Rohit Naniwadekar

Rohit is a Scientist at the Nature Conservation Foundation, India. He completed his Master's in Wildlife Sciences at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun in 2005 and his PhD from the Nature Conservation Foundation and Manipal University in 2014. His work straddles research and conservation with major focus being on endangered hornbills. His research aims to understand the ecological role of hornbills and other frugivores in tropical forests and the impacts of hunting, habitat degradation and fragmentation on them. He is currently collaborating with artists with an aim to sensitize different stakeholders about endangered species and the need for their conservation.

Email: rohit@ncf-india.org

Himanshu Lad

I completed my Master's in Wildlife Science from the Wildlife Institute of India in 2019. For my dissertation, I studied small carnivores using camera traps in Northern Western ghats. Later, I worked in Manipur and Nagaland (with WII) on a project documenting tiger presence and traditional ecological knowledge of local communities. My childhood days during summer vacations in my hometown - Sindhudurg sparked my interest in observing nature. By joining the NCF Sahyadri team, I wish to work toward conserving the remaining biodiversity of this region. I am currently studying the impacts of land-use changes on bush frogs in Sahyadris. In my spare time, I like to read books and play chess.

Email: himanshulad6@gmail.com

Pooja Pawar

Pooja is fascinated by birds. On completing formal training in forestry, wildlife biology and conservation, she has been following hornbills in the Western Ghats to study different aspects of their ecology. Her research interests are in the field of landscape ecology, behaviour and evolution. For her Master's dissertation, she assessed the impacts of habitat modification on the breeding biology of Great Hornbills in the Western Ghats. Continuing in the Anamalais, she delved into understanding hornbill population dynamics in the light of habitat fragmentation and food resource availability. Going forward, Pooja would like to understand the biogeography and evolution of hornbills in the Indian subcontinent. When not watching birds, she enjoys being in the forest, making sonobe models and writing popular articles on her blog. 

Email: poojap837@gmail.com

Rintu Mandal

I was born and brought up in a small village of West Bengal surrounded by green patches. And being an introvert I used to love (I still do!) spending a lot of time being in contact with nature, watching plants, animals, birds interacting with each other in their own ways. And as soon as I completed my higher education I decided to understand those interactions in a better way so that I could serve in conserving them in changing environments. Therefore, I joined NCF and am looking forward to working on plant-animal interactions, especially frugivory and seed dispersal by avian frugivores in the tropical forest of the Eastern Himalayas. My Master’s dissertation focused on understanding the economic valuation of the ecosystem services derived from the mangrove ecosystem. Apart from this, I have also worked on the Great Indian Bustard (at Wildlife Institute of India) as well as migratory birds across southern West Bengal (with WWF-India).

Describing myself would remain incomplete without addressing my love for literature. And I can’t resist quoting a few words from the book I have been obsessed with since my childhood: “What nature gives to her own devotees is invaluable. However, it is a gift not be received until one has served her for long.” 

Email: rintumandal39@gmail.com/rintu@ncf-india.org

ROHAN Menzies

I was introduced to wildlife at a young age, first through spending time at wildlife rehabilitation centres in Bangalore, and later through birdwatching as a hobby. My interest in ornithology led me to pursue a Master's in Zoology from the University of Otago in New Zealand. For my Master's dissertation, I studied an endangered and endemic species – the Yellow-eyed Penguin – which further intrigued me about endangered species conservation. I have, since then, worked on various projects including a study on avian malaria and more recently endangered bird species surveys in the Himalaya. I have also been involved with the education and outreach aspects of ornithology at NCF. I am currently a PhD candidate working towards understanding river bird communities with a focus on a Critically Endangered species, the White-bellied Heron.

Email: rohanmenzies@ncf-india.org

Kruti Chhaya

I have been drawn towards exploring nature since childhood, which led me to pursue a bachelor's in Zoology and a master's in Biodiversity. For my master's dissertation, I studied the diversity and nectar host plant choices of butterflies in and around Pune. Later, I studied the plant-flower visitor network and the sensory cues that play a role in these interactions at Bhimashankar WLS in the Northern Western Ghats. For my current project, I am conducting a literature review on the biodiversity and conservation in the Konkan region. My other interests include bird watching, reading and making bead jewellery.

Email: krutichhaya@ncf-india.org

ARPItha Jayanth

My fascination with wildlife grew during my undergraduate days, where I spent most weekends birding and exploring pockets of nature in and around Bangalore. Volunteering on a range of projects from human-leopard interactions to lizard behaviour only strengthened this fascination, leading to my Masters degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from National Centre for Biological Sciences. My research interests broadly revolve around community ecology and animal behaviour. For my masters dissertation, I looked at patterns of resource tracking by frugivorous birds and plant-frugivore interactions in the understudied tropical dry thorn habitat of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Currently, I am working on a project looking at plant-frugivore interactions in the Andaman islands. I enjoy sketching and have a soft spot for mustelids.

Email: arpitha.jayanth@gmail.com/arpitha@ncf-india.org

JITHIN VIJAYAN

I am an ecologist with interests spanning freshwater ecology, behavioural ecology, natural history, education, media, gender, and science communication. I completed my Masters in Wildlife Sciences from the Wildlife Institute of India in 2021. I am currently leading a project that aims to determine the impacts of land-use change on amphibians and snakes on lateritic plateaus in the northern Western Ghats. During my Masters, I worked on the ecology and conservation issues of overwintering tadpoles in the Western Himalaya. Previously, I was a POBE fellow at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, where I worked on the foraging behaviour of Common Myna in relation to communal roosting. I am a graduate of Botany from Farook College, University of Calicut, Kerala. Apart from the ecological works, I have led a project on the inclusion of women in the field of Chemical Science in Kerala and founded 'Myristica- The Ecological Fiesta' which intensively engaged in the conversation of technology, culture, ecology and life among Kerala's college students. Find my musings and publications at https://www.jithinvijayan.info

Email: jithinvjyothis@gmail.com

NAYANTARA BISWAS

I completed my master’s in Biotechnology from St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata. My love for birds and being outdoors in general made me want to carry out field studies in ecology for my dissertation. For my master’s thesis, I looked at how land-use change affects bird diversity in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra. This opportunity to work in the Western Ghats made me realise how deeply interested I am in studying the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on bird communities and I plan to pursue a PhD in ecology. I am passionate about photography and love painting birds.

Email: rukma98@gmail.com

VAISHNAVI APTE

I finished my Masters in Ecology from Pondicherry University in 2023. I am passionate about herpetology and particularly interested in answering questions that integrate the broad themes of biogeography and thermal biology. For my Master’s dissertation, I worked on the thermal physiology of geckos in urban Bengaluru. At CEROS, I will work on population ecology and the conservation of geckos and their rocky habitats in the northern Western Ghats. Having been part of a Snow Leopard monitoring project earlier, I am very fond of high-altitude landscapes and would rarely refuse an offer for a trek up the Himalaya. Reading fiction and playing badminton are my other interests.

Email: vaishapte99@gmail.com

Vishal Sadekar

Vishal is from Zarebhamber village in Dodamarg district of Maharashtra. He finished his Bachelor's in Forestry from DBSKKV, Dapoli. He has also done Biodiversity Basics: The Natural History Course of Western Ghats. He has a keen interest in birds. He joined the Restoring Sahyadri Project in February 2022. 

Email: vishalsadekar@gmail.com/vishal@ncf-india.org

Abhishek Gopal

Abhishek is an engineer turned ecologist who is interested in plant-animal interaction and community ecology. He did his postgraduation in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from NCBS. For his dissertation, he examined the effects of forest cover loss on frugivory and seed predation in the Anamalais. Subsequently, he was a part of the project examining forest structure and carbon sequestration in different vegetation types in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. As part of the Narcondam Island project, he is leading a study on understanding the impacts of invasive rodents on plants on Narcondam Island. Abhishek has a soft spot for large old trees and plans to eventually work towards forest restoration.

Abhishek is currently a PhD student at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India. 

Email: abhishekgopal1993@gmail.com

Abir Jain

Abir loves spending long hours in the forest and gets easily distracted by a leaping frog, tiny insects, or clumps of fungi growing on the forest floor. His fascination for the natural world arose from observing, sketching, documenting, and photographing the surrounding biodiversity since his childhood. He completed his master’s degree in Wildlife Science from the Wildlife Institute of India. Owing to his special admiration for hornbills, fig trees, and tropical forests at large, Abir studied the impact of habitat fragmentation on plant-frugivore interactions in some of the last remaining lowland tropical forest patches of north-east India for his masters’ dissertation. He hopes to carry out long-term monitoring of ecological interactions, restoration, and biodiversity cataloguing programs as well as integrate academics with effective science communication in the future. 

Abir is currently pursuing his PhD at the Virginia Tech, USA. 

Email: abir.b1b@gmail.com

Aditya Gadkari

My interest in science in general was sparked at a very young age, which graduated to a new level when I went on to pursue biological sciences for my degree. After obtaining a Bachelors in Botany and almost coming close to pursuing a Masters in Plant Taxonomy, I sidestepped into wildlife biology when I joined Mumbai University for a Masters in Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation. I worked on Red List Threat Assessments of two Northern Western Ghat endemic plants for my Masters dissertation. Further, I continued the project as a research assistant for the Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group, a working group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Apart from this, I have been conducting nature trails and other educational activities for the past 6 years in and around Mumbai. I love photography, reading books and looking for wild orchids.

Email: adityagadkari1010@gmail.com/adityagadkari@ncf-india.org

NATASHA DESAI

I have been lucky enough to visit forests in India and abroad since I was six. It sparked a love for wildlife - birds in particular - that has continued to this day. I followed my passion to the Netherlands, where I received my Masters in Forest and Nature Conservation from Wageningen University. My research interests involve several aspects of avian ecology, with a soft spot for birds of prey. For my masters thesis, I explored the fluctuating survival of the northern goshawk in the Netherlands between 1975-2020, and the changes in their causes of mortality. I also worked on a preliminary avian biodiversity report for the island of Samos, Greece during a four month internship with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation. When I'm not in the field, I enjoy reading, writing my stories down, and planning my next sojourn into the wild.

Email: natashadesai4399@gmail.com

Ninad Gosavi

I completed my Masters in Zoology from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. My area of interest is herpetology. During my internship at NCBS, I have worked on the breeding biology of frogs and toads of Northern Western Ghats. Later I joined a project as a field assistant, we worked on visual and vocal signalling of Northern Dancing Frog. I am also interested in bioacoustics and multimodal communication systems. Also, I work as one of the editors of the Amphibians of India website. I have joined NCF as Senior Research Assistant in the northern Western Ghats project. Apart from that, I used to teach biology at a private academy. I like to write my field experiences as well as short stories in Marathi

Email: ninad.gosavi4@gmail.com/ninad@ncf-india.org

Siddharth Biniwale

I am a geologist by training and an ecologist by passion. I have previously worked closely in the fields of community watershed management, ecological health monitoring, neoichnology, wildlife ecology and eco-tourism. I am interested in field-based projects with a strong inclination towards research-based conservation. 

I have joined as a Field Manager, Sahyadris (northern Western Ghats). I see this position as a great opportunity to build my knowledge of engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders and learning new skills such as vegetation sampling and managing a nursery. I am also interested to understand plant-animal interaction in varying land use cover.

Email: siddharth.biniwale@gmail.com/siddharth@ncf-india.org

Vedika Dutta

For quite some time, I held a third-person perspective towards wildlife. It was during the end of my bachelor's degree that I developed a predilection for ecology. During my master's in Environmental Sciences and Resource Management at TERI School of Advanced Studies, I worked on understanding the impacts of nitrogen pollution on temperate forest soil, which further solidified my commitment to ecological research. With a keen interest in understanding community dynamics and a curiosity to explore the impacts of land use change, I pursued my master’s thesis on how avian frugivores, fruiting resources, and their interactions are affected by the conversion of rainforests to shade coffee plantations. I am eager to delve deeper and expand my knowledge in the field of plant-animal interactions and the ecosystem services they provide. Apart from being a novice researcher, I am an experienced anime and Hallyu enthusiast. 

Email: vedika@ncf-india.org

VIGNESH CHANDRAN M

Vignesh Chandran pursued his Forestry studies in Karnataka, followed by a Master's in Wildlife Science at the Wildlife Institute of India. His passion for wildlife was sparked during his school days and nurtured through numerous nature camps and walks. For his Master’s dissertation thesis, Vignesh focused on the breeding behaviour and vocalisations of Jungle Prinia in Punjab. He has also contributed to research on the acoustics of Hume's warbler in the Western Himalayas and worked on a conservation project for the Red Panda in the Eastern Himalayas. His areas of interest encompass bird acoustics, behavioural ecology, and natural history. Currently, he is studying plant-frugivore interactions in the Andaman Islands. Beyond his professional interests, Vignesh has a keen enthusiasm for photography and football.

Email: vigneshmchandran@gmail.com

Yukti Taneja

Yukti did her Master's from the Wildlife Institute of India. Her Master's dissertation determined differences in fruiting and fruit removal patterns of an alien invasive Lantana camara across habitats in Western Himalaya. She is interested in studying mutualisms and how these interactions at above- and below-ground scales facilitate alien plant invasions. 

Email: yuktitaneja.20@gmail.com

Zankhna PAtel

Zankhna did her Master's from the Wildlife Institute of India. Her Master's dissertation determined impacts of habitat fragmentation on fruiting plants and frugivores in evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. Zankhna is currently a researcher in a bird biogeography project in Andaman & Nicobar Islands 

Email: patelzankhna156@gmail.com