Ramanathapuram Forest Range Officer S Sathish on winning the International Ranger Award 2021

Satish won the award for his contribution to marine conservation at the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and Palk Bay region

Ramanathapuram Forest Range Officer S Sathish’s fascination for woods started at a young age. “My home is at Thalavadi, which is close to the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Erode. As a child, I enjoyed sighting wild animals. I also had plenty of opportunities to interact with forest officials. By the time I completed my schooling, I was sure that I wanted to work in the forest,” says Sathish, who graduated from the Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam. The 35-year-old is now in the news for winning the International Ranger Award 2021, issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Switzerland, World Commission on Protected Areas, International Ranger Federation and Global Wildlife Conservation and Conservation Allies, for his work in marine conservation at the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and Palk Bay region. “It is awarded to 10 officials across the world. This is the first edition of the award and I am honoured to be selected from 600 entries from 100 countries.” Other than Sathish, Mahindra Giri, a range officer from Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, has also won it from India.