In the heart of central India, Vidarbha’s animal welfare movement has quietly shaped a compassionate undercurrent beneath the region’s fast-growing urban and rural transformations.

The fight for animal rights here is neither new nor fleeting. It stems from persistent individuals who have made advocacy and rescue a daily commitment. Among them stand three distinct figures whose work bridges urban activism, on-ground rescue, and long-term conservation. Their initiatives vary in scale but share a consistent goal: ensuring that both domestic and wild creatures receive humane treatment.

This story traces their journeys through verifiable accounts that highlight the depth of their contribution to animal welfare. The lives and actions of these activists show that humane work in Vidarbha does not only belong to institutions but also to determined individuals who take the cause forward every day.

1. Karishma Govind Galani: Head of People for Animals, Nagpur

In Nagpur, one of Vidarbha’s most rapidly expanding cities, Karishma Govind Galani leads the local unit of People for Animals (PFA), one of India’s largest animal welfare organisations. Officially listed on PFA’s national portal as the Unit Head for Nagpur, she has been instrumental in coordinating city-wide rescue operations and awareness programmes. Her leadership has brought consistent structure to volunteer rescue efforts across Nagpur, particularly during emergencies involving stray dogs, cattle, and urban wildlife. Under her coordination, PFA Nagpur conducts adoption drives, cruelty prevention workshops, and police training sessions to strengthen enforcement under animal protection laws.

In partnership with PETA India, Galani’s efforts supported city police in a major workshop designed to train over a hundred officers on identifying and addressing cases of animal cruelty. Her consistent advocacy has placed her among the few regional voices working to bridge the gap between citizens, law enforcement, and veterinarians. Beyond administrative leadership, Galani is actively present in field operations, regularly responding to distress calls for injured animals and abandoned pets. Local reports cite her involvement in PFA adoption camps, which have helped countless stray animals find permanent homes. The organisation’s helpline, managed under her supervision, continues to operate as Nagpur’s primary point of contact for urgent animal rescue.

2. Surabhi Lalwani: Frontline Rescuer and PFA Volunteer

Another name that has emerged from Nagpur’s active welfare network is Surabhi Lalwani, a People for Animals volunteer known for direct involvement in rescues. Her work gained visibility in September 2025, when she assisted in saving an eight-year-old horse injured during the Ganpati Visarjan processions in the city. The incident highlighted her late-night response with other PFA members and PETA India, ensuring that the animal received treatment and temporary shelter. Such operations reflect the collaborative approach that defines Vidarbha’s growing rescue community, where activists, veterinarians, and citizens unite under shared urgency.

While Lalwani’s professional background lies outside animal welfare, her public profile lists her as a language trainer. Her volunteer activities demonstrate sustained involvement in welfare work. Her social media presence and community engagement pages are filled with appeals for adoption and updates from ongoing rescue efforts. Though not a full-time professional activist, her on-ground contributions have turned her into a recognisable figure among Nagpur’s animal rescue volunteers.

Lalwani’s presence in publicised rescue cases has also strengthened the visibility of individual volunteers within larger organisational structures. Through consistent involvement, she represents the vital grassroots level of activism, citizens who step in when institutions struggle to respond swiftly.

Lalwani’s efforts also highlight the changing nature of animal welfare in Vidarbha. Increasingly, local activism depends on individuals rather than established NGOs, and her example shows how trained volunteers fill crucial gaps during emergencies. Each operation she participates in contributes to a collective shift in civic attitudes, signalling a growing awareness among urban residents toward animal rights.

3. Dr. Prakash Amte: Founder of Amte’s Animal Ark at Hemalkasa

Deep in Gadchiroli district, Dr. Prakash Amte has carried forward one of India’s most distinctive models of co-existence between humans and animals. A surgeon and social worker, he co-founded Lok Biradari Prakalp in 1973 to serve the Madia Gond tribal community of Hemalkasa. Alongside healthcare and education, the project developed Amte’s Animal Ark, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre that began as an orphanage for young animals brought by villagers after hunting incidents. The Ark, officially recognised as part of the Lok Biradari campus, has evolved into a sanctuary that houses tigers, bears, leopards, crocodiles, and numerous other species native to the region.

Reports and institutional publications confirm that the Animal Ark was established in 1974 and continues to function under the supervision of Dr. Amte and his family. The facility is a rare model of ethical wildlife care outside state-run zoos. It provides safe enclosures and veterinary attention while remaining accessible to the local community for educational visits. Lok Biradari’s website documents that over 115 rescued or orphaned animals have found refuge there, many raised from infancy by the Amte family.

Though primarily known for his medical and social work, Dr. Amte’s contribution to animal welfare has earned national and international recognition. His efforts form part of a larger philosophy that views compassion for animals as integral to social reform. The Indian Express and other national publications have documented the regulatory challenges faced by the Ark, especially concerning wildlife classifications, yet the project remains operational with necessary compliance. The Ark functions as both a living educational resource and a humanitarian statement, built on decades of coexistence between humans and wildlife in one of Vidarbha’s most remote regions.

Dr. Amte’s legacy in animal welfare is inseparable from his broader humanitarian work. His integration of animal rescue into tribal healthcare and education makes his approach unique among social activists. The Ark continues to attract visitors and researchers who study its unconventional model of conservation rooted in empathy rather than enclosure.

The movement for animal welfare in Vidarbha is shaped not only by established institutions but also by the consistent work of local individuals. From Nagpur’s urban rescue operations to Hemalkasa’s forested sanctuary, each of these activists demonstrates a distinct dimension of compassion.

Karishma Govind Galani’s coordination ensures systemic support, while Surabhi Lalwani represents the spontaneous response of citizens who refuse indifference. At the same time, Dr. Prakash Amte’s lifelong integration of social and animal welfare stands as a model for how care can transcend categories. Together, they reflect the region’s growing consciousness about the treatment of animals and the responsibility humans share toward other living beings. Their work continues to bridge civic awareness, volunteerism, and long-term care, reinforcing that meaningful activism often begins with a single act of empathy.