King Charles and Queen Camilla honored Oscar-winning filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves and a wildlife conservation group from India, The Real Elephant Collective (TREC), at the 2023 Animal Ball in London.
The royal couple presented the prestigious Mark Shand Award and the Tara Award to recognize their significant contributions to human-wildlife coexistence. Kartiki Gonsalves, the director of ‘The Elephant Whisperers,’ received the Tara Award, which celebrates exceptional storytelling and advocacy for coexistence.
The award citation praised Gonsalves as a true champion for wildlife and nature, highlighting the globally acclaimed documentary’s exploration of the profound connection between humans and elephants.
The film depicts the heartwarming story of Raghu, an orphaned elephant, and an indigenous couple in the forests of Tamil Nadu, showcasing the beauty of India’s wilderness and the empathy shared between people and animals.
The Mark Shand Award, named after Queen’s brother and Elephant Family founder, went to The Real Elephant Collective (TREC), a community of 70 Adivasi artists and wildlife conservationists.
Led by Shubhra Nayar, TREC collaborates with indigenous communities in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, an area with the highest human and elephant density globally.
Through intricate sculptural representations of wild elephants made from the invasive weed lantana camara, TREC provides livelihood opportunities for indigenous communities while helping remove this harmful weed from protected areas.
The award citation acknowledged TREC’s efforts in fostering a unique understanding and coexistence between people and wildlife, enhancing both the environment and the communities’ way of life.
TREC’s success has led to the establishment of the CoExistence Consortium, an India-wide group that brings together local experts, ecologists, anthropologists, geographers, and conservationists.
This consortium collaborates closely with communities living alongside wildlife to design and implement coexistence solutions that prioritize the perspectives and needs of these communities.
The Animal Ball, organized by Elephant Family and Tintra Foundation, is London’s most renowned tribute to the Animal Kingdom.
The event, adorned with sustainable animal headgear created by top fashion designers such as Prada, Chloe, Burberry, Charlotte Olympia, and Missoni, aims to raise essential funds for conservation programs in South Asia.
Indian designers Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra, and Anita Dongre represented India at the event by creating masks for the guests.
Mukherjee revealed in an Instagram post that the King and Queen wore Shola masks, paying homage to Bengal’s heritage and culture. The Animal Ball, previously hosted by the royal couple, has raised millions of dollars for conservation efforts. (Edited)