Krithi Karanth named 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year
Conservation scientist Krithi Karanth has been named the 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year. She is the first South Asian to receive this honor, recognizing her long-term commitment to wildlife conservation in India.
Why it matters
Highlights the global recognition of South Asian leadership in environmental science and biodiversity protection.
Conservation scientist Krithi Karanth has an audacious goal: to strengthen the conservation programmes of the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), the organisation she spearheads, across a 100 wildlife reserves of the Eastern and Western Ghats. “We have designed a range of programmes that we know are already working at different scales and depths in the country, but we can go much deeper,” says Krithi, who was named the 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, an award she received at the Society’s annual Explorers Festival earlier this month.
The article is a factual profile of an award recipient based on interviews and career history.
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