Meet Sonali Ghosh, First Woman Field Director of Kaziranga National Park

Chief conservator of forests Dr Sonali Ghosh is all set to become the first woman field director of Kaziranga National Park from next month. Assam's Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site recognised by UNESCO and known for preserving one-horned rhinos and tigers. 

Ghosh's appointment as the first female field officer of Kaziranga National Park is a significant milestone for gender equality in the Indian Forest Service.  

Who Is Sonali Ghosh? Kaziranga To Get Its First Female Director:

On August 25, the Assam Government announced Indian Forrest Service officer Sonali Ghosh to be the next field director of Kaziranga National Park. She is currently the Deputy Conservator of Forests for research education and working plan division at the office of the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force in Guwahati.

She is set to take over as director on September 1, after Jatindra Sarma, who is set to retire on August 31.



According to a forest department official, she will become the first woman to hold charge as director of the 118-year-old KNP.

"Born into a family of Army personnel, Ghosh knew from an early age that she wished to be involved in forest and wildlife conservation," he added.

The official informed that Ghosh is a topper of the IFS batch of 2000-2003, and is armed with a slew of degrees, including a post-graduate degree in forestry and wildlife science, a post-graduate diploma in environmental law from the National Law School of India and another one in systems management.

"She has also won a doctorate in remote-sensing technology concerning habitat suitability for tigers in the Indo-Bhutan Manas landscape," he added.

She is also a recipient of the prestigious Whitley Award for her work on tiger conservation.

In a statement, Ghosh said she is honoured to be appointed as the Field Director of Kaziranga National Park. She said that she is committed to working with the park staff to conserve the park's unique wildlife and its natural habitat.

UNESCO declared KNP as a World Heritage Site in December 1985. The park is famed for the one-horned rhinos and is spread across Nagaon, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts. It is also home to several other endangered species, including tigers, elephants, and water buffaloes.

Ghosh's appointment is a welcome development and a sign of the progress made in gender equality in the Indian Forest Service. She is a role model for young women who aspire to a career in wildlife conservation.

Suggested Reading: Dr Ritu Karidhal, India’s ‘Rocket Woman’ Behind Chandrayaan 3 Mission