Fascinated by snakes, inspired by bear's killing: meet Aaliya Mir, Kashmiri wildlife conservationist

With 3 educational degrees, Aaliya Mir was already an overachiever, but she wanted something more from life. So, she obtained a diploma, and became a wildlife conservationist - saving animals, and breaking glass ceilings at the same time.

Aaliya is from Srinagar, and is a graduate in Science and Education, and post-graduate in Mathematics. But her calling lay elsewhere. She also has a diploma in Disaster Management with specific emphasis on animal health, and has been working with Wildlife SOS since 2002.

She met Wildlife SOS' founders in Delhi, and inspired by the case of a black bear being killed in a village, joined the cause. She started as a volunteer and then began undertaking diverse projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

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She heads WSOS' conservation programme in the Union Territory, which is home to diverse, including the Hangul stag. Aaliya, an expert at handling human-reptile conflicts, is specially fascinated by snakes, calling them victims of ignorance.

Apart from her work rescuing wild animals, Aaliya also works as an educationist, spreading awareness through workshops.

Aaliya's husband, a wildlife veterinarian, fully supports her in her cause.