I was born and raised in the Kashmir Himalayas, and the region's pristine wilderness and unique geographical features have always inspired and motivated my interest in studying wildlife. To pursue my passion, I completed my B.Sc. in Forestry at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology and obtained a Master's in Wildlife Sciences from Aligarh Muslim University, which I successfully completed in 2019.

As part of my M.Sc. program, I conducted a six-month dissertation on "Abundance and food habits of ungulates in Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India." This experience significantly enriched my knowledge of ungulate biology. Subsequently, I worked as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at SKUAST-K on a research project focused on "Hangul Conservation Breeding." During this project, I had the opportunity to use satellite collars on Hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu) and employed camera traps to estimate the population size and distribution of the Hangul species.

Throughout my studies and research, I became acutely aware of a multitude of challenges, including deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and excessive poaching of the Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus). The demand for musk pods, used in pharmaceutical and perfumery industries and in high demand in the international market, poses a severe threat to this endangered species. Despite this, the population status and ecology of the Kashmir musk deer remain poorly understood.

These realizations spurred my determination to embark on an in-depth study aimed at effectively managing and conserving the Kashmir musk deer, with the following objectives:

The Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus) is one of the seven species of musk deer and is classified as endangered according to the IUCN Red List data. It is also listed as a Schedule I species in the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. This species is endemic to the Western Himalayan region of India and has faced significant pressure from centuries of poaching for musk pods and extensive habitat loss. As a result, this elegant species is rapidly disappearing from its historical distribution range. In the Kashmir region, this species remains largely unexplored, and there have been no research efforts to understand the ecology and biology of the species within the distributional range of the Kashmir Himalayas.

Now is a critical time to investigate the status, ecology, and conservation threats facing the Kashmir musk deer in the Kashmir Himalayas. Conservation efforts for this species cannot succeed without the active participation of the local community. Therefore, the proposed study aims to collect scientific data on the ecology, threats, and community-based conservation of the Kashmir musk deer in the Kashmir Himalayas.

Further in this research please visit Cameratrapping is magic page, presently I am collecting data on my research.

Work Experience

Experience during B.Sc. Forestry and M.Sc. Wildlife Sciences

1.   Socio-economic survey including Agroforestry awareness among farmers. (Part of B.Sc. Forestry 6 months)

2.  Raising quality plant material under nursery conditions. (Part of B.Sc. Forestry 6 months)

3. Abundance and food habits of ungulates at Panna Tiger Reserve. (Part of M.Sc. Wildlife 6 months)