Field Insights & Perspectives

The Mhadei region, part of the Western Ghats, is home to an extraordinary diversity of life. On 3rd and 4th September 2026, Brinda Upadhyaya and the Upadhyaya Foundation team, along with Mitesh and Dipal Damania from Nature Future, joined Nirmal Kulkarni, Director of the Mhadei Research Centre, for a nature walk through the region. We discovered a world of fascinating creatures, many hiding in plain sight. The biggest lesson for us was that coexistence begins with learning to

Listen to the conversation here: https://youtu.be/7lKacVdKVKE What does it take to understand a forest? For an ecologist, conservationist, photographer, and artist, Nirmal Ullas Kulkarni, it begins with walking, observing, and, most importantly, listening. During the Upadhyaya Foundation team’s visit to the Mhadei region on the 3rd and 4th of September 2026, we sat down with Nirmal, Director of the Mhadei Research Center, to talk about his journey with nature, species discov

When extreme weather reshapes the landscape, burrows fill with water. Nesting sites disappear. Eggs are washed away. Forest floors become inaccessible. Animals are forced towards unfamiliar spaces in search of higher ground. As heavy monsoon rains and flooding affect Mumbai and surrounding areas, these disruptions become more frequent. Our partners at SARRP and Green Works Trust (GWT) work on the ground, responding to rescue calls while navigating challenging conditions. We

"I'm trying to build what I envisioned as a young girl, just caring for animals and doing whatever I can in this lifetime." - Dr. Rina Dev Animal welfare is often measured through rescues, rehabilitation, and conservation successes. But behind every rescued animal are people who dedicate their lives to this work, often quietly, and always with immense compassion. As part of the Upadhyaya Foundation team's visit to Riwild Sanctuary in Karjat on 23rd July 2026, we sat down with

This poem, written by Brinda Upadhyaya, Co-Founder, Upadhyaya Foundation, is a reflection on the Sundarban landscape and the life it sustains. Inspired by the richness of the ecosystem as well as the work of HEAL, one of the NGO partners of the Foundation, within it, the poem brings together the rivers, forests, and species that coexist in this unique environment. It was written not only about the landscape, but also for the people who are deeply engaged in protecting it. Thr