Sangita Iyer

Sangita Iyer is an Indian-born Canadian author, broadcast journalist, biologist, and documentary filmmaker recognized for her contributions to wildlife conservation and environmental education. Iyer's work has brought attention to the plight of Asian elephants, combining her academic background in science, film production, and journalism to inform and engage global audiences.

Her career in media began as a health and environmental journalist, producing reports on nature and wildlife for the Discovery Channel science-news program "Daily Planet." She has also worked at CTV Toronto, served as a videographer at OMNI Television, and anchored at ZBM Bermuda, an ABC/CBS affiliate. Iyer was selected for The Climate Reality Project training by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

A pivotal moment in Iyer's career occurred after a trip to India, where she witnessed the suffering of temple elephants during cultural festivals. This experience led her to document the exploitation of elephants in Kerala, resulting in her debut documentary, "Gods in Shackles." The feature-length film exposes the use of temple elephants in Kerala's cultural festivals and examines the intersection of tradition, religion, and animal welfare. "Gods in Shackles" received positive reviews, was nominated at the United Nations General Assembly, and won 13 international film festival awards. Jane Goodall, the UN Messenger of Peace, endorsed the film, which contributed to advocacy for legislative changes to India's wildlife and animal welfare laws. The documentary is available on Amazon Prime.

Following "Gods in Shackles," Iyer expanded her conservation storytelling as a National Geographic Explorer. She received a National Geographic Society grant to produce the 26-part documentary series "Asian Elephants 101," which premiered on National Geographic channels. Through her research, Iyer highlighted the urgent threats facing wild elephants, including habitat loss and human-elephant conflict, which impact both wildlife and communities near forest areas.

Iyer is also the author of the book "Gods in Shackles – What Elephants Can Teach Us About Empathy, Resilience, and Freedom," which explores the exploitation of captive elephants in cultural festivals and includes a foreword by Jane Goodall. The book became a bestseller.

Iyer is the founding executive director and president of the Voice for Asian Elephants Society, an organization dedicated to protecting wild and captive elephants in India. Through the society, she has championed the use of AI-based technology for elephant conservation, including robotic elephants, collision prevention systems, and the planting of elephant-friendly saplings. The organization has initiated more than a dozen projects in two states, led by local conservationists and Indigenous people, to create sustainable solutions for wildlife and communities.

Iyer's work has been recognized with several honors, including the Nari Shakthi Puraskaar, India's highest award for women making a difference, presented by the President of India. Her efforts have received international media coverage from BBC News, National Geographic magazine, and The Telegraph. Iyer continues to be a leading voice in global wildlife conservation, merging scientific expertise, journalistic storytelling, and advocacy for animal welfare.