Geeta Seshamani (2009-10)
Co – Founder of Wildlife SOS, an NGO and Vice-President of Friendicoes SECA (Society for Eradication of Cruelty to Animals), Geeta Seshamani believes that we must do all we can to protect and conserve the rich array of wildlife, which calls the habitats of India its home. She has been deeply involved with animal welfare and wildlife conservation for over thirty years. Her efforts towards her cause have been well appreciated and successful over the length and breadth of the country. Through her organizations, she has established the first Stray Animal Birth control centre, organized several animal welfare-training programs across India and established various sanctuaries, facilities and centres in collaboration with the state governments and forest departments. Her work also serves to uplift people, giving them opportunities they may never otherwise have known. Be it the tongawallas, or the Kalandars and saperas, Mrs. Geeta Seshamani has constantly tried to generate income for them by the intervention of free education, free veterinary services and opportunities to earn better. It is her passion for her cause that has successfully been able to convert men from hardcore poachers to extremely caring people, when it comes to Wildlife, by teaching them how to handle animals delicately and carefully. With over thirty years of her involvement for her cause, it is safe to say that her work has inspired others to follow the path of peaceful co-existence.Kartick Satyanarayan (2009-10)
Mr.Kartick Satyanarayan is the co-founder of Wildlife SOS and a partner at Friendicoes SECA (Society for Eradication of Cruelty to Animals). According to him, protecting, helping and conserving wildlife in India must be prioritized as humans and animals must co-exist. It is because of this that his work symbolizes “social justice and citizen action”. An interesting work to his credit is that of convincing the Kalandars (a tribe) to give up poaching of bear cubs from the wild in exchange of providing their children with free education and providing them with an alternative livelihood. His organization constantly fights poaching through a network of informers across the country. While Mr.Kartick’s and his organization’s primary focus is animals and wildlife, they also work to serve and uplift people, giving then opportunities they may never have known otherwise. Despite the major skepticism that he faces at every step, he leaves no stone unturned to make his efforts worthwhile.Nanda Rana (2007-08)
He runs Bandhavgar Jungle Camp, the first privately operated jungle safari in India. A wildlife enthusiast specializing in tigers, he spends most of his time in the forests, tracking and photographing tigers, and also filming them. His work on conservation and films on tigers have been widely recognized and applauded. He has joined hands with National Geographic, Discovery, BBC, etc. in the past as a Wildlife Consultant.
Dr. Latika Nath Rana (2007-08)
She is one of India’s foremost experts on tigers, and the first woman to be awarded a doctorate in tiger conservation. One of the few women in a male-dominated environment, she is deeply committed to the cause of the tigers. Dubbed “The Tiger Princess” by National Geographic, she works closely with her husband Nanda Rana in the forests of Kathmandu.