Have you ever wondered how conservationists spend their days or what keeps them optimistic about the future of nature? Do they always spend their time in the distant wild, or might they be hidden all around us? Do their roles encompass aspects we never thought of?
“Meet The Optimists” is a blog series by Conservation Optimism which introduces conservationists working in different fields and contexts to our readers. We discuss their journeys into conservation, typical daily activities and reasons for hope.
Read on for the inside story on different careers and fresh approaches to conservation!
In this edition of Conservation Optimism’s “Meet The Optimists” series, Kumar Paudel shares his sources of inspiration, his conservation journey, and his work as a conservationist working to protect pangolins and endangered species in his home country, Nepal.
Kumar Paudel at the 2025 Explorers Festival. (Photo by Mark Thiessen/National Geographic.)
Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello! I am a conservationist from Nepal. For over 15 years, I have been working to save pangolins and other threatened wildlife species. I do this mainly through a science-driven conservation organisation, Greenhood Nepal, which I founded in 2012.
Can you trace the origins of your interest in conservation and what led to your current work?
I grew up seeing pangolins in my backyard. They were just another source of wild meat for many of us and a source of income for a few who collected the scales and sold them in a nearby Chinese town. It was only when I moved to Kathmandu for higher studies, I saw newspapers were reporting poaching and seizure of wildlife parts repeatedly with concern of extinction, which caught my attention. Also, reading books, I learnt that the same pangolins that I used to see in my village are disappearing from other parts of the world. Then I thought, maybe I could help to save this species from extinction, and that’s how my conservation journey started.
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
As the founder and director of a conservation nonprofit, it is not easy to explain a typical day. It varies a lot. You will find me sometimes jamming with a singer to compose conservation songs, tracking pangolins or poachers in the forest, sometimes debating in the courtroom to protect wildlife or sometimes sharing research in a scientific conference. I have to wear different hats every day based on the needs. I spend most of the time in the field chasing pangolins and plants and understanding people living with wildlife—we call it research! Then, I spend some time meeting with conservation decision makers, donors, and partners to secure their support.
What is your favourite and least favourite aspect about your role?
My favourite part of my role is that I get the opportunity to learn or unlearn new things every day, whether it is about the wildlife that we are studying or people and their changing interactions with nature. That’s not all about my role. As a conservation leader, I spend days and nights writing grant applications, most of which turn out to be unsuccessful at the end, and lengthy reports, which are my least favourite but are important to fuel the operation of the organisation.
As a conservationist, what makes you hopeful about the future?
The conservation sector is often full of sad stories, as all our work is about helping save species that are already struggling to survive in the wild. It makes me sad seeing how wildlife are being killed and their homes are destroyed in front of our eyes. But when I see that our efforts are changing the scene, it makes me really hopeful, even though the changes are small and slow. For example, I hear from the community people that they rescued a pangolin and released it into the forest instead of eating, I see enforcement agencies arresting organised criminal groups who smuggle wildlife internationally, I meet young people full of passion and love for wildlife, I see governments making bold steps to protect critical wildlife habitats – these all makes me hopeful that we can change!
Madi Valley, Chitwan, 2023 (Photo by Kumar Paudel)
What helps you stay positive day-to-day?
Many generous and kind people helped me personally and on my conservation journey; because of them, I am able to do what I am doing today. I never felt alone. I see inspiration everywhere, from nature to people. Generally, I start my day interacting with young passionate conservationists at Greenhood; their energy, dedication and curiosity for nature conservation fuel my day.
Could you share a story about a formative moment in your conservation career?
I learnt about wildlife conservation inside the prison cell. From 2015 to 2017, I visited many prisons across Nepal, meeting with convicted wildlife prisoners, learning who they were, why they decided to get involved in poaching and trade, and how we can stop them from doing so in the future. The more I talked with them, the more I realised that we need to learn about people to protect wildlife, as it is the human choice that decides what to kill and what to save. Also, those interactions were eye-opening to learn how unfair the conservation enforcement is for the local indigenous communities and how we can actually do better.
Any advice for someone interested in pursuing your field of work?
You cannot love what you do not know, and you will fight to save what you truly love. My single advice to all aspiring conservationists is to spend time learning more about nature and the people that you want to help save, and continue it!
Learn more about Kumar’s work at Greenhood Nepal, and follow him at @kmrpaudel.
