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About SAI Sanctuary Trust
SAI Sanctuary is located in the
Western Ghats of southern India—the heart of the watershed area for the
entire south Indian peninsula, and one of the hottest ‘Hot Spots’ of
biodiversity in the world, as designated by the United Nations. From the
initial purchase of just 55 acres of private forested lands in 1991, the
Sanctuary has grown to more than 300, with its positive influence being
seen and felt in the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries it
borders—Brahmagiri, Nagarhole and Bandipur.
Dubbed ‘Noah’s Ark’ by an Oxford
University scientist—one of the many naturalists and scientists who have
done research within its grounds—the Sanctuary’s rich variety of flora
includes hundreds of different indigenous trees and plants—many of
medicinal value—as well as numerous rare and threatened species of
animals—river otters, civet cats, giant Malabar squirrel, lesser loris,
various types of deer, monkeys, and snakes (including the Indian King
Cobra), dhole (Indian wild dog), foxes, jackals, leopards, the Asian elephant,
and the Royal Bengal Tiger all call the Sanctuary ‘home,’ with over 300
different kinds of birds frequenting its forest canopy as well, including
SST’s logo—the Paradise Flycatcher. Many of these species of both flora and
fauna are found nowhere else on the planet.
SAI Sanctuary Trust (SST)—a
registered nonprofit organization originally formed to run the
Sanctuary—has now expanded its work and influence throughout India and
beyond. Coming from a number of different countries and cultures, and from
various walks of life, the Trustees and Advisors of SST include businessmen
and educators, writers and speakers, veterinarians and naturalists,
scientists and environmentalists.
Protection of the Earth’s forests
and the wildlife they contain is the link that has drawn us together,
working around the globe for their preservation—from the Hawaiian Islands
in the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains of North America, from the Himalayas
in northern India to the Western Ghats in the south—to help restore balance
among all species of Nature—including humankind.
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Principal Trustees and Advisors for
SAI Sanctuary Trust
Trustees:
1) Dr. A.K. Malhotra, PhD—Present
Chairperson of SAI Sanctuary Trust; attended Welham & Doon
School—Dehradoon, Shivaji Military School—Pune, graduated from St. Xavier’s
College—Bombay, attended Government Law College—Bombay, London Institute of
Bankers, PhD in Political Science—Hamburg University, Germany; co-author of
two internationally recognized books on comparative prophecy and
philosophy.
2) Mrs. Pamela Malhotra—Co-chairperson and Secretary of SST;
government public schools K-12, University of Maryland and Colorado State
University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA—double major in Political Science
and History—graduated Summa cum Laude (Valedictorian); trained in
Chemistry, Pharmacology, Abnormal Psychology; Reiki Master healer, trained
in Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Vibrionics therapy—does charity work as the
only health professional in remote villages in the Himalayas and in Kodagu
District; primary caretaker of animals at Sanctuary; along with Dr.
Malhotra, both author and subject of several articles/interviews/film
documentaries on the environment, philosophy, politics and education.
3) Ms. Tara Chander—Trustee; B.A. with Teaching Certificate in
German language and literature from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts;
Masters in Education Administration from University of Hawaii, Honolulu,
1993; since Oct. 2003, Senior Manager of one of the leading IT companies of
the world.
4) Dr. S.R. Prakash—Trustee; National College,
Bangalore—Pre-University Bachelor of Veterinary Science, U.A.S., Bangalore;
Masters in Veterinary Science, Veterinary College, U.A.S., Bangalore, 1989;
member of ‘Ethics Committee for Animal Care,’ Dayanandsagar Medical
College; ‘on call’ for all animal emergencies at Sanctuary; runs own
veterinary clinic in Bangalore, India.
Advisors:
1) Dr. M.K. (Taumey) Mahendrappa—Senior Soil Scientist for the Canadian
National Forest Service (twice awarded by the Canadian Government for his
environmental work), Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service,
Atlantic Forestry Center.
2) Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa, PVSM, VM, IAF (retired)—son of Field Marshal
Cariappa (Independent India’s first Commander-in-Chief), nephew of General
Thimayya, (also India’s Commander-in-Chief); former president of Coorg
Wildlife Society; served on Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board;
Honorary Wildlife Warden for the State of Karnataka, India; current
environmental work includes promotion of a ‘Peace Park’ in the Siachen
Glacier area of the Himalayas.
3) Mr. Ram Mohan Ray—Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for the
State of Karnataka, India (retired end February 2007)—Awarded by the
Government of India as the Best Organizer and Administrator of Ecotourism
Venture of ‘Jungle Lodges;’ author of several books on birds and wildlife.
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