Meehir Pawar
Sanctuary’s Young Naturalist Award
We looked for driven youth leaders, setting examples for their peers and their elders. Young women and men with a thirst for knowledge, possessing conservation entrepreneurship and passionately motivated to work for a sustainable future for all life on Planet Earth.
Meehir Pawar
Entomologist, naturalist, nature educator
“The forests are my safe retreat,” Meehir Pawar says with unwavering passion. “Their natural history is my open encyclopaedia – a resource I wish to share with everyone.” Just 22 years old, this naturalist is already a trained entomologist, who spends much of his time immersed in wild forests, absorbing the wonders of nature. With a particular affinity for dragonflies and damselflies, he is acutely aware of the vital ecological roles these odonates play as both prey and predator, and as indicators of the health of wetlands. In a world where insect populations are rapidly declining, young conservationists like Meehir are pillars of hope. “Insects are the foundation of nature’s food chains,” he says. “Without them, nothing higher up can survive.” For Meehir, protecting insects is a way of protecting the entire ecosystem.
His master’s dissertation, focused on the impact of urbanisation on dragonflies and damselflies in Alibaug, Maharashtra, reflects his dedication to understanding how human development affects these crucial insects. Based in Mumbai, he holds an M.S. in Entomology from the K.J. Somaiya College of Science and Commerce.
Despite the demands of his academic work, Meehir is equally passionate about nature education. For the past several years, he has dedicated weekends to guiding students and adults on nature walks around Mumbai to help them connect with the natural world. On these expeditions, he educates participants on topics including waste management, recycling, the importance of forests in urban settings, and human-wildlife interactions, thus empowering them to make informed, ecologically responsible choices.
Meehir’s fieldwork spans academic research and biodiversity assessments for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) across India. During an internship with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), he researched Mumbai’s urban leopards, setting up camera traps and collecting GPS data on collared leopards. His volunteer work with WWF-India’s Dragonfly Festival and his coastal explorations with and for ‘Marine Life of Mumbai’ demonstrates his commitment to public awareness, particularly through educational translations in Marathi.
A strong advocate for nature education, Meehir has also contributed to outreach programmes at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s (SGNP’s) Nature Information Centre (NIC), where he leads nature trails and manages their social media outreach. Wildernesses such as Matheran, the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, and the coasts of Mumbai and Alibag, have equally served as his early training grounds that now qualify him to leading educational outings.
Meehir is also deeply engaged in hands-on conservation efforts, including beach and forest cleanups, bund building, and creating public awareness around sustainable practices. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he launched a social media page dedicated to zoology outreach, curating infographics and content for both life science students and the general public.
For his tireless efforts to advance scientific understanding and for inspiring a new generation of naturalists to understand and protect the natural world, Sanctuary honours him.