Awards to salute unsung heroes of nature

Keeping in line with the annual tradition, Sanctuary Asia Magazine commemorates nature’s defenders from across India in the 14th edition of their Sanctuary Wildlife Awards.

These defenders are not people in power but a commoner, you might chance upon in the vicinity of a forest, but it is their conscience that sets them apart. A conscience that doesn’t allow them to watch their beloved wildlife, fall prey to greed and ignorance of those, who are not like them. The awards would be handed over today at the NCPA in various categories. 

The lifetime service award was presented to Anne Wright, who is the founder of the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) India and one of India’s oldest names in wildlife conservation. Anne has lived through the course of India’s wildlife protection laws and been a part of their formulation. “It all started during the famine in Bihar and at that time there was great coordination between the authorities and environmental groups,” she said.

Lalith Ekanayake from Sri Lanka, won the series of photo awards. His photograph of a crocodile flinging a chital in order to skin it after more than two hours of submerging it in the water, was a clear winner.

“We must support and encourage these people for their good work. It’s nice to see youngsters to be conscious of nature,” said Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia.

One of the winners, of the young naturalists award is Rahul Kumar, who is a first year student of Bhavan’s College. He created awareness on Dolphin protection in his hometown Bihar.