Photo : Lakshitha Karunarathna
Sanctuary Asia began its journey one quiet evening in 1980. Sitting around Fateh Singh Rathore’s campfire under the banyan tree outside Jogi Mahal, Ranthambhore, Bittu Sahgal made an impulsive promise to his mentor that on his return to Mumbai he would start a wildlife magazine and galvanise urban Indians in support of the country’s wilds.
The first issue rolled out in October 1981, with no business plan, no editorial experience and no capital. Since then, Sanctuary has been chronicling India’s natural history and shaping conservation discourse without having missed a single issue despite wars, social strife and economic meltdowns. It is published monthly, with every alternate month’s publication dedicated to young readers.
In 2015, the foundation was established to manipulate the magazine’s wide network of conservationists, naturalists, photographers, writers and editors who run the several projects, campaigns and events that thrive under the Sanctuary brand. The foundation’s reach spans policy, advocacy, science, on-ground support for field workers and environmental education.
At the heart of our purpose lies the conviction that the economies of nations sit on a foundation of stable ecosystems. Sanctuary envisions a world with abundant biodiversity, a sustainable climate and an equitable future for one and all.
Read the latest issue.
Marvel at the stars above us with Editor Bittu Sahgal in his opening Commentary; catch a glimpse into how monsoons enliven our forests in our photofeature "Emerging Life"; meet 10 rare endemic species in India found nowhere else in the world in our cover story "Their Only Home"; read about Pilibhit's "sugarcane tigers"; travel to Arunachal Pradesh and observe rare White-bellied Herons and meet Pakke's frontline heroes; and much more!
Encouraged by the support it received, three years after the first edition of Sanctuary Asia came out, a second magazine was launched in 1984. Sanctuary Cub is the first and still the only children’s nature magazine in India. With an aim to instill respect and concern for the environment and wildlife in young children, for many young Indians, Cub continues to be their first introduction to the wild and wonderful world of nature.
Currently edited by Tara Sahgal, Sanctuary Cub aims to inculcate in children an urgency to take action and the need to create a positive change in a society that gives little thought to its rapidly depleting biodiversity.
Read the latest issue.
July 11 is World Population Day! In Sanctuary Cub's July 2021 issue, find out how we went from 600 million in 1700 to 7.9 billion in just 300 years; turn to page 27 to find out how you can help, starting NOW; turn to page 13 to read about the ‘Anthropause’ caused by COVID-19 lockdowns that showed us how quickly nature can bounce back if we would behave a bit better; to see what behaving better looks like, meet a 12-year-old farmer; and learn how to UpCycle yourself to FutureForward.
