P Suresha

Wildlife Service Awards (2011)

Grassroots activist and committed wildlifer 

P. Suresha Chief Administrative Officer of Namma Sangha for the last seven years, P. Suresha has spent the last decade working for wildlife. As a student, he met the famous wildlifers Krupakar B.S. and Senani Hegde who had been kidnapped by Veerappan, and quickly fell under their spell. For some years he worked with them in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, interacting with local communities to understand and help resolve issues with the Karnataka Forest Department. This formed the basis of his work at Namma Sangha. He also spent four years working with the Nature Conservation Foundation where he further cemented his resolve to work for the welfare of local communities, while enlisting their help to protect wildlife. His work at Namma Sangha has significantly improved the relationship of people with the park next to which they live.

For this we honour him.