India’s well-known organisation, Century Asia, has conferred the Wildlife Service Award 2025 on Dr Sonali Ghosh, the Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, in recognition of her exemplary contribution to wildlife management and conservation. 

• Dr Ghosh has earned distinction as the first woman Field Director of Kaziranga, assuming charge in 2023, marking a milestone in Indian forest administration. 
• Century Asia stated that her leadership was crucial during annual floods in Kaziranga, where she ensured morale, safety, and efficiency of frontline staff deployed in over 200 remote forest camps often cut off from communication.
• In 2025, she also became the first Indian to receive the prestigious Kent R Miller Award from IUCN, reinforcing her international recognition in conservation service. 
• Her scientific contributions include leopard rehabilitation in Kaziranga, Chakrashila, and Manas landscapes, research-based forest operations, and mentorship of women officers joining the service.
• The Wildlife Service Award 2025 also honoured other noted personalities such as climate expert Siddharth Agrawal, wetlands specialist Pravin Shekh, and water conservation pioneer Dr Rajendra Singh.
• Dr Ghosh expressed that a forest officer’s identity must remain rooted in field-based work, symbolised by “mud on their shoes and notebooks in hand,” emphasising commitment to ecological responsibility.

Exam Hook – Prelims MCQ

Q. Which of the following statements is correct?

1. Dr Sonali Ghosh is the first woman Field Director of Kaziranga National Park.
   
2. Kent R Miller Award is conferred by WWF-International.
   

Correct answer: Statement 1 only (the award is given by IUCN).

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