The evils in this world seem to know no bounds so it only stands to reason that there is a staggering amount of goodness, too. Bengaluru came face to face with some of it on Friday at the Jumbo Wildlife Awards. Success surprises those who deserve it the most, which was only too evident as some of the most dedicated, hardworking conservationists in the State were rewarded for their exemplary commitment and outstanding courage. “The officers have done excellent work this year, facing forest fires in Bandipur and Nagarhole and keeping poachers away,” said B.K. Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife.
The ceremony was presided over by forest minister C.P. Yogeeshwar. Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force A.K. Varma and Anil Kumble, under whose initiative (with the Kumble Foundation) the Jumbo Awards were instituted, were present.
The best Foot Soldier Awards went to C. Sadashivan, Forester, Kollegal Range, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary; Chandrakant R Naik, Forest Guard, Kulagi Range, Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve; and H.H. Venkatesh, daily wage employee, Alur Taluk, Hassan District. Sangamesh N. Prabhakar, RFO, Hediyala Range and Shashidhar GR, RFO, Gopalaswamybetta Range, won the awards for best Range Forest Officer. Biswajit Mishra, Director, e-Governance, Bangalore, was deemed outstanding civil servant. He donated the cash component of his award to the BRT Tiger Foundation. Dr Madhusudhan, the Director of the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore was chosen as the Exceptional Applied Conservation Scientist Award.
Virender Sehwag made a pleasant entry a little way into the evening. The RCB team too trooped in, led by skipper Daniel Vettori.