet, and pours energy into building a sustainable future where they and their dear wildlife can be healthy.
Sahil Bhisso Gaonkar
Wildlife rescuer, naturalist, emerging voice
At just 19, Sahil Bhisso Gaonkar’s love for wildlife runs deep, rooted in the curiosity and affection that began in his school days. For him, protecting snakes and other wildlife is also about safeguarding the environment for generations to come. Photo Courtesy: Sahil Bhisoo Gaonkar.
Be it in the ever-growing metropolises of our country, the small towns that still hold pockets of green, or the villages that continue to coexist with non-human life – wildlife persists. It survives in the shadows, in quiet corners, often unnoticed. A snake slithering into a neighbourhood, a bird trapped in a net, a civet fallen into a well… such moments happen everywhere, prompting ordinary people to seek help. The name of such help is wildlife rescuers – a quiet, steadfast force of individuals who act not for recognition or reward, but out of compassion, instinct, and a belief in a kinder world where humans and wildlife can coexist. Sahil Bhisso Gaonkar is one such rescuer. His work, a reflection of empathy and hope in action.
At just 19 years old, Sahil’s connection with wildlife runs deep, rooted in the curiosity and affection that began in his school days. His passion for the natural world was first sparked by his teacher Devendra Tawadkar, at Tudal High School in South Goa. What began as classroom curiosity soon grew into a lifelong commitment to protecting the creatures he once only read about.
By the time Sahil was in Class 8, he had already begun rescuing non-venomous snakes, small animals, and birds displaying an impressive ability to identify species at such a young age. His journey took a defining turn when he met Harish Chodankar, a seasoned wildlife rescuer with the Canacona Forest Department. Watching Harish at work, Sahil not only learned the techniques of safely handling snakes but also gained a deeper understanding of their behaviour and importance in the ecosystem. Under Harish’s mentorship, Sahil’s confidence and skills grew as did his commitment to the cause.
He went on to receive formal training from two leading NGOs – Animal Rescue Squad (ARS) in Dicholim and Study Awareness of Wildlife and Environment (SAWE) in Ponda. These experiences sharpened his knowledge and refined his techniques, preparing him to handle a range of rescue operations with professionalism and care.
In September 2024, Sahil joined the Canacona Territorial Forest Department as a wildlife rescuer. Since then, he has been on call across the region, responding to emergencies with calm instinct and quiet courage. In just one year, he has rescued around 400 snakes, along with several birds, palm civets, and monitor lizards, ensuring their safe release back into their natural habitats.
His first rescue was a Whitaker’s boa that had fallen from a rooftop while hunting rats. Among his most challenging rescues was an Indian cobra whose jaw was trapped in a net, a heart-wrenching sight that left a lasting impression on him. These experiences deepened Sahil’s understanding that rescue work is only one part of the mission; the other is awareness. He often speaks to people about the vital role these animals play in maintaining ecological balance and why their presence matters.
Despite the risks involved, Sahil’s love for nature keeps him going. For him, saving snakes and other wildlife is also about protecting the environment not just for today, but for generations to come. Supported by his proud family, he continues to respond to every call with humility and courage.
In young rescuers like Sahil, there lies a quiet reassurance that compassion is not extinct, that hope still breathes through every act of rescue. They are the bridge between humans and the wild, showing us that coexistence is not just possible, it is essential.
Sahil Bhisso Gaonkar has shown exemplary bravery and compassion at a young age in saving wild animals. His curiosity about the wonders of nature has inspired many like himself to become future environmental stewards. For this we honour Sahil Bhisso Gaonkar with a Sanctuary Young Naturalist Award, 2025.
Green Teacher Award
A passionate educator who has the skills of a teacher and the wisdom of a conservationist, and who inspires people to become one with nature by converting their learnings into action.
Venkatesh Charloo
Scuba diving instructor, teacher, ocean ambassador
Venkatesh Charloo, diver and conservationist, has spent a lifetime inspiring a love for the ocean. Over 30 years, he has trained nearly 2,000 divers, from first-time students to assistant instructors. Photo Courtesy: Vekatesh Charloo.
Deftly and methodically, Venkat tightens a cable tie to secure a coral tile to the metal frame, breathing gently through his mouth, a skill honed over decades. Practice for breathing? Yes. He is underwater, a full tank of air strapped to his back, assembling a coral bed for transplantation. Around him are his teammates, many of whom he personally trained.
Venkatesh Charloo is a diver and conservationist whose lifelong passion for the ocean has inspired thousands to share his sense of wonder. Over the last 30 years, he has trained nearly 2,000 divers – from first-time Discover Scuba students to Assistant Instructors.
But being underwater also awakened in Charloo a deep concern for the state of marine life. One day, while diving, he spotted an angelfish trapped in an abandoned fishing net. He freed it and held it gently until it recovered. “It just rubbed itself against my hand as if to say thank you,” Charloo recalls. That moment brought home the harsh reality of what was happening beneath the surface, and the urgent need to protect ocean life.
In 2009, he founded Coastal Impact, a not-for-profit organisation that goes beyond awareness and research into the broader realms of education and marine conservation. Its mission is to study, protect, and restore marine ecosystems. Through hundreds of presentations and sessions with local schools, particularly for underprivileged children, Charloo has taught nearly 3,000 students about the importance of conserving our oceans. His vision is simple yet powerful: he wants every one of us to become an Ocean Ambassador. His classroom, after all, extends far beyond walls into the vast, living classroom of the sea.
Before he became a conservationist, Charloo was part of the urban race. Between 1984 and 1994, he worked as a banker in Hong Kong. But his heart remained with the ocean. In 1994, he became a PADI Instructor, leaving the corporate world a year later to dive full time. He joined Barracuda Diving India in Goa as a freelance instructor, became a partner in 1996, and took over as sole proprietor in 1997. Barracuda became the first PADI and SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre in the Indian subcontinent – now over 23 years strong. Today, Charloo is regarded as one of India’s most experienced and respected scuba instructors.
“I was a banker earlier,” he smiles, “but in some ways, I still am – only now, I protect a much greater wealth: marine biodiversity and the environment.” True to his word, he has organised underwater and beach clean-ups every year since 1998 at St. George Island in Goa, often leading teams of up to 65 volunteers.
As a tireless Ocean Ambassador, Charloo has led by example, championing the restoration and rewilding of India’s coral reefs to ensure a climate-resilient future. He believes that simply being in the ocean sparks curiosity. Divers start asking questions, and learning begins naturally. When they realise that the oceans produce the majority of the Earth’s oxygen, it inspires them to act. This belief led to Coastal Impact’s ‘Adopt a Coral’ programme, which has successfully completed pilot projects for coral transplantation and artificial reef creation in Goa.
Now 63 years old and still as energetic as ever, Charloo has logged more than 8,500 dives across Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Red Sea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Palau, Timor Leste, and India, including the Andaman and Laccadive Islands, Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa. Over the years, he has received numerous PADI and SSI awards for excellence in training and customer service, and in 2022, was recognised as one of National Geographic Channel’s Changemakers in India.
He has also participated in underwater research and surveys for the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, the National Institute of Oceanography, the Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF-India, and several other NGOs, working in regions including Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Angria Banks, and the Lakshadweep Islands.
Three decades, thousands of dives, and countless lives inspired – Venkatesh Charloo’s journey is proof that one person’s passion for the ocean can ripple outward into a movement for change.
Venkatesh Charloo’s expertise in popularising scuba diving among thousands and his persistent vigil for the oceans as an instructor and innovator, has helped people fall in love with marine wonderlands. For this we honour Venkatesh Charloo with a Sanctuary Green Teacher Award, 2025.
