Whitley award to two indian conservationists
Indian conservationists Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh have been awarded the 2026 Whitley Awards for their efforts in protecting the Himalayan Salamander and the Indian Skimmer, respectively. Barkha's work focuses on conserving critical breeding sites of the salamander in Darjeeling amid habitat loss, while Parveen leads a community-driven initiative to protect the nesting grounds of the Indian Skimmer on the Chambal River. Their projects emphasize local engagement, habitat restoration, and scientific monitoring to address threats from environmental change and human activity.
- ▪Barkha Subba is a scientific adviser at the Darjeeling-based Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection (FOSEP) and will use her award to protect the Himalayan Salamander's breeding sites.
- ▪The Himalayan Salamander is endemic to India, Nepal, and Bhutan and faces threats from urbanization, tourism, wetland modification, and invasive species.
- ▪Parveen Shaikh, a scientist with the Bombay Natural History Society, leads the 'Guardians of the Skimmer' initiative that has increased Indian Skimmer nest survival from 14% to 27%.
- ▪The Indian Skimmer population on the Chambal River has grown from 400 in 2017 to about 1,000 individuals in 2025 due to community-led conservation efforts.
- ▪The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a UK-based charity, awarded both conservationists in recognition of their grassroots efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats.
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Whitley award to two indian conservationistsIndian conservationists Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh won the 2026 Whitley Awards for efforts to protect the Himalayan Salamander and Indian Skimmer habitat.Published on: May 01, 2026 3:40 AM ISTBy Jayashree NandiShare viaCopy link New Delhi: Indian conservationists, Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh have won the prestigious 2026 Whitley Awards for their work on protecting the habitat of the Himalayan Salamander and community led protection of the nesting sites of Indian Skimmer on the Chambal river.Whitley award to two indian conservationistsWith her Whitley Award, Barkha will focus on seven of the most critical breeding sites of the rare and evolutionarily distinct amphibian.
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