We are delighted to share with you that Dr. Krithi K. Karanth, our Chief Conservation Scientist, has been chosen as a finalist for the 2019 Rolex Award for Enterprise. She is the only Indian to be among the finalists. Since its beginnings in 1976, Rolex has honoured over 140 people including 10 Indians, of which only two were women.
The Rolex Awards were designed to support exceptional individuals around the world, who are pioneers with little or no access to traditional funding. These individuals are addressing global challenges, with original and innovative projects that advance human knowledge and well-being.
For the 2019 Rolex Award, many applicants from across the globe underwent an intense selection process over the past nine months to be shortlisted as 10 finalists. Over the next weeks, the public will be able to vote for their favourite candidates. On June 12th, Dr. Karanth will present her two unique programs, Wild Seve and Wild Shaale, at the National Geographic Society. Based on votes of the public and that of the Rolex Jury, each of the five finalists will receive grants worth 200,000 Swiss francs (equivalent to 1.5 crore in Indian rupees).
Wild Seve (captured on film here) has assisted families—experiencing losses from wildlife—file 14,000 claims and receive compensation from the government.
Dr. Krithi K. Karanth on the field with members of the Wild Seve program.
Wild Shaale is working with 20,000 children living in high conflict villages to build empathy and interest in Indian wildlife and wild places.
Dr. Krithi K. Karanth with collaborator, Gabby Salazar, and children from a Wild Shaale school
Together, these projects aim to empower rural communities and enable us to rewild India. The funding will be used by Dr. Karanth to scale-up her community-based programs to reach millions of more farmers, children and families across rural India. More information on both projects can be found on our website.
You can support these projects by casting a vote by 12th June. 15 seconds of your time can change the lives of millions in India!
