Anand Shinde

Prior to his work in conservation, Anand was a photojournalist, heading the photo department of Deccan Chronicle. However, in 2012, Anand was drawn towards elephant conservation and soon became an expert in communicating with wild and captive elephants.

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Anand's work in elephant conservation began in 2012 when he left his job & started Trunk Call The Wildlife Foundation in 2014. His organization has been working tirelessly to mitigate human-elephant conflict and sustain the lives of elephants. As per studies, an elephant dies every 15 minutes due to poaching, habitat loss, and human-elephant conflict. Anand's work is crucial in saving these gentle giants.

Anand's research paper 'Communicating with Elephants - A Discovery' was presented in the International Symposium on Ecology Health Management of Asiatic Elephants (Elephas Maximus). It was also printed in the Lead Papers. Using voice commands, Anand communicates with elephants to keep them out of trauma and stress. He never uses sticks or any other form of physical punishment, and his work is solely based on voice commands.

Currently, Anand and his team are helping 70 villages for the Maharashtra State Forest Department. The focus of their work is on conflict villages where elephants do crop raiding. Anand's efforts are geared towards building capacity in these villages to mitigate human-elephant conflict and ensure the safety of both humans and elephants.

Anand firmly believes that elephants are the engineers and architects of nature, and we must do everything in our power to protect and save them. His work is a testament to his commitment to this cause. Anand has worked on various projects, including helping elephant handlers of the Kerala State Forest Department, working on the elephant conflict in the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, and supporting flood-affected Panchayats in Kerala, Assam and Maharashtra.

In conclusion, Anand Shinde is an inspiration to many. His work in elephant conservation is admirable, and he serves as a beacon of hope for the survival of these magnificent animals.