IUCN

Indian wildlife champion Vivek Menon has been elected the new Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) — the first Asian to ever lead the global network. His win marks a big moment for conservation, bringing decades of experience, passion, and on-ground action to the heart of international wildlife protection.

These boat rides in Goa are a part of the tourist experience. However, the combined efforts of the boatmen, a social enterprise and tourists, can also make it an ethical experience!

Luban, who is named after the Arabic term for frankincense tree because of a tree-shaped pattern at the base of her tail fluke, is the lone female amongst 14 whales who were tagged on their dorsal fins under the Renaissance Whale and Dolphin Project project by the Environment Society of Oman.

Started by a hardworking team of Japanese and Indian sonar engineers, this unique initiative is helping in the conservation of River Ganga's most elusive inhabitant and India's national aquatic animal, the Gangetic Dolphin.

Ever since he realised that vultures were vanishing from the countryside, this conservationist from Coimbatore has been working tirelessly to create awareness about the ecological disaster that has left these iconic scavengers teetering on the edge of extinction.

An ardent conservationist, Bibhuti Lahkar has been working tirelessly to save the unique biodiversity of Manas National Park for close to 20 years. He is also the first Asian to be nominated by the IUCN for their prestigious ‘Heritage Heroes' Awards 2016!

Exemplify the guardianship of biodiversity by locals, these two tiny villages in Arunachal are among the few truly successful community-based conservation models in India.