Whitley Award went to Parveen Shaikh for Indian Skimmer conservation; species population is about 3,000

Direct fact

In May 2026, conservationist Parveen Shaikh won the Whitley Award for her work on Indian Skimmer conservation, a species whose global population is estimated at about 3,000 birds.

Key specifics

• The award was the Whitley Award, also called the Green Oscar.
• It is administered by the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) in London.
• The Whitley Award was established in 1993.
• The Indian Skimmer is scientifically known as Rynchops albicollis.
• India hosts over 90% of the global Indian Skimmer population, estimated at about 3,000 birds.

Exam lens

Question type: awards and environment, species name and population MCQ; remember Parveen Shaikh, Whitley Award, 1993, Rynchops albicollis, and the 3,000-bird estimate.