Conservation Icon Krithi Karanth Bags Explorer Award

Conservation scientist Krithi Karanth, leading the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), is set to enhance conservation programs across 100 wildlife reserves in India's Eastern and Western Ghats. Karanth was honored as the 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, recognizing her extensive 15-year collaboration with National Geographic, which began after her postdoctoral research.

Karanth, also an adjunct professor at Duke University, inherited her passion for wildlife from her father, tiger expert Ullas Karanth. She now leads CWS, an organization founded by her father in 1984, focusing on critical areas like human-wildlife conflict. This conflict is a significant challenge in India due to high population densities alongside large megafauna.

CWS actively mitigates conflict through programs like Wild Seve, established 11 years ago, which offers timely assistance to those affected. Another key initiative is Wild Shaale, a nature education program for school children launched in 2018, designed to foster empathy and environmental literacy regarding India's diverse wildlife.

Karanth emphasizes the importance of local involvement in conservation, highlighting her 150 colleagues at CWS who mostly come from the regions where they operate. This approach fosters pride and ownership, crucial for meaningful conservation work within India's diverse cultural and ecological landscape.