{"id":446686,"date":"2026-09-24T22:08:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T22:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/446686\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T22:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T22:08:08","slug":"austin-teen-wins-national-peta2-award-for-helping-put-wildlife-safety-in-texas-driver-handbook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/446686\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Teen Wins National peta2 Award for Helping Put Wildlife Safety in Texas Driver Handbook"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For Immediate Release:
September 24, 2026<\/p>\n

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\tAustin, Texas \u2013 <\/p>\n

Hero alert! With a new school year underway and teen drivers hitting the road, Westwood High School senior Amrita Josyula has earned a national Hero to Animals Award from PETA\u2019s youth division, peta2, after her Austin-based nonprofit, Fauna Ark<\/a>, helped add wildlife-safety guidance to the state\u2019s official driver handbook. This year\u2019s update explains wildlife warning signs and how motorists should respond when animals are on or near the roadway, helping save animals from being hit by cars and putting potentially lifesaving information in front of first-time drivers statewide.<\/p>\n

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Amrita, 17, launched Fauna Ark for her Girl Scout Gold Award project after witnessing a cat struck by a pickup truck\u2014a moment that spurred her to act.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving that one life-changing moment in your back pocket is the push you need to keep going and continue caring,\u201d says Amrita. \u201cYour passion is your most valuable asset.\u201d<\/p>\n

With guidance from a mentor at UC Davis\u2019 Road Ecology Center, Amrita developed Fauna Ark\u2019s research methods and launched a wildlife-vehicle collision log, then began working with state agencies to advance driver education and roadway\u2011safety solutions. Outside of class, the Austin teen enjoys hiking and writing poetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy getting wildlife-safety tips in front of new drivers, Amrita helps give animals the space and time they need to cross safely and reminds us all that we have the power to be heroes to animals,\u201d says peta2 Vice President Rachelle Owen. \u201cpeta2 salutes her for setting a shining example of compassion and stands ready to support students across the U.S. who want to help animals in any way they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young people can follow in Amrita\u2019s footsteps by helping wildlife in their communities\u2014whether that\u2019s asking their DMV to add a section about wildlife to their state handbook, asking their city council to implement wildlife-friendly infrastructure, or putting up flyers in their community to spread awareness. Students can email [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> for support in making an impact for animals in their own communities.<\/p>\n

peta2\u2014whose motto reads, in part, that \u201canimals are not ours to abuse in any way\u201d\u2014points out that\u00a0Every Animal Is Someone<\/a>\u00a0and offers young people positive, empowering actions to help animals. For more information, please visit peta2.com<\/a> or follow peta2 on TikTok<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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