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Two Indian conservationists, Dr Barkha Subba and Ms Parveen Shaikh, received prestigious Whitley Awards in April 2026 for their grassroots work in protecting the Himalayan salamander and the Indian skimmer. Often called the “Green Oscars,” the awards recognise leaders from the Global South who demonstrate effective, community‑based conservation.
About the Whitley Awards
The Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK‑based charity, awards up to seven conservation leaders each year. Winners receive project funding of £50,000 and support to scale up their initiatives. The selection panel comprises academics and conservation experts, and winners are offered training in leadership and fundraising.
Barkha Subba – Saving the Himalayan salamander
Dr Barkha Subba works in the eastern Himalayan hill town of Darjeeling. Her project focuses on the Himalayan salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus), a lizard‑like amphibian endemic to India, Nepal and Bhutan. The salamander grows up to about 17 centimetres, lacks scales and has a lifespan of more than a decade. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Threats to the salamander include the draining of wetlands for development, unregulated tourism, conversion of agricultural land and climate change. Dr Subba’s project protects seven breeding ponds across Darjeeling by:
- Restoring wetlands and removing invasive plants.
- Working with local communities and tea estates to promote eco‑friendly land use and nature‑based tourism.
- Monitoring for chytrid fungal infections that can devastate amphibians.
- Developing transboundary guidelines so that India, Nepal and Bhutan coordinate protection of this evolutionarily distinct species.
Parveen Shaikh – Protecting the Indian skimmer
The Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) is a charismatic river bird whose long lower mandible allows it to skim the water surface to catch fish. Fewer than 3,000 skimmers remain, mainly along the Ganga, Yamuna and Chambal rivers in India and Bangladesh. It is classified as Endangered.
Ms Parveen Shaikh, working with the Bombay Natural History Society, founded the “Guardians of the Skimmer” initiative. On the Chambal River the programme increased nest survival from 14 % to 27 % and helped grow the local skimmer population to about 1,000 birds (up from 400 in 2017). With Whitley funding she plans to extend this model to Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna meet. Planned actions include:
- Recruiting nest guardians from local communities to protect eggs and chicks from predators and human disturbance.
- Installing predator‑proof fencing and using GPS mapping to track nest locations.
- Educating boat operators and tourists to avoid nesting sandbars and reduce noise during the breeding season.
- Working with authorities to regulate sand mining, fishing and other activities that degrade riverine habitats.
Significance
These projects showcase how community‑based stewardship can save species teetering on the brink. The Himalayan salamander and Indian skimmer are both key indicators of healthy wetlands and rivers. Their protection helps conserve entire ecosystems and supports sustainable livelihoods through eco‑tourism and environmental education.
