Refusing to Choose Between Animals and People
Winner
Dr. Krithi K. Karanth
Venture
Centre for Wildlife StudiesProgram
McNulty PrizeLocation
India
Year
2025Protecting the world’s rapidly declining biodiversity is a global imperative, with nearly one million species facing extinction. Yet the needs of communities who share land with wildlife and often serve as its stewards are frequently overlooked.
In India, nearly 1.5 billion people coexist with wildlife, but only five percent of the land is officially protected. The Western Ghats, one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots, is home to 50 million people and 325 threatened species. Here, shrinking habitats and economic hardship intensify human-wildlife conflict, threatening both livelihoods and conservation efforts.
A native of India, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth grew up exploring national parks alongside her father, a renowned tiger biologist. Witnessing the tensions between thriving human settlements and wild spaces early on inspired her lifelong mission. After advanced study and pioneering research in the United States, Krithi realized that scientific data and traditional conservation models alone were not enough to support communities living closest to wildlife.
As CEO of Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Krithi is reimagining conservation in India beyond research alone. Her vision is to "rewild" landscapes while empowering local people as guardians of biodiversity. CWS transforms environmental protection into an economic opportunity, turning conflict zones into models of coexistence.
Operating across India’s Eastern and Western Ghats, CWS combines scientific research with community-driven action. The organization works directly with 10,000 farmers to integrate wildlife-friendly practices, reduce crop damage, and prevent retaliatory harm to animals. When conflict arises, a toll-free helpline helps families file compensation claims and resolve issues quickly. This vital resource builds trust, reduces hostility toward wildlife, and has strengthened government policies and compensation systems for affected communities.
2008, Earns a Ph.D from Duke University
2012, Named National Geographic Society’s Emerging Explorer and 10,000th grantee
2018, Relaunches CWS to focus on human-wildlife coexistence
2021, Named a Aspen Ananta Centre Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow
2025 McNulty Prize Winner
How can we make space for wildlife amidst billions of people? Do you put humans first or animals first? The reality is you have to put both of them first.
Through community-led research and innovative conservation strategies, CWS has helped increase tolerance for wildlife while strengthening rural livelihoods. In partnership with National Geographic, one flagship program educates students in rural schools about conservation, nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards.
7,000
villages across India and millions of people reached
50,000+
students educated on conservation practices across rural schools
100+
wildlife reserves in 8 states across India have benefited from conservation training programs
The CWS model is inspiring similar efforts across Asia and Africa, proving that "rewilding" can be a global framework connecting environment, education, health, and economic resilience. Indeed, it equips communities with the knowledge and resources to become proud custodians of their natural heritage. Looking into the future, Krithi and her team aim to scale this blueprint to other critical biodiversity hotspots around the world, where the need is just as urgent as it is in India.
CWS works directly with 10,000 farmers to integrate wildlife-friendly practices.
Krithi and her team repurpose data to better serve the communities living closest to wildlife.