Sohail Madan currently serves as the Director, Ecologist, and Author at WildTales Foundation. He previously held the position of Assistant Director at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). With over a decade of experience in ecological restoration, biodiversity monitoring, community engagement, and environmental education in Delhi with Department of Forest and Wildlife, Delhi. Sohail has been instrumental in driving many conservation initiatives across India. One of his key achievements includes developing North India’s largest butterfly park within the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. A strong advocate for native flora and seed banks, he has established over 85 butterfly parks across the country and managed native plant nurseries to support habitat restoration efforts. Sohail led the conceptualization of nationally recognized citizen science initiatives such as Big Butterfly Month and the Dragonfly Festival. He also pioneered India’s first butterfly habitat within an industrial zone in partnership with Bridgestone India, located in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Pune (Maharashtra). In 2019, he initiated the Green Skill Development Program for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. He has delivered training programs for frontline forest staff in Madhya Pradesh and supervised regional education centers at Bharatpur (Rajasthan) and Bhagalpur (Bihar). In addition to organizing bird and butterfly festivals nationwide, Sohail has conducted biodiversity surveys in various states including Delhi, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. For his outstanding contributions to conservation, he was honored with the Dr. B. Kiowta Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 by the Indian Dragonfly Society and has served as a member of the Delhi Ridge Management Board.

He is currently working with WildTales Foundation as an Associate Director & Ecologist, he pursued his passion towards wildlife conservation straight after completing his Bachelor’s in Engineering. He has worked with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to develop natural habitats for butterflies in central India. Under the guidance of Mr. Sohail Madan, he developed India’s first butterfly habitat in an industrial zone with Bridgestone India at Indore, Madhya Pradesh and has played a crucial role in conducting various Lepidoptera and Avifauna monitoring surveys in central India. He has more than 5 years of experience in conducting butterfly walks, nature trails, and nature awareness sessions. Additionally, he has conducted many workshops on butterfly conservation for a diverse range of stakeholders, including corporate entities, educational institutions, societies, and forest department officials.

He has joined WildTales Foundation as Project Manager, leading Butterfly Habitat Development and Nature Awareness Programs. Currently pursuing M.Sc. in Environmental Studies with a focus on Wildlife Conservation at MIT-World Peace University, Pune, he is also engaged in urban owl mapping in the Pune region. With expertise in biodiversity monitoring, butterflies, birds, and odonata, he has conducted biodiversity assessments in Puducherry and coordinated workshops as Project Coordinator at Chatur ULLU Lab. As Management Head of Nagpur Ploggers for three years, he led biodiversity surveys, CSR initiatives, and community engagement. His experience in field management and environmental awareness underscores his dedication to fostering sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

Shirish hails from Seoni district in Madhya Pradesh and holds a Master’s degree in Social Work. Over the past seven years, he has been actively engaged in issues related to the Indian Constitution, education, and social justice. He is a former Dignity Fellow, Phia Fellow, and Changeloom Fellow. Shirish is the founder of Wild Roots, an initiative based in Kurai village, located in the buffer zone of Pench National Park. For the past three years, shirish has been working on nature education, community-based conservation, and running a native plant nursery. His work focuses on reconnecting local communities especially youth and children with nature, and promoting sustainable and ecologically responsible living.