Sanjay Gubbi, 2022-07-21

Sanjay Gubbi, born in 1970, in Tumakuru, Karnataka, is a conservation biologist. He earned a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent in 2006. In 2020, he obtained his PhD in Leopard Ecology and Conservation from Kuvempu University, Karnataka.

Gubbi’s dedication to wildlife conservation began with about a decade of volunteer work before joining Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India in 1998. In 2011, he joined Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), where he spearheads initiatives focussing on the preservation of large carnivores such as tigers and leopards and their habitats. His research, encompassing population dynamics, habitat conservation, and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, has earned him global recognition. He has received prestigious accolades including the Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation Award (2011), the Whitley Award (2017) and the Co-Existence Award (2019).

Believing in the importance of community involvement and conservation awareness, he set up the Holématthi Nature Foundation with the aim of protecting the natural habitats and wildlife of Karnataka through research, involving local communities, enhancing skills and knowledge, raising awareness, and managing conflicts between humans and wildlife.

In the past, he has also been a member of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife.

He is the author of several articles and books in Kannada and English.