Using AI cameras, thermal drones, data and community volunteers, IFS officer N. Vengatesh Prabhu helped bring elephant deaths in Coimbatore down from 11–13 annually to 5–6. He is nominated for Eco Warrior Awards When an elephant enters a village at night, every minute matters. For forest teams, reaching the animal is not always easy. The …
By combining AI-powered conflict alerts, solar fencing, community-managed ecotourism, tribal livelihoods and wildlife protection, 2006-batch IFS Dr Ramgaokar has demonstrated how conservation can become a shared community mission. He is nominated for the Eco Warrior Awards 2026 under the Protected Area Management category for his innovative conservation initiatives. Conservation becomes truly sustainable when the protection …
An AI-powered elephant detection system in Tamil Nadu has enabled 9,481 safe crossings and thousands of train slowdowns to protect wildlife. For decades, railway tracks cutting through elephant habitats have posed one of the biggest conservation challenges in India. In Tamil Nadu’s Madukkarai elephant corridor, where trains and wildlife frequently crossed paths, collisions often ended …
2018 batch IFS officer Anurag Tiwari is blending faith, biodiversity and community participation to revive Ujjain’s ecological legacy through Aastha Vans, wildlife protection and an ambitious 500-acre naturalistic zoo. Millions arrive in Ujjain every year with folded hands, seeking blessings from Mahakaleshwar. They walk through ancient temple corridors, complete the revered Panchkoshi Yatra, and immerse themselves in …
2015 batch IAS Aditya Ranjan is leading one of India’s biggest rehabilitation projects in Jharia, relocating over 15,000 families from dangerous underground fire zones while rebuilding trust, livelihoods, and safer communities. For more than 100 years, the ground beneath Jharia has been on fire. Since 1916, underground coal seams in Jharkhand’s famous coalfield have continued …
