Pamela Gale Malhotra

Pamela Gale Malhotra, 72, died in Vermont on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, following an extended period of illness. Pamela was born and raised in Red Bank, NJ, and lived for a time in Colorado and Hawaii before moving to India, where she lived for close to 40 years.

Born to Clarence S. Gale and Helen McKee Gale on March 8, 1952, Pamela was sister to Peter Gale, Patricia Bryer, Priscilla Gettis, and Paul Gale. She attended Colorado State University, where she studied Political Science and History. Earning her degree in 1974, she graduated Summa Cum Laude (Valedictorian) and was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Pamela married Anil Kumar Malhotra in 1980.

Along with her husband, Pamela purchased fifty-five acres of unused farmland in Karnataka, India, in 1991 with the dream and mission of protecting, preserving, and expanding India's wildlife. This led to the founding of the SAI (Save Animals Initiative) Sanctuary in 1993, the first private wildlife reserve in India. Spanning over three hundred acres, SAI Sanctuary houses an incredibly diverse and vibrant ecosystem of flora and fauna, including Bengal Tigers, Asian Elephants, King Cobras, over three hundred species of birds, and a wide variety of indigenous plants and trees. As Co-Founder and Trustee of the sanctuary, Pamela continually spread awareness of the critical need to protect and preserve wildlife by giving countless presentations throughout India to schools, colleges, women's groups, and businesses. This work culminated in the publication of her book "From the Heart of Nature: The Amazing Story Behind India's First Private Sanctuary" in 2022.

Pamela's remarkable advocacy also encompassed the uplifting of disadvantaged women and children. She empowered women in villages to form "mahila," or women's committees, in order to acquire low-interest loans and worked to obtain free medical aid and medicines for women and children living in remote regions of the country. In recognition of her efforts, Pamela received the Nari Shakti Puraska Award on International Women's Day, March 8, 2017, which fittingly was also her 65th birthday. Presented by the President of India, this National Award for Women is awarded annually by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India to recognize women for their achievements in helping other women, especially those who are vulnerable and marginalized.

Recognized globally for her passionate dedication to the protection of the environment and women's empowerment, Pamela received numerous other awards, including Indian Confederation of NGOs Karmaveer Nobel Laureates (2008, 2019), Wildlife and Tourism Initiative of the Year (2014), TOFTigers Wildlife Tourism Initiative (2014), International Institute for Peace through Tourism Women's Empowerment Award (2015), Lifetime Achievement Awards from Cauvery College and Kolkata's International Wildlife and Environment Film Festival (2016), Animal Activist in Defense of Animals Award (2016), Ramnath Goenka Social Service Award (2016), Dharma Seva Trust Award (2016), Karnataka State's Environment and Conservation Award (2017-2018), and Giraffe Heroes Award (2021).

Pamela is predeceased by her husband, Anil Kumar Maholtra; her parents, Clarence S. Gale and Helen McKee Gale; and her brother, Peter Gale, who sadly passed away on April 3, 2024. She is survived by her siblings Patricia Bryer, Priscilla Gettis, and Paul Gale; and her nieces and nephews Kerry Walsh, Kevan Gale, Meredith Bryer, Allison Payne, Daniel Bryer, Michael Bryer, Jossalyn Gale, Aubrey Van Kirk Villalobos, Carly Van Kirk, and Bryan Gale.

In memory of Pamela's legacy and her unwavering commitment to wildlife preservation, contributions can be made to SAI Sanctuary Trust at paypal.com/ncp/payment/XMLCXW4EJK746.