Wildlife biologist and conservationist. Founder of the Hargila Army.
Her work brings science, community and culture together to help people care for the Hargila and the landscapes they share.
Conservation rooted in community“Each person, each species, we are connected with a single thread.”
For Purnima, protecting wildlife begins with understanding the people and places connected to it.
Her work with the greater adjutant stork began with a desire to understand and protect a bird that had long been overlooked.
Local people, especially women, are partners in caring for the Hargila and its habitat.
Conservation is shared through learning, community action and cultural expression.
Purnima’s work with the Hargila—the greater adjutant stork of Assam—has connected wildlife conservation with the knowledge, leadership and creativity of local communities.
Read her story