Nirmal Kulkarni has been awarded the prestigious Sanctuary Asia Wind Under Wings™ award 2014

Nirmal Kulkarni has been awarded the prestigious Sanctuary Asia Wind Under Wings award 2014 for his contribution to conservation science and eco-conscious tourism.

Nirmal Kulkarni started out as a snake handler and nature photographer, but dons multiple hats as the Director (Ecology) of the Wildernest Nature Resort, Chairman of the Mhadei Research Centre, Team Leader of the Hypnale Research Station, Senior Research Collaborator at Madras Crocodile Trust and a Promoter of HERPACTIVE, a study initiative on herpeto-fauna.

He been credited with the discovery of several amphibian species and is associated with multiple national and state organizations including the Goa State Wildlife Advisory Board.

Nirmal has had to face all the challenges that conservationists routinely face on daily basis, including funding gap between conservation imperatives and budgets, a lack of support from government agencies, inadequate field equipment and more. However, fully supported by Captain Dhond and the Wildernest and Mhadei research center team, he pressed on and he says that nothing will stop their ongoing mission to protect India’s wilds, one valley at a time.