Photo: Yogesh Patel.The Sanctuary Wildlife Awards were constituted to recognise the best-in-the-field of wildlife conservation and to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes who are defending the wildernesses 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.
In addition to the prestigious Lifetime Service Award, five Wildlife Service Awards, two Green Teacher Awards, three Young Naturalist Awards, a Special Tiger Award, a Wind Under the Wings Award and the Best Protected Area Award were given to some exceptional individuals.
Speaking about the awards, Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia, said, “The Sanctuary Wildlife Awards celebrate the ordinary Indian, the quiet Indian. The one on whose shoulders this country really runs. In an ocean of dark daily news, these earth heroes who defend natural India as an article of faith, are nation builders, climate warriors, and conscience keepers. History will remember them well."
The five recipients of the Wildlife Service Award were Sarbaranjan Mondal, Keshav Kumar, Maheswar Basumatary (Ontai), T. S. Subramaniya Raja, Jitendra S. Ramgaokar with his team including Vishal Mali and Vishal Bansod. Meghraj Saini, Rahul Kumar and Riddhima Yadav were chosen as Young Naturalists.M. N. Shadakshari and Professor Dr. G. D. Muratkar, two amazing educationists who have dedicated their lives to the future of India, were presented with the Green Teacher Awards. The Wind Under the Wings Award was presented to Krishnendu Mukherjee, an investigative journalist and his newspaper, the Times of India in Kolkata that encouraged him to research and publish a series of path-breaking stories relating to the wildlife trade, forest conservation and a slew of environmental exposes. A Special Tiger Award was presented to Azhar Sheikh, President of the Rehabilitation Coordination Committee in Navegaon, who planned and facilitated the relocation of Ramdegi village at the northern end of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to a new site in Chimur taluka. Sanctuary's Best Protected Area Award 2013 went to the Gir Forest National Park.
Photo: Yogesh Patel.The winners of the Sanctuary Wildlife Photography Awards 2013 were also honoured at the awards ceremony. Lalith Ekanayake was chosen as Sanctuary's Wildlife Photographer of the Year followed by Giri Cavale and Baiju Patil in second and third place respectively.
Speaking about the photography awards, Steve Winter, Director of Media, Panthera, and one of the judges said, “I think it is a good thing that we have eliminated portraits and the top three winning images showcase behaviour. That is extremely important. I feel these images are better than what I have chosen in other contests because it takes some dedication and passion to capture photographs like these."
View the winning images of the Sanctuary Wildlife Photography Awards 2013. Click here.
Read about the winners of the Sanctuary Wildlife Awards 2013. Click here.
