Conferences & Speaking Events
International Captive Wildlife Conference organized by Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
November 11-12, 2022 II Sacramento, California, USA II Link to conference page II Link to Speaker Bios
YFA Founder, Nikita Dhawan was one of the opening speakers at the conference. She spoke about the #FreeShankarDelhiZoo campaign and the role of education and on-the-ground activism in ending animal captivity. The topic was Shankar: Diplomatic Gift or Curse? While the conference took place in-person at the PAWS Sanctuary in Sacramento, Nikita participated via zoom and took part in a Q&A with the audience.
Captive Wildlife in Entertainment Webinar organized by The International Conservation & Biodiversity Team, The Biodiversity Mag & ACT Asia.
12 October, 2022 II Link to recording
YFA Founder Nikita Dhawan was a panelist at this webinar. She spoke about animals in captivity with special reference to Shankar elephant in the Delhi zoo and the campaign to rehabilitate him. (Her speech at Timestamp 1:54)
“Animal Law : Visions for the future” Conference by UK Center for Animal Law
18-22 July, 2022 II United Kingdom, virtual II Link to conference page
YFA Founder Nikita Dhawan spoke as part of the “Young Voices” segment at the Animal Law Conference. She elaborated on the legal petition for Shankar, elephant in the Delhi Zoo and the process that went into its filing.
Webinar: Role of rewilding animals to help mitigate the climate crisis organized by EarthDay org
April 25, 2022 II Link to the webinar recording
YFA founder, Nikita Dhawan, is also a Youth Ambassador for EARTHDAY.org, the organization behind the “Earth Day on March 22.” As part of her role, she organised a webinar on Monday, April 25th titled: The role of rewilding animals to help mitigate the climate crisis.
“India for Animals” Conference organized by Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO).
Jan 29-30, 2022 II India II Link to the conference page
YFA Founder, Nikita Dhawan, spoke at the conference with about 1000+ participants from all over India. Nikita shared what drives her to work in the space of animal welfare, how/why she built the platform”Youth for Animals”, the message she’d like to give to her peers, how she gathered support from various organisations and influencers and her future plans with respect to this platform.
New Meat on the Block: Presentation by Nikita Dhawan at the 11th International Conference on Food Studies
Oct 28-30, 2021 II Copenhagen II Link to Presentation Slides
Nikita Dhawan, Founder Youth for Animals, conducted research on the topic: New Meat on the Block: Factors Influencing India’s Gen Z’s Decision to Purchase Plant-based Meat. The research was published in Journal of Student Research in July 2021. Nikita presented her findings virtually at the 11th International Conference on Food Studies. Link to published research.
INTERVIEWS
Kerryn Vaughan, host of the podcast “Get off the bench”, interviews Nikita Dhawan about her fight to release Shankar the elephant from the Delhi zoo, as he remains in solitary confinement.
Featured on “Get Off The Bench” podcast II January 6, 2023
Anitha Rao Robinson, children’s author and conservationist, interviews Nikita Dhawan about how fighting for Shankar’s freedom is linked to building kindness and compassion in the world.
Featured on “Kindness is Everything” podcast II September 29, 2022
Author Nalini Ramachandran interviews Nikita about the Shankar Campaign on World Elephant Day, 2022
Organized by Hachette India II Aug 12, 2022
Srijanita Maurya, interviews YFA founder Nikita Dhawan about Youth for Animals and the Shankar campaign.
Organized by Animal Patronage II July 19, 2022
Debbie Dahmer, interviews YFA founder Nikita Dhawan about YFA’s flagship campaign #FreeShankarDelhiZoo
Organized by Voices carry for Animals II June 30, 2022
Anvi Fenn, Co-Founder Evergreen Stories, interviews Nikita Dhawan about the role of wildlife in mitigating the climate crisis.
Featured on “Climate Rockstar” podcast II June 29, 2022
Prya Bisambhar interviews Nikita about Shankar’s case and court hearing.
Organized by The Animal Reader II May 19, 2022
Rachana Bhide, interviews YFA founder Nikita Dhawan about Youth for Animals and the Shankar campaign.
Organized by All About Animals Radio II April 30, 2022
Manny Maish, BBC Radio, interviews YFA Founder Nikita Dhawan about the recent court hearing for Shankar, the African elephant in the Delhi zoo.
Organized by BBC Radio II February 6, 2022