While scientists and conservationists are working to save many species, Ashwin Naidu thinks that global citizens are equally powerful in helping save wildlife and the planet's natural resources. Ashwin was inspired to pursue a career in conservation by his love of wild cats and the amazing local people dependent on their backyard ecosystems for their own survival. While studying for his Master's and Ph.D. in conservation, Ashwin became known as the Scat Man—because he loved to analyze cat poop, and through his projects, Ashwin realized that anyone, with or without a degree or qualification, has the license to save the world from extinction. Ashwin received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Wildlife Conservation and Management from the University of Arizona. His work focuses on applying interdisciplinary approaches for the conservation and management of endangered species and their habitats. Ashwin is a Carson Earth Fellow of the University of Arizona, a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Species Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group, a current representative of the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center and a TED Fellow. Inspired by the potential of community-based conservation, he started the Fishing Cat Conservancy in 2014 to help survey and protect the endangered fishing cat and its globally important mangrove habitat.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx