GUWAHATI: Renowned wildlife biologist and conservationist Purnima Devi Barman from Assam has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2026 Wayfinder Award. The honour recognises her pioneering contribution to the conservation of the endangered greater adjutant stork, popularly known in Assam as the hargila.
Barman earned global recognition for spearheading the “Hargila Army,” a community-driven conservation movement that has mobilised more than 20,000 women across Assam. The initiative combines wildlife protection with habitat conservation, environmental awareness and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Barman’s conservation journey began in 2007 while conducting her PhD research in Assam’s Kamrup district. During her fieldwork, she observed that greater adjutant storks had shifted from wetlands to nesting in tall trees near villages, where they faced a new threat as residents frequently cut down the nesting trees.
Rather than confining her efforts to academic research, Barman engaged local communities, particularly women, to protect the birds and raise awareness about their ecological significance.
The National Geographic Society announced the 2026 Wayfinder Award recipients on June 9, honouring 15 changemakers from six continents whose work is advancing scientific understanding, environmental protection, education, technology and storytelling.