Amit Kumar Bal

Amit is a wildlife researcher from Cuttack, Odisha, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Zoology at Mizoram University and serving as the Project Coordinator (Mizoram) for Project Neofelis with S.P.E.C.I.E.S. (Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and their International Ecological Studies). Since 2019, he has conducted intensive field research in the forests of Murlen National Park, studying the ecology and conservation of clouded leopards, Asiatic golden cats, marbled cats, and other elusive carnivores across the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

His work combines rigorous scientific research with community-based conservation. By learning the Mizo language and living alongside local communities, he has built strong partnerships that support wildlife monitoring, conservation awareness, and sustainable livelihood initiatives. His research has resulted in the first photographic documentation of the Spotted Linsang in Mizoram and contributed to the documentation of the newly described snake Herpetoreas murlen. He is also a wildlife documentary filmmaker whose films on the biodiversity of Murlen National Park and Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary promote conservation through visual storytelling.

Through the Inlaks–Ravi Sankaran Grant for Field Biology, Ecology and Conservation, 2026, Amit aims to develop a community-based human–dhole coexistence programme that reduces livestock depredation while conserving the endangered dhole (Cuon alpinus). The project will identify conflict hotspots, implement practical mitigation measures, and strengthen local capacity through educational awareness programmes and training for local NGOs, Forest Department staff, educational institutions, and community leaders. By integrating ecological research with community stewardship, the project seeks to establish a sustainable model for carnivore conservation and coexistence across Mizoram.

Chinmay Prakash Sawant

Chinmay is a wildlife biologist and grassroots conservationist from the drought-prone Mandesh region of Satara district in Western Maharashtra. He previously served as the Project Lead for the Kiraksal Conservation Project and is currently the Project Head of Mandesh Conservation Project as well as the Maharashtra State Coordinator for the Indian Youth Biodiversity Network, his conservation journey began after witnessing the tragic mass hunting of Indian Grey Wolf pups during a local festival. This pivotal experience fueled his lifelong mission to protect the semi-arid Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of the Deccan Plateau. A staunch advocate for community-led initiatives, Chinmay has successfully mobilized his village to enforce self-imposed bans on hunting, logging, and wildfires. Through his Wildlife Watchers Program, he has also transformed youth from traditional hunting families into skilled para-taxonomists.

Supported by the Inlaks-Ravi Sankaran Grant, Chinmay is now leading the Preliminary Mammalian Assessment in the Mahadeo Hills Ranges in Kukudwad, Satara. This vastly unexplored landscape of thorny scrub and deciduous forests faces severe threats from unchecked infrastructure expansion. Utilizing thermal tracking and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the project aims to establish an empirical ecological baseline for mammalian diversity, focusing specifically on the Vulnerable Indian Grey Wolf and the near-threatened Striped Hyena. By mapping critical denning sites and wildlife corridors, Chinmay intends to generate the legally robust data required to support the official notification of a Conservation Reserve and designate vital microclimates as Biodiversity Heritage Sites. Furthermore, the initiative engages local youth through a 'Wolf Mitra' program to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, assist with compensation processes, and foster the grassroots stewardship necessary to ensure the long-term, community-driven survival of the region's unique biodiversity.

Nirbhay Singh Chouhan

Nirbhay is a volunteer and Awareness Program Coordinator at the Wild Animal and Nature Rescue Society, Udaipur in Rajasthan. For the past 12 years, he has been actively involved in wildlife rescue and conservation work in and around Udaipur. His primary focus has been on the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of snakes, along with creating awareness among local communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Over the years, he has conducted numerous rescue operations and community awareness programs. Through these efforts, he has worked to educate people about the ecological importance of snakes, safe rescue practices, and proper first-aid procedures for snake bites. He strongly believes that conservation is only possible when local communities are informed, involved, and empowered.

He is also currently working as a Field Assistant in the Wildlife Department at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, as part of an ongoing research project on Panther Ecology in Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, Udaipur. This experience has strengthened his field skills and deepened his understanding of wildlife behaviour and habitat conservation.

Through this new project, he aims to expand his work on a larger scale, focusing on snake awareness, snake rescue, and the role of trained rescuers in reducing human-snake conflict. The project will include structured awareness campaigns in rural areas, training of local volunteers as first responders, and strengthening coordination with forest department and medical services to ensure timely response during emergencies.

His goal is to create a sustainable model where both human lives and wildlife are protected. By combining scientific knowledge, field experience, and community participation, he hopes to contribute meaningfully to conservation and public safety.