Purnima Devi Barman: Indian Biologist Among TIME's Women Of The Year

Purnima Devi Barman, a biologist and wildlife conservationist from Assam, has recently been recognised among TIME's Women of the Year 2025. She is involved in the protection of fauna and also works towards empowering women from local communities. Barman's love for animals began at a young age, inspired by her grandmother's love for birds. This adoration soon propelled into a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation, focusing on the Hargila stork, also known as the greater adjutant stork. She is fondly known as 'Stork Sister'.

Who Is Purnima Devi Barman

Born in Kamrup, Assam, Purnima Devi Barman attended Gauhati University to pursue a Master's degree in Zoology with a specialisation in Ecology and Wildlife Biology.

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In 2007, she was researching for her PhD when she noticed a tree owner cut down a nest with a greater adjutant stork nest. Realising the stork was disliked for its scavenging habits, she paused her studies to educate locals on its ecological importance.

Barman tried to change the perception of the stork among the locals. She is credited with moving the stork from 'endangered' status to 'near threatened' under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) classification. 

She has also worked as a Senior Wildlife Biologist at Aaranyak, a wildlife charity organisation. She is also the Director of WiNN (Women in Nature Network) India and a member of the IUCN Stork, Ibis, and Spoonbill Specialist Group.

Beyond wildlife conservation, Barman has championed the empowerment of Assamese women and heritage. She founded the "Hargilla Army", a group of over 10,000 women turning wildlife protection into a grassroots movement.

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For over 16 years, the Hargila Army has been protecting the greater adjutant storks' nesting sites, rehabilitating injured storks and even celebrating the arrival of newborns with “baby showers”.

Barman is a recipient of the 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' 2017, the highest civilian award for Indian women. She has also won the Whitley Award, known as the Green Oscar, presented by Anne, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom. 

Barman is also the recipient of the United Nation;'s Highest Environmental Honour “Champion of the Earth". She was also featured by National Geographic India.