Indian wildlife biologist Dr Purnima Devi Barman is among the honourees of this year's Champions of the Earth award.
This is the U.N.'s highest environmental honour.
This is conferred for their transformative action to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation.
She had to change perceptions of the bird, known locally as “hargila” in Assamese (meaning “bone swallower”) and mobilised a group of village women to help her.
Today the “Hargila Army” consists of over 10,000 women to protect nesting sites, rehabilitate injured storks.