The Venu Menon National Animal Awards are India's premier private awards that commemorate excellence in animal welfare. Started in 1999, the awards were instituted in memory of Shri Venu Menon, an animal lover who died young. He is survived by his wife, Jaba and daughter, Venika.

Throughout his short life, spanning only 33 years, caring for animals was important for Venu. This stemmed from a genuine respect for life in all forms, and outrage at the conditions animals are subjected to. The awards were set up by the Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation (VMAAF),
which seeks to commemorate his beliefs and keep his concerns alive.

Venu Menon Lifetime Achievement Award: Tibetan Community
Tibet had emerged as a consumer area with open displays of skins of endangered species in markets and use of skins in traditional Chubas. Due to the efforts of two conservation organisations, the Tibetan community came up strongly against wildlife crime. This was reflected specially during the Kalachakra ceremony held from 5 -16 January 2006 at Amarawati, Andhra Pradesh attended by more than one lakh people. They pledged not to wear, buy or sell animal products, and also to burn the skins in their possession in public. Subsequently, there were public burnings of animal skins in Tibet and parts of India. The Lifetime Achievement Award has been given to the Tibetan Community for responding spontaneously to a cause that has become a global concern, setting an example to the rest of the world.

Venu Menon Animal Allies Award: Urmila Ganguly
As an Animal Activist Secretary of the Pugmarks Society for Conservation of Natural Heritage in West Bengal, Urmila Ganguly has contributed significantly towards conservation and welfare of wildlife. She was actively involved in translocation of a Ganges dolphin from Damodar River to Hugli River- a 150 kilometre journey by road. She has also given a new lease of life to performing monkeys, snakes and bears by releasing them in their natural habitat. That she was able to stop noisy picnics and film shootings in the area adjoining Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary speaks for her dynamism and unflagging spirit. Her ground-breaking efforts and exemplary vision exhibit her unwavering passion and commitment for animal welfare.

IFAW Special Organisation Award:
Shree Vardhman Jeevdaya Kendra (Kutch, Gujarat)
As a charitable trust, Shree Vardhman Jeevdaya Kendra has rescued animals for over fifteen years by providing medical care, running shelters and spreading awareness among people. The centre has been credited with saving many cows from being cruelly treated and slaughtered. They also have an animal shelter in Mumbai that houses stray cattle. For the past years, the centre has been focusing on saving the lives of animals in the desert of Kutch by providing them with shelter, food and medical facilities and care.

David Shepherd Wildlife Award: Tribal Trackers EDC
The Tribal Tracker Eco Development Committee (EDC), Kerala has been actively involved in curbing sandalwood smuggling in the Periyar Tiger Reserve for many years now. EDC has been initiating park extension education programmes, helping the park management keep tourism zone free of plastics and other litter by organising Plastic-free Day programmes and joint night patrolling underscoring its commitment to forest conversation. EDC members have been passionately involved in providing treatment and vaccination to animals in Periyar Tiger Reserve and conducting health camps in forest fringe areas. Their aim is to strengthen tiger conservation in the reserve.

IFAW-WTI Van Rakshak Award: Abdul Qayuoom Khan
Abdul Qayuoom Khan has been working as a Wildlife Guard in Bunyar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir for the last 25 years. He has been involved in extensive wildlife surveys with the Aligarh Muslim University, Kashmir University, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Nature Conservation Foundation and many other institutions and agencies. He has been instrumental in getting the support of the locals in Bunyar for conservation of wildlife. He has been actively involved in protecting the Markhor, a globally threatened species.

IFAW-WTI Endangered Species Award: Bijay Kumar Sharma 
Born and raised in Orissa, Bijay Kumar Sharma, IPS, has been committed to conservation of wildlife for years. After having nailed one of the masterminds of wildlife trade, Sansar Chand, he was instrumental in invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the notorious wildlife trader. He aided the seizure of a large consignment of wildlife articles including 18,020 leopard claws, 70 leopard skins and four tiger skins. In his present assignment as IG Police (CID - Crime Branch), Cuttack, he continues to work towards preserving wildlife. A prolific writer, he has also worked with Interpol and CITES on issues of wildlife crime.

Jury's Special Award: Baban Prabhakar Shakhalikar
A pro active conservationist, Baban Prabhakar Sakhalikar is a Wildlife Warden in Buldhana District of Maharashtra and also a keen environmentalist. His active support has helped create a new plantation zone on waste land in his district. His endeavors to create a new plantation zone on waste land in his district and bold efforts to stop illegal wood cutting and poaching have enabled many urban and rural NGOs as well as schools and colleges to come forward and offer their contribution. He has a number of awards to his credit including the Vanashree Awards by the Government of Maharashtra in 1995 for Social Forestry, the District Gourav Award and Indira Priyadarshani Vrukshmitra Award by the Government of India. He was appointed Honorary Wild Life Warden by the Forest and Revenue Department of Maharashtra.

IFAW Animal Action Award: Tuhina Kahali
Her undying love for animals finds an expression in her drawings and that exhibits Tuhina Kahali’s innate ardor for all living beings. Her inspiration being none other than her idol, Sunita Williams, she at 14, is determined to get there as well. After winning accolades in school in numerous activities, she has carved a special niche for herself. She won the Complan ACE Award 2003-2004 for exhibiting excellence in academic and co-curricular activities. She has also received awards in dance and drawing competitions at state level and at the TTIS carnival. She received a certificate of appreciation by the Kidzee Talent Hunt and has participated in the Zee Interactive Learning System. She is the recipient of the Certificate of Honour in the Gypsy Event and had participated in the Republic Day Parade in 2006.

IFAW Animal Action Award: Saumya Uttam
Yet another sensitive child, who shows compassion in her formative years, Saumya Uttam of St Mary's School, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, conveys that animals are as important as humans to maintain a balance in nature. This is no mean achievement for this winner of the Young Achiever Award 2007. She wants to be a scientist and her role model is her uncle who is in the Indian Foreign Service. Saumya won a second prize in the Science Olympiad. She also won the third prize at the Agnel Talent Fest and participated in the All India Camel Colour Contest 2005-2006 in a portrait-making competition.