Indian Conservationist Krithi Karanth Named 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year
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Bengaluru-based conservation scientist Krithi Karanth has been named the 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, an honour presented at the Society's annual Explorers Festival. She is the first person from South Asia to win this award.
Krithi leads the Centre for Wildlife Studies, an organisation founded by her father, tiger biologist Ullas Karanth, in 1984. She grew up spending time in forests alongside her father while her mother travelled for work, an upbringing she credits with shaping her lifelong interest in wildlife. She later studied environmental science at Yale University and completed a doctorate at Duke University before returning to India in 2010.
Her connection with National Geographic goes back fifteen years. She received her first grant from the Society soon after returning to India, was later recognised as its 10,000th grantee, and became a Wayfinder in 2012, a title given to outstanding explorers the Society supports over time. This new award, she says, feels like the culmination of that long partnership.
A major focus of Krithi's work is human-wildlife conflict, a serious challenge in India because so many people live close to large wild animals such as elephants, tigers, leopards and bears. She believes India's cultural tolerance for wildlife is unusual compared to the rest of the world, which gives her hope even as conflict cases rise.
The Centre for Wildlife Studies runs six conservation programmes to address this. One, called Wild Seve, started eleven years ago to give quick support to families affected by conflict with wild animals, built on years of research showing India faces some of the highest wildlife conflict levels globally. Another, Wild Shaale, launched in 2018, is a nature education programme for children living near wildlife reserves, designed to help them understand animal behaviour, stay safe during encounters, and build empathy for the wildlife around them. The programme has been adapted for different states, including Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, to suit local languages and ecological conditions.
Krithi credits much of her organisation's success to its roughly 150 staff members, most of whom come from the very regions where they work, giving them a strong sense of ownership over conservation outcomes.
Looking ahead, Krithi wants to expand her organisation's conservation programmes across 100 wildlife reserves spanning the Eastern and Western Ghats, scaling up efforts that have already shown results in parts of the country.
Why it matters
This recognition highlights the growing global attention on India's approach to balancing wildlife conservation with the needs of communities living near forests and wild animals. As human-wildlife conflict increases due to shrinking habitats and rising animal populations, India's grassroots strategies, community-based response systems and education initiatives offer lessons for other biodiversity-rich but densely populated countries. The award also underscores the importance of sustained institutional support for young researchers, showing how long-term investment in scientific talent can lead to impactful, scalable conservation work.
Test yourself
1. What award was Krithi Karanth given in 2026?
2. Which organisation does Krithi Karanth lead as CEO?
3. Who founded the Centre for Wildlife Studies and when?
4. What historic distinction does Krithi Karanth hold with this award?
5. How long has Krithi Karanth's relationship with National Geographic lasted?
6. What is the goal of the Wild Seve programme?
7. What is the main focus of the Wild Shaale programme?
8. Which states have adapted versions of the Wild Shaale programme, according to the article?
9. According to Krithi Karanth, what unique factor supports conservation optimism in India?
10. Why does Krithi Karanth believe hiring local staff is important for CWS's success?
Your notes
Source: The Hindu