Zai Whitaker

Zai Whitaker grew up in Mumbai, in a family of naturalists which included the renowned “Bird Man of India” – Salim Ali. Her work spans different fields, from children’s literature and education to wildlife conservation. After teaching at Kodaikanal International School for 18 years, she was the principal of two other schools. She has written novels, stories, and poems for children, including Kanna Panna, Andamans Boy, and Salim Mamoo and Me. She now lives and works at the Madras Crocodile Bank near Chennai, which she helped the ‘Snake Man’ Rom Whitaker set up almost 40 years ago.