The Carl Zeiss Awards 2011. Delhi India.

Article on my work in the Maharashtra Times

Workshop at Mahdei Research center for children

A workshop on 'Introduction to Field Equipment' was held at the Mhadei Research center Chorla Ghats on the 16th and 17th of april 2011 for 25 students drawn from various parts of Goa. Students were introduced to various field techniques and taught how to do data collection with the help of field equipment. Discussions, tiger conservation films and field survey was also a part of this program. The workshop was conducted by resident herpetologist Nirmal Kulkarni and research assistant krishna gaonkar. Mr. Rajendra Kerkar, well known environmentalist and writer also participated in the workshop and gave guidance to the participants.

The Brown Vine snake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta)

The Brown vine snake is an uncommon species of snake found in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. This specimen was documented in the the Chorla Ghats area of the Mhadei Bio region.

NIRMAL KULKARNI RECEIVES CARL ZEISS AWARD 2011 FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

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  The 11^th Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation awards ceremony was held at the jacaranda hall in New Delhi on 1^st April 2011 amidst an august gathering of tiger experts and conservationists, wildlife biologists, officials of the Indian Government, representatives of the media and the public.

  Each year starting from the year 2001 an expert panel led by tiger specialist Valmik Thapar identifies five individuals involved with tiger and wildlife conservation and recognizes their commitment and dedicated efforts towards the cause of wildlife conservation.

  Amongst the five conservationists chosen this year is Goa based Nirmal U. Kulkarni, a herpetologist and field ecologist who was acknowledged for his research and conservation initiatives in the Mhadei Bio region. He was part of a team that discovered two new species of legless amphibians, the caecilians - Goan caecilian (Gegeneophis goaensis) and Mhadei caecilian (Gegeneophis mhadeiensis) besides having mapped and extensively documented the lesser-known biodiversity of the region.

  A graduate in Applied Art from the Goa College of Art, Nirmal has also completed his Masters in Environment and Ecology. The award recognised his expertise in combining science photography and activism in the Northern Western Ghats of India where he works. He has also worked on research projects in Gujarat, Assam and was part of a team that reported a new sub species species of the Jerdon’s pit viper from Arunachal Pradesh. As a trainer, he has helped shape young nature enthusiasts into foot soldiers for India’s wildlife research and conservation movement - particularly reptile conservation.

  Nirmal is a Member of the Goa State Wildlife Advisory Board and has recently compiled a book on Goan Wildlife called ‘The Goan Jungle Book’

  The other recepients of the awards were

  a. Dr Dharmendra Khandal recognised for his inspirational tiger conservation work in anti poaching and for his unique holistic reform program for a poaching community in Ranthambore, Rajasthan.

  b. Dr M Firoz Ahmed a wildlife biologist from Assam who is extensively working for tiger reseaerch conservation in North east India and is deeply involved in community based conservaton initiatives.

  c. Mr. Sanjay Gubbi from Karnataka for his path breaking work on large mammal conservation and mitigation of human wildlife conflcit thorugh science based advocacy.

  d. Ms Vidya Athreya from Pune Maharashtra for her pioneering research on human -large cat interactions, especially leopards in sharing a common space with humans.

  The award function was atteneded by a host of dignitories that included the Hon Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports PadmaVibhushan M S Gill, Shri Sitaram Yechuri, MP, Communist party of India, Shri V P Singh, Bhartiya Janata Party, PadmaShri P K Sen Ex Director of Project Tiger, tiger experts Valmik Thapar, Dr. Ulhas Karanth and Dr Y V Jhala, wildlife journalist Prerna singh Bindra and anti wildlife crime activist Belinda Wright, Chairman of the Central Empowered committee Mr P V Jayakrishnan, Padma Bhushan awardee and actor Shashi Kapoor amongst others.

  The award consists of a trophy and a Carl Zeiss field binoculars that in tiger expert Valmik Thapar’s words is a great asset for all awardees who engage in saving India’s rapidly declining wildlife.

  For more details contact- Nirmal U. Kulkarni on ophidian_nirmal@yahoo.co.in