Jane Goodall spent decades showing the world why protecting animals and their habitats matters to humanity. Now, an 11-year-old conservationist is preparing to carry that message to a younger generation.
Aneeshwar Kunchala, a UK-based wildlife presenter with family roots in Andhra Pradesh, India, is set to receive the Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal for his work promoting wildlife conservation and biodiversity. According to The South Asia Times, Kunchala's journey began at just four, when he learnt about a whale that had died after ingesting plastic pollution. The experience inspired him to raise awareness about the threats facing wildlife.The medal was announced by STARMUS, an international festival bringing together science, space exploration, technology, music and the arts. In a statement issued on October 10, the festival named Aneeshwar as the recipient of the Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal, recognising his efforts to encourage children to protect the natural world. The award is scheduled to be presented during STARMUS VIII, taking place in Tenerife and La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands from October 17 to 22, 2026.
An incident that changed his perspective
Kunchala's interest in conservation began in his first year at school. In an interview with National Geographic Kids, he recalled how his teacher showed the class a picture of a whale that had died because of plastic pollution. He was shocked by the image and the fact that discarded plastic could kill such a large animal.The incident stayed with him and prompted him to think about what he could do to help wildlife. Although he was only four, the experience became the starting point for his efforts to educate others about protecting animals and the environment.In 2020, Kunchala began filming videos about animals with his father. Their first video focused on a baby robin in their garden, which he named Regee. The videos gave him an early platform to share his enthusiasm for wildlife and explain why animals and their habitats deserve protection. Over time, his activities expanded into television, documentary presenting, writing, poetry, art and public speaking.
From wildlife videos to international audiences
One of his major milestones came in 2022, when he presented COP27: Six Ways to Save Our Planet, a documentary addressing ways to tackle environmental challenges. Guinness World Records recognised him as the youngest male documentary presenter for the programme, at seven years and 288 days old.He has since appeared in wildlife and educational programming associated with broadcasters including the BBC, Sky Kids and Channel 5. His work has also included Go Wild with Steve Backshall, a CBeebies programme in which he learnt about animals, conservation and filmmaking alongside the naturalist and television presenter. He has described working with Backshall as one of the most memorable experiences of his career.His achievements extend beyond television. Guinness World Records lists three records associated with his work, including youngest male documentary presenter, youngest male newspaper columnist and the most animal sounds identified in one minute by an individual under 16. In January 2025, he identified 28 different animal sounds in a minute for the latter record. He has also written about endangered animals and used his own drawings and paintings to communicate his interest in nature.In 2024, Kunchala received the Diana Award for his work involving children and wildlife conservation. He has also been recognised through the British Citizen Youth Award and the Young Scientific Explorer honorary award from the Scientific Exploration Society. His other roles include serving as a National Trust ambassador and becoming the first young columnist for National Geographic Kids UK, where he contributes advice on helping wildlife, seasonal nature activities and citizen science projects.
Following Jane Goodall's conservation legacy
The Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal connects Kunchala's work with the legacy of the renowned primatologist and conservationist, who devoted her life to studying chimpanzees and advocating for animal welfare and environmental protection. The medal recognises efforts to preserve biodiversity and encourage greater responsibility towards life on Earth.STARMUS established the Junior recognition to celebrate young people whose work reflects the importance of science, environmental stewardship and public engagement.
The festival has also announced the Junior Stephen Hawking Medal for Spanish science communicator Valeria Corrales, highlighting two different ways in which young people can bring scientific and environmental ideas to wider audiences.Kunchaala's approach combines storytelling with practical encouragement, particularly for children who may feel too young to make a difference. In a February 2023 interview with Scouts UK, Kunchala summed up his conservation mission with the words, “Please save the animals and make sure the world looks beautiful.” It reflects the central idea behind his work: that caring about nature can begin with a single experience and grow into sustained efforts to educate others.When asked about his hope for the future, he told National Geographic Kids, "My dream is a future where wildlife is safe, valued and able to thrive alongside humans."