The 12{+t}{+h}Sanctuary Wildlife Awards on Thursday honoured some of the most passionate nature enthusiasts across different age groups as “India's Earth Heroes” here.
George Schaller, a well-known American scientist, was given the Lifetime Service Award.
“His path-breaking research on the Indian tiger in the Kanha National Park has become the gold standard for field biology across the world,” said a release by Sanctuary Asia, one of the organisers of the award ceremony.
The awards were given in five categories: one Lifetime Service Award, five Wildlife Service Awards, one Green Teacher Award, three Young Naturalists Awards and a ‘Wind Under the Wings' Award for an organisation that has supported one or more of its employees to be of service to nature.
Best in the field
“The awards have been constituted to recognise the best-in-the-field of wildlife conservation and to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes who are defending the wilderness and thus the food and water security of the Indian subcontinent. The awardees are nominated by Sanctuary Asia readers and supporters from across the country,” the release stated.
The awards were given to diverse individuals for their contributions to wildlife protection. Shekar Dattatri was awarded for successfully using films to highlight disappearing wildlife and habitats.
S.D. Biju, a field biologist, was awarded for his contribution to the discovery of several amphibian species, including many in the Western Ghats.
Service to urban dwellers
Gerry Martin, another Wildlife Service Award winner, and founder and director of the Gerry Martin Project, helps urban dwellers to connect with wildlife issues far removed from their daily life.
Daulat Singh Shaktawat, a Range Forest Officer of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, was awarded for his continuous resolve to save the big cats despite having been attacked by them many a time.
He is the surviving tale of dedication despite adversities, the organisers said.
Chief Administrative Officer of Namma Sangha P. Suresha was awarded for working towards improving people's relationship with the Bandipur National Park, close to his house.
The Maharashtra government was given the ‘Wind Under the Wings Award' for “enabling and encouraging Praveen Pardeshi, Principal Secretary (Forests), to reinvigorate wildlife conservation in Maharashtra.”
Young Naturalist
Ramnath Chandrashekhar (award-winning wildlife photographer and activist), Aishwarya Sridhar (writer, poet and passionate conservationist) and Tengbat Sangma (skilled tracker, naturalist and budding field biologist) were awarded the Young Naturalist Awards.
A Joint Green Teacher Award was presented to Pournima and Rajendra Kerkar, who work as educators, conservationists and social workers to protect wilderness areas in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Natural heritage
Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia , said: “Sanctuary Asia has consistently sought to network and unite different segments of society believing that nature conservation is the surest way to secure the food, water, climate and economic security of India's billion-plus population. For us the tiger, elephant, rhino and lion are metaphors for an ecologically secure planet and within us exists an unstoppable drive to safeguard this natural heritage for our children and their children.”
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