05/07/2026
Saving Wild Tigers is honored to have supported Krithi and her team for many years. We look forward to many more!
Words from Krithi::
This moment is pivotal for CWS and deeply personal to me.
When I moved back to India after 13 years studying and working in the United States, many people thought I had made a mistake—that I had thrown my life away. I was starting my career from scratch, applying for grants, and trying to find my footing as scientist again.
In 2011, I received a call from the National Geographic Society saying I had been awarded a grant—also their 10,000th. When I told my mother, she said, “This will change your life.” And it did.
Over the past 15 years as a National Geographic Explorer, I have grown from scientist to conservationist, educator, and storyteller.
In 2019, our work was recognized with the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, at a time when we were rebuilding the Centre for Wildlife Studies. This recognition gave us the confidence to think bigger—and to scale faster and deepen our work for wildlife and people.
Today, I am honored to be named the 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year.
https://news.nationalgeographic.org/national-geographic-society-names-krithi-k-karanth-2026-explorer-of-the-year/
At the Centre for Wildlife Studies, our work extends to nearly 100 wildlife parks, reaching millions of people—combining innovative science, conservation action, and education to build coexistence between people and wildlife.
I am deeply grateful to the National Geographic Society and Rolex, and to the amazing CWS team who has been part of this journey!
Krithi
