Indian conservationists Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh have won the prestigious 2026 Whitley Awards for their work on protecting the habitat of the Himalayan Salamander and community-led protection of the nesting sites of the Indian Skimmer on the Chambal river.
Barkha Subba will focus on seven critical breeding sites of the rare Himalayan Salamander, which is threatened by habitat loss due to urbanisation, tourism, and invasive species.
Parveen Shaikh was recognised for her 'Guardians of the Skimmer' initiative on the Chambal River, which has increased nest survival to 27% and grown the local population to 1,000 individuals.
The Whitley Awards will enable both conservationists to expand their work, with Barkha leading a grassroots effort to secure the future of the Himalayan Salamander in Darjeeling and Parveen strengthening protection at Chambal and expanding the initiative to key sites around Prayagraj.
