Guwahati, Sept. 20: Conservationist Purnima Barman, the force behind the Hargila (greater adjutant stork) Army in Assam, has been nominated for the 2018 Indianapolis conservation award.

The biennial prize is given by the Indianapolis Zoo to individuals for 'extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts'.

Purnima has been nominated along with two others from India and 29 from across the world. The two other nominees from India are Charudutt Mishra, who works for the protection of snow leopards, and Jigmet Takpa, who focuses on landscape-level conservation programmes in Ladakh.

In May, Purnima won the prestigious Whitley Award, also known as the Green Oscars, for her efforts. The Hargila Army is an all-women's team of conservationists dedicated to protect the stork.

A committee will eventually select six finalists, who will be honoured at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on September 29 next year.

The winner will receive $250,000 and the Lilly Medal, which is a bronze medal showcasing the relationship between people and the natural world, a fitting remembrance to individuals creating positive outcomes for species. The other five finalists will receive $10,000 each.

'The hargila is an important species in our ecosystem and is often neglected compared to species like the rhino and tiger. Despite this, it has got support from the community, which is commendable,' Purnima told The Telegraph.

She said she was honoured and humbled to be nominated along with 32 high-profile global conservation champions. 'I have dedicated my entire life to the greater adjutant stork,' she said. 'This recognition means a lot for me and my team. I am empowering 200 women right now through livelihood, capacity building and biodiversity classes. My journey was not easy but this recognition has given more power and confidence to my team. I hope many young women will come forward to work for the conservation of endangered species now. I thank Indianapolis for the honour.'

Purnima has been working with Dadara, Pachariya and Hingimari villages of Kamrup district to save the stork. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their total population is estimated to be between 1,200 and 1,800 and around 800 of them are found in Assam.