Zai Whitaker, 2024-03-27, 2024-07-24

Born in 1954, Zai (Zahida) Whitaker is an Indian writer, educator, and conservationist with a commitment to nature, community, and storytelling. Raised in a family immersed in conservation and literature, she grew up surrounded by prominent figures in both fields. Whitaker pursued literature for her undergraduate and post-graduate studies from St. Xavier’s College, University of Bombay and University of Madras.

Her early experiences included working with the World Wildlife Fund in Switzerland and India, contributing to exhibitions and educational outreach at a time when India’s conservation movement was taking shape.

She was closely involved in establishing the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology, pioneering public education and outreach on reptiles. She championed the rights and livelihoods of the Irula community through initiatives like venom extraction programmes and Irula Tribal Women’s Welfare Society.

Alongside her conservation work, Whitaker built a career in education, teaching at Kodaikanal International School and later leading schools, while continuing to write. A prolific author, her books, spanning children’s fiction and nature writing, often weave together ecological and social themes.