Current Research Projects
Long-term monitoring of wildlife in Antarctica
Ship based monitoring for seabirds in the southern Indian ocean and southern ocean.
Nesting ecology of Antarctic seabirds
Estimation of ice-breeding seals' abundance at Indian sector of Antarctica.
New blog launched to update about the project : Antarctic Ecosystem Project
Ship based monitoring for seabirds in the southern Indian ocean and southern ocean.
Nesting ecology of Antarctic seabirds
Estimation of ice-breeding seals' abundance at Indian sector of Antarctica.
New blog launched to update about the project : Antarctic Ecosystem Project
Past Research Projects
Monitoring of baleen whales in the Gulf of St. Lawerence
I worked as an Intern at the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, Longue-pointe-de-mingan, Quebec, Canada as a Ravi Sankaran Fellow from Aug- Oct 2012. Here, I conducted boat-based rorqual whale focal follows, population surveys, and photo-identification. Performed database matches for blue, fin, humpback, and minke whales, operated and maintained research vessels. I was also involved in biopsy darting, behaviour data collection of cetaceans, assisted in data entry for boat based sightings work and maintaining logbooks/ nautical charts and maintaining laboratory equipment.
I worked as an Intern at the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, Longue-pointe-de-mingan, Quebec, Canada as a Ravi Sankaran Fellow from Aug- Oct 2012. Here, I conducted boat-based rorqual whale focal follows, population surveys, and photo-identification. Performed database matches for blue, fin, humpback, and minke whales, operated and maintained research vessels. I was also involved in biopsy darting, behaviour data collection of cetaceans, assisted in data entry for boat based sightings work and maintaining logbooks/ nautical charts and maintaining laboratory equipment.
Reintroduction of Cheetah in India
This project aimed to reintroduce the only locally extinct mammal, Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), back to India. Under the supervision of Dr. Y.V. Jhala at Wildlife Institute of India (WII), I did action surveys of two potential sites (Shahgarh bulge, Rajasthan and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh) and two alternative sites (Jhalawar range and Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan) for potential reintroduction. Foot/vehicle transects were done for prey density estimation and the data was analysed using DISTANCE software. Additionally, I also conducted socio-economic surveys of the villages near the sites to assess the attitudes of people towards carnivore reintroduction.
This project aimed to reintroduce the only locally extinct mammal, Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), back to India. Under the supervision of Dr. Y.V. Jhala at Wildlife Institute of India (WII), I did action surveys of two potential sites (Shahgarh bulge, Rajasthan and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh) and two alternative sites (Jhalawar range and Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan) for potential reintroduction. Foot/vehicle transects were done for prey density estimation and the data was analysed using DISTANCE software. Additionally, I also conducted socio-economic surveys of the villages near the sites to assess the attitudes of people towards carnivore reintroduction.
Monitoring Tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat
This study was part of the All India Tiger monitoring work undertaken every 4 years by WII in collaboration with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). I worked with Dr. YV Jhala and Prof. Qamar Qureshi at 4 different tiger landscapes (Corbett, Sundarbans, Satpura and Kaziranga Tiger Reserves) doing Distance sampling for ungulates, occupancy surveys for predators and camera-trapping using active infra-red digital cameras (Mark-recapture framework). I also learnt some software like DISTANCE, MARK, DENSITY, PRESENCE and ArcGIS for the data analysis . I also had a fantastic opportunity to track a male Tiger using GPS collar at Sundarbans Tiger Reserve . The results of the study were published in the report Status of the Tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2010.
This study was part of the All India Tiger monitoring work undertaken every 4 years by WII in collaboration with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). I worked with Dr. YV Jhala and Prof. Qamar Qureshi at 4 different tiger landscapes (Corbett, Sundarbans, Satpura and Kaziranga Tiger Reserves) doing Distance sampling for ungulates, occupancy surveys for predators and camera-trapping using active infra-red digital cameras (Mark-recapture framework). I also learnt some software like DISTANCE, MARK, DENSITY, PRESENCE and ArcGIS for the data analysis . I also had a fantastic opportunity to track a male Tiger using GPS collar at Sundarbans Tiger Reserve . The results of the study were published in the report Status of the Tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2010.
Study of physiological responses of Antarctic Krill to climate change
The goal of the project was to understand the effect of changing environmental variables on the physiology of the Antarctic Krill. The sampling and experiments were carried out in the austral summer of 2009 (January- march) at Prydz bay, East Antarctica and India Bay, Princess Astrid coast. Live Krills were maintained at laboratory conditions and their Oxygen consumption, Ammonia and Phosphate excretion levels were monitored onboard.
The goal of the project was to understand the effect of changing environmental variables on the physiology of the Antarctic Krill. The sampling and experiments were carried out in the austral summer of 2009 (January- march) at Prydz bay, East Antarctica and India Bay, Princess Astrid coast. Live Krills were maintained at laboratory conditions and their Oxygen consumption, Ammonia and Phosphate excretion levels were monitored onboard.