Dr. Giridhar Malla is the founder of the Eastern Himalayan Marbled Cat Project and the Godavari Fishing Cat Project and has nearly 12 years of experience working on the conservation of threatened wild felids across Northeast and southern India. His work has focused on species including the mainland marbled cat, mainland clouded leopard, Asiatic golden cat, and fishing cat, with an emphasis on understanding their ecology, addressing conservation threats, and strengthening community participation in wildlife conservation. He holds a PhD from the Wildlife Institute of India and Andhra University, where his doctoral research focused on the ecology, behaviour, and conservation of the fishing cat in the Godavari Delta. His research and field programmes integrate scientific monitoring with community engagement, conservation education, and capacity building to promote the long-term protection of small wild cats and their habitats. Dr. Malla is also committed to inspiring environmental stewardship among schoolchildren, young conservationists, and local communities. Through community-based initiatives, education programmes, field training, and participatory conservation efforts, his work has contributed to the establishment and strengthening of Community Conserved Areas and locally led wildlife protection initiatives. His approach demonstrates the potential of combining scientific knowledge with community leadership to create lasting conservation outcomes for threatened wildlife across India.