Krithi Karanth Named 2026 National Geographic Explorer Of The Year
India-West News Desk
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Geographic Society has awarded its 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year honor to Indian conservationist Krithi K. Karanth for her work to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence between communities and endangered species.
As CEO of the Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Karanth has focused on the economic and safety challenges faced by communities living near forests and wildlife reserves.
One of her key initiatives is Wild Seve, a platform designed to help people seek government compensation for livestock, crop, or property losses caused by wildlife.
The initiative uses a toll-free system and trained field teams to document damages and assist families with compensation claims. According to National Geographic, the program has helped around 17,000 families while also reducing retaliatory actions against animals such as elephants and tigers.
“Conservation on a shared landscape means asking, ‘How do you make sure people are not injured, they’re not killed, they don’t have economic losses?’” Karanth told National Geographic.
“Because when any of that happens, anger builds, and they want to retaliate against the animal,” she added.
Karanth’s work also includes Wild Shaale, an environmental education program for students living near wildlife reserves. Through storytelling, games, and art, the initiative teaches children about wildlife and safe coexistence practices.
Since its pilot launch in 2018, the program has expanded to nearly 1,600 schools across India.
National Geographic Society CEO Jill Tiefenthaler praised Karanth’s approach to community-based conservation and wildlife coexistence.
Paul Robbins, Dean of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, told National Geographic that while many conservationists speak about placing people at the center of conservation efforts, Karanth is among the few who “actually know how to do it.”
The award will be presented during the National Geographic Society’s annual Explorers Festival.
Karanth has also expressed plans to expand her coexistence-based conservation model internationally.
