Parveen Shaikh Wins 2026 Whitley Award

Why in News?

Scientist Parveen Shaikh has received the 2026 Whitley Award for her work in protecting the endangered Indian skimmer along Indian rivers, especially the Chambal and Ganga-Yamuna basin.

About Whitley Award:

Award given by Whitley Fund for Nature (UK)

Also called “Green Oscars”

Recognises grassroots conservation work

Focus: protecting endangered species + habitats

Indian Skimmer – Key Facts:

Scientific conservation focus: Indian skimmer

Found mainly in India (more than 90% of global population)

Total population: ~3,000 birds

Identifying feature: bright orange beak

Behavior: flies low and skims water to catch fish

Breeding sites: sandbanks and river islands

Threats: river changes, predators, human disturbance

Conservation Work by Parveen Shaikh:

Works with Bombay Natural History Society

Started project: “Guardians of the Skimmer” (Chambal River)

Impact So Far (Chambal River):

Population increased: 400 (2017) → 1000 (2025)

Nest survival improved: 14% → 27%

Community participation increased significantly

Community Model:

Local villagers act as “bird guardians”

They:

Monitor nests

Identify safe sandbars

Prevent human disturbance

People now call them “our birds” → sense of ownership

Expansion Plan (Prayagraj):

Work will now expand to Prayagraj where Ganga and Yamuna meet.

Key Challenges:

Heavy boat traffic

Fishing activity

Religious activities on riverbanks

Urban pollution

Planned Actions:

New local guardians appointment

Predator-proof fencing

GPS-based nest monitoring

Other Indian Winner:

Barkha Subba (India)

Works on protecting Himalayan salamander

Focus on wetland conservation in Darjeeling Himalaya

Final Takeaway:

Parveen Shaikh’s work shows that community participation + scientific monitoring can successfully increase endangered bird populations, making river ecosystems more sustainable.