Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2025

Context: BNHS scientist Parveen Shaikh has won the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2025 for her innovative, community-led conservation of the endangered Indian Skimmer in the National Chambal Sanctuary.

About Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2025:

What It Is?

• The Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award is an annual national honour that recognises exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation in India. It highlights field practitioners, scientists, and community leaders whose work safeguards ecosystems and threatened species.

Instituted By: Sanctuary Nature Foundation

2025 Winner: Parveen Shaikh (BNHS Scientist)

Key Contributions:

• Scientific Research & Monitoring:

• Conducted long-term studies on Indian Skimmer populations since 2016. Documented nesting behaviour, survival challenges, and threats from river-level changes and predators.

• Conducted long-term studies on Indian Skimmer populations since 2016.

• Documented nesting behaviour, survival challenges, and threats from river-level changes and predators.

• ‘Nest Guardian’ Model:

• Developed a community-led protection system for nests on sandbars. Trained locals to fence colonies, monitor nests, and deter predators. Raised nest survival from near zero to ~60%.

• Developed a community-led protection system for nests on sandbars.

• Trained locals to fence colonies, monitor nests, and deter predators.

• Raised nest survival from near zero to ~60%.

• Habitat & Threat Assessment:

• Studied effects of dams, altered flows, and sandbar accessibility on nesting. Proposed adaptive conservation measures tailored to river dynamics.

• Studied effects of dams, altered flows, and sandbar accessibility on nesting.

• Proposed adaptive conservation measures tailored to river dynamics.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 3 – Environment & Biodiversity

• Conservation strategies for endangered species. Role of community-led conservation and local livelihoods. Protected areas: National Chambal Sanctuary; riverine ecosystems.

• Conservation strategies for endangered species.

• Role of community-led conservation and local livelihoods.

• Protected areas: National Chambal Sanctuary; riverine ecosystems.

• GS Paper 1 – Geography

• Riverine ecology, habitat vulnerability due to anthropogenic activities and hydrological changes.

• GS Paper 4 – Ethics

• Case study: Ethical conservation models, community participation, stewardship, and sustainable livelihood generation.