Assam-based wildlife biologist Dr Purnima Devi Barman has been named among 15 global recipients of the 2026 Wayfinder Award. for her outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation.

Who is Purnima Devi Barman?

• Dr Purnima Devi Barman is an distinguished wildlife biologist from Assam.
• She is best known for her pioneering efforts to save the greater adjutant stork (Hargila) which was facing a significant decline in population. 
• She created the Hargila Army in 2007, an all-female conservation group involving more than 20,000 women, dedicated to protecting the species and its habitat​.
  • The initiative has also helped local women gain financial independence by involving them in sustainable businesses such as making textiles with stork-themed embroidery​.
• Dr Barman’s unique approach to conservation—blending wildlife protection with women’s empowerment—has created a sustainable, community-driven movement. 
• Her work has not only saved an endangered species and officially moved its status to “near threatened” under the IUCN list, but also transformed lives.
• She proved that conservation and social progress can go hand in hand.

About the Hargila (Greater Adjutant Stork)

• Greater Adjutant Stork is one of the world’s rarest stork species.
• It is locally known as Hargila in Assam.
• The bird is primarily found in Assam and parts of Cambodia.
• The species is currently listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, after showing population recovery.

Major Achievements

• The number of nesting sites increased from 27 to over 300.
• Assam now hosts the largest breeding colony of Greater Adjutant Storks in the world.
• The Hargila population in Assam has increased to more than 1,800 birds.
• Greater Adjutant Stork officially moved from “endangered” to “near threatened” status under the IUCN list
• Thousands of rural women have gained financial independence through conservation-linked livelihood activities.

Global and National Recognition

• Wayfinder Award (2026) by the National Geographic Society and Kia America.
• TIME Women of the Year 2025.
• UN Champions of the Earth Award (2022) – the United Nations’ highest environmental honour.
• World Female Ranger Award (2022).
• Whitley Gold Award (2024), popularly known as the “Green Oscar”.
• Nari Shakti Puraskar (2017), India’s highest civilian honour for women.

Why is Her Work Important?

• It demonstrates that community participation is crucial for successful conservation.
• It highlights the link between environmental sustainability and women-led development.
• It serves as a model for achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Exam Hook (Prelims)

The Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila), associated with a successful conservation movement in Assam, belongs to which family of birds?
Answer: Stork family (Ciconiidae).

One-Line Wrap

Purnima Devi Barman’s Hargila conservation movement stands as a global example of how wildlife protection, community participation, and women’s empowerment can create lasting ecological and social change.