A noted Indian wildlife biologist has won the Whitley Award, considered the 'Green Oscar', in recognition of his work to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the Western Ghats in Karnataka.

Dr MD Madhusudan, Director of Nature Conservation Foundation -- a young NGO that has grown quickly to become one of the most respected in India -- received a trophy and a cash prize of 30,000 pounds from Princess Anne at a glittering ceremony held at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Wednesday night .

Two other Indian conservationists received Associate Awards. Sudipto Chatterjee received 10,000 pounds to develop an action plan to conserve wild rhododendrons in the Eastern Himalayas while Supraja Dharini received an equal amount for a community based initiative to protect sea turtles and dolphins in Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu.

Madhusudhan is a science graduate from the Yuvaraja College, Mysore and obtained a Master's from the Wildlife Institute of India at Dehra Dun.

Madhusudhan and his team tries to combine science with practical conservation action to resolve conflict between the wild animals and the local communities.

At grassroots level, he is working with farmers around the Bandipur Tiger Reserve on a pilot community-based conflict mitigation project.