King Charles III & Queen Camilla Honour Indian Conservationists for Wildlife Conservation Efforts

London: King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Britain presented the prestigious Elephant Family environmental award to Indian conservationists at a ceremony. Filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, known for the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers,’ received the Tara Award, while the Real Elephant Collective (TREC), consisting of 70 Adivasi artists, was also honoured. Gonsalves dedicated her award to Mother India and emphasized the importance of respecting indigenous communities and fostering empathy for all living beings.

‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film. The film tells the heartwarming story of Raghu, an orphaned elephant, and an indigenous couple who form an unbreakable bond while caring for him. It highlights the connection between humans and elephants, the beauty of India’s wilderness, and the wisdom of tribal communities.

TREC was awarded the Mark Shand Award for their meticulous work in creating the CoExistence Herd, a collection of sculptural representations of wild elephants. The sculptures, made from the invasive weed lantana camara, not only provide livelihood opportunities for Adivasi communities but also help remove the harmful weed from protected areas. TREC’s efforts have fostered coexistence between people and wildlife in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills, benefiting both the environment and the local communities.

The success of TREC has led to the establishment of the CoExistence Consortium, a group that brings together experts from various fields to design and implement coexistence solutions that prioritize the perspectives and needs of communities living alongside wildlife.

Elephant Family, an international NGO dedicated to protecting the Asian elephant, supports projects that promote harmonious living between humans and animals. The organization was founded by the late Mark Shand, brother of Queen Camilla, who had a deep passion for elephant conservation. The Animal Ball, hosted by Elephant Family in partnership with the British Asian Trust, celebrated indigenous communities.

Through their outstanding achievements in storytelling, advocacy, and environmental conservation, Kartiki Gonsalves and TREC have made significant contributions to wildlife preservation and promoting coexistence between humans and elephants. Their work has captured the attention of millions and continues to inspire others to protect our natural world.