Meet Sangita
A Lifelong Bond, a Powerful Mission:
Discover the Story Behind Voices For Asian Elephants
Sangita Iyer has garnered the coveted title of National Geographic Explorer twice - in 2018 and 2022.
Gods in Shackles, produced and directed by our Founder, Sangita Iyer, is a powerful documentary that has sparked a global movement for the protection of India’s heritage animal, the Asian elephant.
Nominated at the United Nations General Assembly on the inaugural World Wildlife Day, the film went on to win over a dozen prestigious international film festival awards. These accolades have helped shine a spotlight on the atrocities faced by elephants in India, catalyzing change on an unprecedented scale.
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Since its release, Gods in Shackles has led to numerous public interest litigations, and as of November 2024, the Kerala High Court is poised to ban the use of live elephants in cultural festivals—one of the most significant steps in the fight to end their exploitation. The documentary has emboldened local activists and media outlets, who once feared the powerful elephant mafia that profits from parading elephants. In just 7.5 years, a tsunami of change is unfolding across Kerala, challenging long-standing practices and paving the way for reform.
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Sangita Iyer’s tireless dedication to exposing the truth behind the exploitation of elephants has earned her the Nari Shakti Puraskar (Women Power Award) from India’s President, as well as recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Through Gods in Shackles, Sangita has ignited a wave of compassion and action that is reshaping the future for these majestic creatures.
Sangita’s bond with elephants began at age three at her family temple in Kerala. After moving to Mumbai for her education, and later teaching in Kenya, she eventually settled in Toronto, pursuing broadcast journalism to inspire action for nature and wildlife.
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While producing Gods in Shackles, Sangita was heartbroken by the suffering of Kerala’s festival elephants and recognized the lack of awareness around their plight. She used the documentary to educate and empower India’s youth, the future stewards of wildlife protection. Realizing the need for concrete solutions, she founded Voices for Asian Elephants (VFAE) to halt elephant exploitation and protect their habitats.
Sangita began her journalism career as a news desk assistant at CTV Toronto, then as a video journalist and host at Rogers’ OMNI Television in Toronto. She moved to Bermuda in 2004, where she reported and anchored the primetime news on the island’s ABC/ CBS affiliate, ZBM News.
In 2008 she co-founded Bermuda Environmental Alliance (BEA), a non-profit organization aimed at educating Bermudians on nature and wildlife issues, and providing practical solutions aligned with earth stewardship. Over the years Sangita transitioned into producing nature and wildlife documentaries harnessing the power of sounds and images to communicate in a manner that resonated with people.
Sangita produced a four-part miniseries, Bermuda – Nature’s Jewel for Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet. She also hosted, executive directed and produced a six-part series of the same title, currently being used as an educational aid in Bermuda’s schools. In September 2012 Sangita was one of the few Canadians selected for The Climate Reality Project training by the former US Vice President Al Gore. She has given several lectures on climate change in Canadian schools and universities.
Sangita's Awards
Nari Shakti Puraskar
March 2017
The highest award for women making a difference in India – from the Honorable President of India
Gods in Shackles Documentary
Dec 2015 - Nov 2016
Gods in Shackles documentary received 10 international film festival awards
United Nations Nomination
March 2016
Gods in Shackles nominated at the United Nations General Assembly by the International Elephant Film Festival & CITES (a UN wing for wildlife protection)
Bermuda National Trust
September 2012
Bermuda National Trust award for Bermuda – Nature’s Jewel
Founder's
Award
October 2013
Royal Roads University’s (MA) "Founder’s Award for Leadership, Sustainability, and Personal Development"
Award of Excellence
December 2013
"Award of Excellence" for M.A. thesis documentary, Connecting the Dots: television news media and climate change
Best Broadcast Journalist
2008
In 2008 Sangita was named the “Best Broadcast Journalist” by the popular Bermudian magazine
DeForest Trimingham Award
2007
In 2007, Sangita received the inaugural DeForest Trimingham Award – top environmental awareness award from Bermuda National Trust for her 13-part series Enviro Shorts.
Sangita's Scholarships
The prestigious Social Sciences and Humanity’s Research Council scholarship from the Government of Canada
CanWest Global Communications Award
The George and Marjorie New Memorial Award for waste reduction initiatives
Sangita's Academic Qualifications & Other Training
Masters (M.A.)
Environmental Education and Communication
Royal Roads University, Victoria
B.C. (Canada)
Bachelor of Science
Biology
University of Bombay
India
Post-Graduate Diploma
Broadcast Journalism (Dean's Honorary Role)
Humber College
Toronto (ON), Canada