unitedforthewild

In Rajasthan’s Menar village, birds are more than visitors — they’re family. Once known for its ponds, Menar is now celebrated as India’s ‘Bird Village’, home to over 100 species, including endangered ones. Thanks to the community’s tireless conservation efforts, this Ramsar site has become a global model for people-led environmental protection.

In the quiet hills of Uttarakhand, villagers — often led by women — guard their forests through the van panchayat system. What began as a collective effort to manage local resources has become a lifeline for both people and nature.

Rajasthan’s sacred groves, orans, stand as living testaments to community-led conservation — where people, wildlife, and tradition coexist in a fragile yet enduring balance.

Ipra Mekola, once a hunter, is now leading his Idu Mishmi community in conserving the critically endangered Bengal florican by protecting grasslands and turning children into bird guides.

In parts of India, classrooms have no walls — just forests, paw prints, and whispers of the wild. Here, children learn to rescue snakes, track tigers, and speak for creatures that can’t. These hands-on programmes are raising a new generation of wildlife defenders, armed with empathy, knowledge, and courage.

Wildlife conservationist Sharvan Patel is using a WhatsApp group of 1,000 members, each contributing Rs 365 annually, to restore habitats, protect endangered species, and improve farming practices in Rajasthan.

Padmaja Rathore leads Bagheera's Camp in Rajasthan's Godwar, championing wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration. Inspired by her parents, she founded a sustainable community reserve focusing on education and collaboration. Her initiatives, like Rewilding Jawai, empower locals and safeguard endangered species, fostering a harmonious relationship between nature and humanity.

The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust, established by Rinchen Wangchuk and led by Dr Tsewang Namgail, champions the harmonious coexistence of villagers and snow leopards in Ladakh through its insurance schemes and sustainable tourism initiatives, fostering ecological balance in the region.