World’s youngest newspaper columnist and documentary presenter is here to save the planet

A lot of people care about the environment and endangered species, but only a few go the extra mile to protect them and make a real impact.

Aneeshwar Kunchala, a passionate young conservationist from the UK, has been on a mission to save to planet from a very young age.

His commitment to making a difference shines through in everything he does, from presenting an environmental documentary to writing a column designed to spread awareness and inspire others to take action.

All that, at the age of eight!

Since starting his environmental journey, Aneeshwar has become the world’s youngest documentary presenter (male) at the age of 7 years 288 days and, more recently, the youngest newspaper columnist (male) at the age of 8 years 76 days.

Aneeshwar gained his confidence in front of the camera by filming short videos with his dad, where he shared his love for animals like bees and swans.

The videos quickly became a hit, opening the door to incredible opportunities, including meeting fellow environmentalist Steve Backshall, who he described as his “real hero”.

In his first major project, Aneeshwar presented the acclaimed environmental documentary COP27 - Six Ways To Save Our Planet, produced by Fresh Start Media and Sky TV.

The documentary focuses on six children from different parts of the world, each exploring and presenting practical solutions to the critical environmental challenges facing our planet today.

Currently, the young environmentalist is focused on his column for First News, where he shares his commentary on the endangered animals around the world.

He often includes personally crafted illustrations and provides insights into wildlife, including interesting trivia, unique abilities, natural habitats, and their conservation status.

He’s written over 60 articles so far, reaching a dedicated audience of young readers aged 7-14, and has had a big impact in helping them understand the crucial role wildlife plays in keeping our ecosystem healthy.

In his own words: “What I’m trying to do with this column is to inspire young children around the world to love amazing animals.”

Aneeshwar carefully picks the creatures he writes about, using his artistic skills to bring their unique traits and behaviours to life. His illustrations, painted with acrylics or watercolours on canvas or paper, vividly show the challenges these creatures face in today’s world.

On top of his column, Aneeshwar’s artwork has gained international recognition.

His pieces have been showcased at The Kennedy Centre in the USA and the Warrington Museum in the UK, both receiving plenty of praise.

You may also recognise him from his appearances in the shows Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent - All Stars.

He really seems to be everywhere these days, and for good reason.

He has also received a number of awards, including the 2021 Scientific Exploration Society (SES) Young Scientific Explorer of the Year and Global Child Prodigy Award 2022.

Aneeshwar’s impact is so big that he has been noticed by the environmental legend himself, Sir David Attenborough, who sent him a letter advising him to “try his best” and reassuring him that he will “perceive the path that he knows he needs to follow”.

For anyone inspired by his journey and eager to make a positive impact, here are Aneeshwar’s words of wisdom: “All we have to do, is continuously doing our small bit to try and protect our wildlife.

“You don’t have to do big things, all you have to do is your tiny little bit to make a huge difference.”