Meet Our Walk Leaders
Let’s meet the amazing individuals who lead our Delhi Earth Walks. Each expert brings a wealth of knowledge and a contagious passion for Delhi's unique ecology. Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or just starting to explore the wonders of nature, our walk leaders will guide you on an unforgettable journey of discovery. Let's delve into their areas of expertise:
Mahesh Rajput
Mahesh Rajput, hailing from the birding haven of Bharatpur, holds a B.Tech degree but found his true calling in the world of birds. His growing passion for birdwatching led him to become a skilled naturalist, and he now shares his knowledge and love for nature while working with Asian Adventures.
Afshan Husain
I’m Afshan Husain, an educator passionate about sparking curiosity in young minds, especially through nature. Birdwatching for me is more than a hobby—it's a way to slow down, listen, and connect with the world. I believe the best lessons come from paying attention to nature and observing the wonders around us.
Dr. Rajesh Kalra
Dr. Rajesh Kalra is a Delhi-based surgeon with a unique prescription for life: a healthy dose of birdwatching. When not attending to his patients at the Hospital, Dr. Kalra can be found binoculars in hand, exploring Delhi's diverse avifauna. His passion for birding has taken him to varied habitats. Asita East is his backyard patch, which is part of the Yamuna restoration project of DDA.
Rakesh Khatri
Rakesh Khatri is an Indian environmentalist recognized for his contributions to bird conservation, particularly through the creation of bird nests. Khatri's work has focused primarily on increasing awareness and implementing measures to protect bird species, especially the house sparrow.
Pulkit Sharma
Pulkit is a passionate naturalist with experience in ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. They have been part of Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park and led citizen science programs to connect people with nature. Their work focuses on restoring ecosystems and protecting wildlife.
Richa Kedia
Richa Kedia, an artist with a focus on nature and art, has worked on illustration projects for organizations like WWF India, TRAFFIC, and various forest departments. She shares her techniques of using art to observe, record, and engage with nature, offering insights into her creative practice and approach.
Rakesh Ahlawat
Rakesh Ahlawat, a passionate birdwatcher and conservationist from Dighal, Haryana, works to preserve local biodiversity. He engages in birdwatching, documents species, and promotes sustainable practices. His efforts raise awareness about ecosystem conservation, inspiring others in Dighal and beyond.
Akash Gulalia
Prof. Akash Gulalia, a social sciences scholar, has authored six books and numerous articles. A nature enthusiast, he’s involved in climate change activism with BNHS and WWF, specializing in Lepidoptera and ornithology. An avid birder with 1,000 species recorded, he’s also a trained mountaineer.
Mr. Akshit Dua
A passionate bird and wildlife enthusiast, I specialize in avian mapping, behavior, and identification. With two years of extensive fieldwork around Gurugram, I’ve explored grasslands, wetlands, and Aravalli foothills, spotting many rare avian species. I’ve also led bird surveys for the Forest Department in Chambal and Agra.
Mr. K B Singh
Commander K.B. Singh, a retired Indian Navy officer, is a dedicated ornithologist and bird conservationist. He has contributed to mapping bird populations, studying their distribution and habitats, and addressing conservation challenges, playing a crucial role in protecting India’s rich avian diversity.
Ritu Rao
Ritu Rao, a research scholar at TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, focuses on water sustainability with an emphasis on waterbodies. Her current research explores Najafgarh Jheel and its primary water source, the Sahibi River, promoting sustainable water management practices.
Mr. Kavi Nanda
Kavi Nanda, a Delhi-based birdwatcher and wildlife photographer, began birding nearly two decades ago in Nainital. His passion has led him across India, exploring remote regions to observe and photograph diverse bird species, documenting avian life in Delhi’s wetlands.
Mr. Prasanna Gautam
Prasanna Gautam, a wildlife conservationist with over 20 years of experience, has led birding tours across India’s top national parks. He coordinated the Snow Leopard Conservation Project in Ladakh and contributed to wildlife censuses, aiding biodiversity research and protection.
Ashir Kumar
Ashir Kumar, known as ‘1Frameman’, is a nature photographer specializing in macro photography. With over four years of experience, he captures insects and spiders in stunning detail, showcasing the intricate beauty of the tiny world.
Abhishek Gulshan
Abhishek Gulshan, a Delhi-based naturalist and founder of NINOX – Owl About Nature, promotes nature education through experiential learning. A former WWF-India naturalist and eBird reviewer, he authored The Hindu’s “In My Backyard” column and consults for leading conservation groups.
Dr. Sumit Dookia
A wildlife biologist since 1999 with a PhD on Chinkara ecology in the Thar Desert, he has worked with ZSI, WII, BNHS, and academia. His research covers birds, mammals, and landscapes. He helped establish five Conservation Reserves and advocates Great Indian Bustard conservation in Rajasthan.
Sohail Madan
Sohail, an ecologist, author, and educator, is the Director of WildTales. Formerly with BNHS, he developed 85+ butterfly parks, led citizen science programs, and advised government restoration efforts. Awarded the Dr. B Kiowta Lifetime Achievement Award, he champions biodiversity conservation across India.
Rohit Sharma
From conducting bird surveys with the Forest Department to leading student nature walks, Rohit Sharma’s impactful environmental efforts highlight his dedication to conservation, earning him recognition as a true eco-warrior and inspiring many to protect nature.
Sumit Tyagi
As a devoted nature enthusiast with a deep passion for butterflies, I’ve spent years capturing their delicate, ethereal beauty through my lens, aiming to raise awareness and appreciation for these fascinating creatures and their role in our ecosystems.
Ishtiyak Ahamad
Ishtiyak Ahamad, a wildlife and biodiversity expert with over 13 years of experience, serves as Manager of Nature Education and Training at Give Me Trees Trust. Starting with BNHS at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, he has conducted 5,000+ sessions focused on wildlife, biodiversity, and afforestation.
Vijay Dhasmana
Vijay Dhasmana is an eco-restoration and rewilding expert known for transforming the 380-acre Aravali Biodiversity Park with I Am Gurgaon. He previously worked on forest conservation and resource management across India with WTI, ATI, Global Futures Network, and Himalaya Trust.
Jose Louies
Jose Louies, founder of indiansnakes.org and member of the IUCN Snake Specialist Group, is the CEO of Wildlife Trust of India. With 20+ years of experience, he has led nationwide workshops on snakes and snakebite response, aiding forest departments in forming dedicated snake rescue teams.
Piyush Sekhsariya
Peeyush Sekhsaria, a Delhi-based development professional, specializes in natural disasters and resource management. With degrees in architecture and geography, he has authored books, contributed to publications, and co-created educational games on wildlife. His work focuses on conservation and environmental education.
Parul Daga
Parul is an ecological gardener with keen interest in citizen science and women’s rights. She has worked in Neemrana on restoration projects and is now creating ecological gardens in Najafgarh, Delhi and in Karma Lakelands and Golf Course in Manesar Haryana.
Pankaj Gupta
Pankaj Gupta, a passionate birder since 2008, has spent nearly 15 years documenting avian diversity. An eBird reviewer and Regional Coordinator for BirdCount India, he champions bird conservation and habitat protection in Delhi NCR, inspiring community engagement.
Soma Ateesh Tripathi
Soma Ateesh Tripathi, a birder for over 20 years, leads nature walks and runs a colony nature club. An early eBird reviewer in NCR, she writes on urban biodiversity in Samvaad and raises awareness about Aravalli birds, inspiring all ages to connect with the wild.
Sunil Harsana
A homegrown conservationist, Sunil Harsana is renowned as the savior of Mangar Bani for his efforts to protect Delhi NCR's last natural forest. Known as the Pied Piper of Mangar Bani, he spreads awareness and has dedicated over a decade to preserving the Aravallis' biodiversity.
Mr. Alok Kumar
Alok Kumar is an educator and wildlife researcher. An avid cultivator of wildlife education, he has conducted talks, webinars, and training programs and has even helped train forest officers.
Deepak Kumar
Deepak Kumar is a skilled bird guide with expertise in bird identification, habitat interpretation, and wildlife preservation. Growing up in Delhi, he developed a deep passion for avian life. He leads birdwatching tours, conducts workshops, and shares his love for birds through writing and photography.
Nikhil John
Nikhil John, Assistant Manager at WWF India’s Environment Education team, is a naturalist with over seven years of experience. Through the Nature Connect programme, he leads trails and trainings, promoting biodiversity awareness. He also specializes in reptiles and dragonflies.