CPC Fellows 2026-27

I've been fascinated by the wild since childhood, with a special love for reptiles, especially snakes. I founded the Chameleon Wildlife Organization, a rescue group, in 2012, and I'm drawn to how culture, religion and folklore shape the way India sees snakes and snakebite. I'm also an artist who weaves nature into my work.

My journey began in molecular biology through an Integrated PhD, but curiosity led me toward ecology and conservation. Volunteering with WWF-India — biodiversity surveys, bird and butterfly monitoring, outreach — gave me a real sense of purpose. I joined CPC to build a strong foundation in conservation science and find where I can contribute as a researcher.

I'm an M.S. Wildlife Studies student at CWS, KVASU, Wayanad. Birdwatching grew into a wide curiosity about wildlife and habitats, and my dissertation on human–wildlife interactions in Wayanad shaped my belief in community-based coexistence. I'm building a startup linking art with conservation, and joined CPC for field exposure and mentorship.

I recently finished school and feel more connected to wildlife than to textbooks. Birdwatching with my dad grew into hands-on work — Olive Ridley turtle conservation with the Forest Department and local NGOs — and into wildlife photography as a way to educate others. I joined CPC to build real skills and spark awareness in people.

I'm a wildlife enthusiast from the urban jungle of Mumbai, where nature reached me mostly through screens and books — which only deepened my love for it. A recent botany graduate, I hope CPC will help me hone my skills, find my niche, and finally do some good for the environment around me.

I'm Aranya, named like the wild places I love. I'm a curious, always-moving parkour and freerunning athlete, an anime fan with out-of-the-box thinking, and I love fishing, camping and music. Everything I am has grown from wildlife and is now for wildlife — and I dream of learning conservation in the Amazon and Congo.

After studying Pharmaceutical Sciences and working in tourism, the pandemic became my turning point. I moved to Kodaikanal for agroecology, then travelled India learning community-led conservation — helping the Idu Mishmi and Monpa communities build conserved areas. I joined CPC to pair indigenous wisdom with scientific tools to document and share these perspectives.

I'm Chandu, a vagabond naturalist and curious wanderer who loves getting lost outdoors and following whatever catches my eye, from a bird to a stray conversation. I travel, learn and teach as I go, carrying my curiosity like my tent. I came to CPC to trade ideas with others and keep discovering the world.

Nature has always been where I feel most connected and curious, which led me to a Master's in Environmental Science and a focus on human–wildlife conflict. Through bird rescue, outreach and environmental projects, I saw how much I wanted to learn beyond the classroom. I joined CPC for practical field experience and mentorship.

I'm an Environmental Science graduate drawn to wildlife and marine conservation. My dissertation explored how media shapes perceptions of human–elephant interactions, and a minor in filmmaking showed me the power of visual storytelling. I joined CPC to move from classroom learning to hands-on work — especially on plastic pollution and wildlife entanglement.