Clementien Pauws-Koenegras

Pauws-Koenegras arrived in Puttaparthi with her husband and son in 1995 and began caring for street animals in the town. With the support of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) of Bangalore, the Animal Rescue Project Puttaparthi was started on 23 August 1998. On 18 September 2000 the work was formally registered as the Karuna Society for Animals and Nature, and she has served as its president since.

The society runs three main programmes, covering small animals, livestock and wildlife. Its work includes first aid and shelter for street animals, an animal birth control and anti-rabies programme, a cattle hospital, and the rescue of cattle and buffaloes from illegal transport, the first such rescue taking place in 2002. It has rescued more than 700 cattle and cares for around 300 head of cattle along with donkeys, horses and a camel. A wildlife rescue centre has been developed near a reserve forest.

The society also runs humane education programmes and an organic, cruelty-free farming project.

On 8 March 2018, International Women's Day, Pauws-Koenegras received the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the Government of India's national award for women, from President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi, in recognition of her work in the service of animals.[2][3][4][5]