Staff Members

Girish currently handles the Climate Change and Himalaya Programme and Central India Landscape Programme. He is instrumental in designing research, conservation action and policy matters of the programmes. He has a doctorate in Zoology from Bombay Natural History Society and has 40 publications to his credit comprising scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, popular articles and scientific reports. He has more than 16 years of experience in the field of threatened birds, ecology, environmental information system, bird monitoring, satellite tracking, ecological niche modelling and system dynamics.

Girish has a vast experience in public consultation programmes, environmental education and climate change education, and has been trained in modeling dynamic systems and its application in ecology. He was awarded the Ravisankaran Fellowship by Inlaks India Foundation in 2010. He also won the prestigious ‘Young Ornithologist State Award’ in 2012. He is a member of Species Survival Commission, IUCN and Senior Research Associate, Global Owl Project, USA. He is on the editorial board of Indian
Birds, a referee for many Indian and international journals and a Senior Advisor to the Care4Nature Magazine.

Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Girish_Jathar2/contributions

Akshaya joined BNHS as an Ornithologist in 2017. Presently, she is involved in the Threatened Birds of the Brahmaputra Grasslands project, which is part of Climate Change and Himalaya Programme.

Akshaya has studied the ecology of the Edible-nest Swiftlet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a part of her doctoral studies. She was involved in the research and conservation of the swiftlet from  2011 to 2016. Akshaya’s study findings were used to build up the ongoing research and in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies for the Edible-nest Swiftlet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Her interests constitute research in animal behavior, patterns and processes in ecology, biogeography, speciation, population dynamics, dispersal movements, ecological modeling, conservation initiatives
involving multiple stakeholders and policy level management.
She has more than eight years of experience in handling multiple projects and has carried out extensive fieldwork in the Andamans, Western Ghats and Himalaya. She has worked with SACON, Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department, WWF-India, WII, ANCF Bangalore, Kaati Trust Pune, Maharashtra Forest Department and AERF Pune.

Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Akshaya_Mane2/contributions

Monsoon is involved in the community-based conservation in Arunachal Pradesh, under the BNHS Climate Change and Himalaya programme. He has been documenting butterflies of North-east India for the past 11 years, especially in upper Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh. He has prepared a butterfly checklist for different Protected Areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as a part of Forest Department, Assam and WWF-India. His MSc dissertation was a study of the butterflies of Mishmi Hills. 

Monsoon is pursuing his Ph.D. on the altitudinal distribution pattern of butterflies in Barail Hill Range, North-east India covering eastern Meghalaya, southern Assam and western Nagaland. He was granted
Sanctuary Asia’s Young Naturalist award in 2010 for his Butterfly research in upper Assam. He was a UGC-BSR Fellow (2013-2016) under Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University.
Monsoon’s interests include taxonomy and biogeography of butterflies in North-east India, forest birds, odonates and herpetofauna.

Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Monsoon_Gogoi/contributions

Ngulkholal has been with BNHS since 2013 and has worked on multiple research studies. He is involved in the conservation of Bengal Florican in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and has carried out extensive
surveys in Protected and non-protected areas of the two states. He has an M.Phil (zoology) from Madras University. Ngulkholal is working on the ecology of threatened birds of Brahmaputra grassland habitat.
He is also involved in the national-level population estimation of Lesser Florican.

He is an active member and part of the Amur Falcon Project. His work involves community awareness and coordination with Eco-Clubs and local school teachers.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ngulkholal_Khongsai

Biswajit is part of the studies covering Community Conserved Area and Bengal Florican. He has a master’s in Ecology and Environmental Science from Assam University, Assam, from where he is also pursuing a Ph.D. on the Ecology of Avian Communities. He has been working in the grasslands of the Brahmaputra Floodplains for the last five years. Biswajit has worked as a Field Biologist, involved in the release and monitoring of the reintroduced Pygmy Hogs under Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme in Assam. He has been awarded the ZSL EDGE of existence fellowship 2019-2021 to study the ‘Status,
distribution and conservation of Bengal Florican in North-east India’.

Biswajit is currently involved in projects dealing with the status and distribution of Bengal Florican, habitat preference, threat assessment and conservation of the species in North-east India.

His research interests are Ornithology, Animal Ecology and Wildlife Conservation. Besides he is a keen birdwatcher and wildlife photographer.

Publications:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Biswajit_Chakdar/contributions

Atharva is a Senior Research Fellow in the Climate Change and Himalaya Programme. He did his graduation in Biotechnology and master’s in Environmental Science at Mumbai University. He studied the effects of climate change on Snow Leopards in Ladakh for his MSc dissertation. Atharva was involved in Snow Leopard monitoring exercise in the high-altitude regions of North Sikkim and Western Ladakh as part of WWF-Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme and Snow Leopard Conservancy Ladakh.

He is currently working on the ‘Status, distribution, and conservation of Phasinidae and Fringillidae in Eastern and Central Himalayas’. He is interested in studying Trans-Himalayan and Alpine ecology.

Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Atharva_Singh/contributions

Bijoy Chhetri is currently involved in the project titled ‘Status, Distribution and Conservation of Pheasants (Phasianidae) and Finches (Fringillidae) in the Himalaya’. He did his master’s in Zoology (2011) from the University of North Bengal, Darjeeling.

Bijoy has worked on Climate Change Project as a senior project fellow at G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development (GBPNIHE & SD), Govt. India. As a senior field researcher in the same institute, he also has worked in the implementation phase of the Khangchendzonga Landscape Conservation & Development Initiative - India Programme, funded by ICIMOD-Nepal.  He has studied the distribution, abundance and habitat interaction of Himalayan Pheasants in response to Climate Change in Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, North Bengal University.

His interests include Himalayan biodiversity, landscape conservation and ecological and climate change modelling.

Publications:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bijoy_Chhetri2/publications

NaniGopal works as driver-cum-field assistant in Climate Change and Himalaya Programme. He is specialized in jungle survival and field craft. He developed an interest in birding during Brahmaputra floodplains survey and has grown to be an efficient spotter in the field. NaniGopal is hardworking and a keen participant in the field.

Vinod has been working as the field driver in Assam under the BNHS Climate Change and Himalaya Programme. He has previously worked in Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Katanyghat and Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Uttarakhand.

Balashore works as a driver at the Sikkim field station under BNHS Climate Change and Himalaya Programme. He is good at identifying the local medicinal plants and vegetation. He has also developed an interest in bird watching.

I found my calling in wildlife conservation in 1995 when I was about eighteen. I was a commerce student then and with the Maharashtra State’s educational policies being strict, I could not seek a change in my subject halfway. But I ensured that my junior college and undergraduate days were well spent as a volunteer with Katraj Snake Park, World Wide Fund for Nature and Centre for Environment Education, Pune division. Between 1998 and 2011, I managed to equip myself with two master’s degrees in Science and an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge. I also acquired the necessary experience in scientific research, working on parasites of mammals and wildlife issues, organic farming and watershed development, and project management and development.

Back in India in 2011, I found a position through United Nations Development Programme to work for a Joint Secretary-level Scientist at the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), a position that was continued by GIZ (a company established by the Government of Germany to carry out developmental works in about 130 countries). In my first year at MoEFCC, I helped to manage the Scientist’s portfolio having an annual budget of more than hundred crores and covering thematic areas such as The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB), Coastal and Marine Protected Areas, Medicinal Plants, Conservation and Management of Coral Reefs and Mangroves, National Mission on Himalayan Studies, Centres of Excellence, Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement (BCRLI) project. I also assisted the Scientist in negotiations at the Eleventh Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and prepared and provided inputs for country positions and negotiation briefs for CBD, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.

I began working for the Bombay Natural History Society in April 2017 and was entrusted with the responsibility of assisting on policy issues, especially those related to Wetlands. So far, I have been able to help secure two Climate Change-related projects from MoEFCC; a project on the conservation and wise use of wetlands with a focus on migratory birds using the Central Asian Flyway is on the anvil.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Rural Livelihoods
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Scientific Research
• Portfolio/Programme/Project Development & Management
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Organic Farming and Watershed management
• National/International Policy.
• Financial Accounts & Audit compliance

Ratul is working as a field assistant in the Threatened Birds of Brahmaputra Grassland Programme. He is a keen birdwatcher and assists in all the surveys, especially in collecting anthropogenic pressure information through interviews.  

Dr. Vibhu Prakash Mathur

Deputy Director 

Vulture Breeding centre and Vulture safe Zone

Neha studied Conservation Biology at the University of Oxford before joining BNHS. She has worked with a specialisation in the Important Bird Area programme and conservation policy. She has served as Guest Faculty at Delhi University, teaching political ecology. She has also served as a member of the Central Zoo Authority's Committee on Research and Publications. She is a reviewer for Current Science journal and the Economic and Political Weekly and a Member of IUCN Commission on Education and Communication.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·         Policy, Law, Important Bird Areas, Political Ecology, Conservation Planning

Varsha has been with the BNHS since November 2008. Her areas of interest and expertise include:

·         Accounts

·         Taxation

·         Tally ERP

·         MS Office

As part of the Policy Cell, Rahul looks after Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and related issues. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Pune University. He has a firm knowledge of the legal framework pertaining to biological diversity conservation in India. Rahul has conducted several biodiversity-related training programmes for local communities, forest officials, NGOs and academics. He currently serves as an expert in a High Level Monitoring Committee of Mahabaleshwar–Pachgani Ecosensitive Zone set up by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). He guides MSc research projects. Rahul has been with BNHS since January 2017.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• ecology
• data analysis
• environment acts
• convention of biological diversity-related issues
• plant taxonomy policy development for biodiversity conservation
• environment governance
• natural resource management
• community-based conservation policies

Rajendra joined BNHS in 1994 and is involved in a number of research projects such as mangrove nursery and plantation at Gujarat and Maharashtra; Crab Culture at Jaigad, Ratnagiri; intertidal ecological studies across Maharashtra and Gujarat coast and macrobenthic sampling in Thane Creek. He also participates as a resource person in the nature trails and camps conducted by the Society’s Conservation Education Centre in Mumbai.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Intertidal and Mangrove Ecology
• Crab Culture
• Environment Education

Vishwas joined BNHS in 1994 and has been part of various research and EIA (environmental impact assessment) projects, besides environment education programmes of the Society’s Conservation Education Centre in Mumbai. Since 2007, he is involved in Mangrove Conservation project in Maharashtra and Gujarat, where the focus is to study mangrove diversity and density along with plantation and nursery development for endangered mangrove species. He has also been associated with projects such as crab culture in Jaigad and intertidal ecological surveys along Maharashtra and Gujarat. Presently he is engaged in macrobenthic sampling in Thane Creek.  He serves as a resource person for shore walks, birdwatching trails and outreach activities.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• environment education
• intertidal and mangrove ecology
• crab culture

Milind has been with BNHS since 2011. He has a diploma in road transport and logistics, and field experience in mangrove nursery.

Saurabh is a community officer, working for Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (SLTP), with focus on the assessment and monitoring of tiger population in Bor buffer and Bor-Melghat corridor and corridor conservation through community participation. Under SLTP, he was also involved in activities such as women sensitization programmes, improving chulhas, school pr ogrammes and surveys regarding the consumption of firewood in the villages surrounding Tadoba and Bor and understanding the Mahua flower economics in the village.

Saurabh joined BNHS in 2007 as a volunteer and was involved in various activities since then. He has a bachelor’s and master’s in Environmental Science. In 2012, he joined BNHS as an Education Assistant in the Conservation department under SLTP. He gained experience in various spheres such as school awareness programmes, biogas repair, livelihood activities and socio-economic surveys.

Additionally, he was part of the team for the Assessment of Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) – Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve Corridor, Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) - Bor Tiger Reserve Corridor & Bor Tiger Reserve – Melghat Tiger Reserve Corridor.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       community awareness

·       education programme

·       camera trapping

Pratiksha is involved in the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link project where she is working on marine benthic communities and feeding ecology of shorebirds. Pratikha did her post-graduation in Zoology from Goa University. Her research work for graduation and post-graduation dissertations included ecology of Rufous Horseshoe Bat in Divar Island, Goa and Biochemical alterations in Paphia malabarica (Saltwater clam) due to heavy metal contamination respectively. Along with research, Pratiksha is also

interested in science writing and environment education.
Areas of interest/expertise:

• ecology
• conservation science
• climate change
• animal behaviour
• human-wildlife conflict

Prafulla has been associated with Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme as an Education Officer since 2012. His work so far has included conservation education activities in 50 peripheral schools of four protected areas in Maharashtra, and community awareness programmes related to conservation and self-employment opportunities.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       conservation education

·       awareness

Rajesh has been with BNHS since 2008. He is a skilled driver and a qualified field assistant

Kalpna is associated with the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link project of BNHS since September 2018 and has been involved in the preparation of a conservation blueprint for the Sewri-Nhava Seascape. She is currently working on microbenthic fauna of Thane Creek and Navi Mumbai wetlands.

Kalpna has a master’s in Marine Biology from Pondicherry University. She is a certified scuba diver with dive experience in the Andaman coast. She has studied the microbenthic fauna and the diversity and distribution in estuarine and coastal waters of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

She has participated in time series observation with coastal water cruises off Mumbai for hydro-sedimentology parameters, plankton and marine benthic fauna collection .

Areas of interest/expertise

·       invertebrate taxonomy

·       DNA barcoding

·       ecotoxicology

Puja has been involved with the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link project ever since she joined BNHS in September 2018. She has completed her master’s in Marine Biology and Oceanography. She has worked on porcelain crabs and their diversity along the east coast of Andamans.

Monisha is pursuing her Ph.D. at BNHS since 2015, where she is working on Genus Haminoea from India. Her research broadly focuses on the diversity and systematics of cephalaspids.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       taxonomy

·       diversity

·       heterobranch

·       marine biology

Raj joined BNHS in June 2017. He has a Ph.D. in Botany from Mumbai University and has been working in the field of botany for the last 16 years. He has been part of various environmental impact assessments, biodiversity studies, and projects related to Tree Inventory and floristic studies. He has published 11 research papers and reviewed a few books.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       plant taxonomy

·       nomenclature

·       ecology

Paloma joined BNHS in 2018 and is currently working as a researcher for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link project. She completed her master’s in Life Science from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore and has experience in the field of lepidoptera, ornithology and human-carnivore conflict. She is interested in understanding the geographic locations of migrants, their ecology, population structure and habitats.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       ornithology

·       behavioural ecology

·       conservation biology

Pradip is studying microbenthic communities in Thane Creek and Navi Mumbai Wetlands as part of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link project of BNHS since 2017. Pradip completed his post-graduation in Zoology (Oceanography) from Mumbai University. His research interests are invertebrate taxonomy and socioeconomics of fishery. Previously, Pradip worked with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and environmental agencies formulating waste audit report, data collection of fish diversity and Sassoon dock redevelopment project. He volunteered with Reef Watch Marine Conservation to study anthropogenic impacts on marine biodiversity along the Mumbai coast. Pradip is also interested in developing better livelihood options for the fishermen community, along with the conservation of marine fauna and environment education.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• marine benthos
• intertidal ecology
• socio-economic of fisheries
• developmental biology

Shalini joined BNHS in April 2017 as part of the project studying the abundance and migration of Flamingos, shorebirds and other avifauna. She completed her master’s in Wildlife Science from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Her interests include studying the behavioural ecology of birds and mammals, landscape ecology and island biogeography. She is also inclined towards exploring and understanding the species of different taxa.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• ornithology
• species conservationist

Shashank is a researcher at BNHS, studying shorebirds and Flamingo ecology since September 2018. He has completed his post-graduation in Zoology from Pune University. Shashank did his summer research fellowship at IISc, Bangalore, where he studied the temporal and density-dependent change in throat colour pattern of Mysore day gecko Cnemaspis maysoriensis.

Shashank has completed course work in ornithology conducted by ELA Foundation and has interned with Kalinga Center for Rainforest Ecology, Agumbe on the breeding biology of King Cobra. He has volunteered on the research project involving the tagging of and studying the population ecology of Fan-throated Lizard and Garden Lizard in Chaloba (Western Ghats ). He has been part of a snake rescue group based in Gadhingalaj tehsil, Kolapur.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• ornithology
• animal behaviour
• ecology
• evolutionary biology

Vishal has worked on various coastal areas of India. He has been working on opisthobranch taxonomy since 2009 and has described 2 new species and several new records of sea slugs. Vishal has Ph.D. in Zoology from Mumbai University. He has a keen interest in data analysis and management, and is presently learning the same.

In his leisure time, Vishal spends time familiarizing with technology and techniques related to computer programming for fun.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       coastal biodiversity

·       inter-tidal ecology

·       opisthobranchs

·       invertebrates

·       bioinformatics

·       data science

Neha is interested in insect ecology and taxonomy, with specific inclination towards the ecology of butterflies and odonates (damselflies and dragonflies). She has been with BNHS since 2015. Neha has studied the interactions of butterflies with their nectar plants. Currently she is working on odonate diversity and their breeding behaviour. More information about her publications and projects can be found here: (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Neha_Mujumdar?ev=hdr_xprf).

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       insect ecology

·       taxonomy

Shivbhadrasinh’s research focus is on the lesser-known mammal species.  He has been with BNHS since 2013 and has worked on several projects such as sea turtle monitoring, ecology of Spiny-tailed Lizard and bird ringing programmes in Gujarat. His field skills include conducting transect surveys, sampling sand and beach quality, beach profiling, population estimation, risk assessment survey for sea turtle species, besides behaviour ecology, distribution pattern and habitat sampling for lesser-known mammal species including semi-arid reptiles.

Shivbhadrasinh has a good knowledge of GIS mapping and species distribution modelling. He is also a SSI open-water Scuba diver. He has participated in several research and ecological assessment studies including a project on Tungareshwar Sanctuary in Maharashtra, assessment of Giant Clam population in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Marmot survey in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       mammals

·       carnivores

·       reptiles

·       sea turtle

·       ecology

Reshma is a zoologist with BNHS, currently pursuing her doctoral studies, with intertidal areas of Maharashtra as her focus area. She is interested in understanding marine invertebrate taxonomy, diversity and ecology. Her doctoral study is aimed at studying species composition and distribution of polyclad flatworms from the intertidal areas of Maharashtra.

Since she joined BNHS in 2011, Reshma has been involved in environment impact assessments, marine biodiversity assessments and identifying ecologically important coastal areas in Maharashtra.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       taxonomy

·       marine biodiversity

·       ecology

Dishant is working since 3rd November 2016. Expert in Ecology and conservation of coral reefs, Taxonomy of opisthobranchs, Marine megafauna

Dishant has Ph.D. degree in Reef ecology of Gulf of Kachchh. He is currently heading the Gujarat field station and working on taxonomy of opisthobranchs and reef conservation programs in Gujarat. He is also a part of Bird ringing program in Gujarat.

Nirmala ensures prompt and effective reference service to visitors at the library. Before joining BNHS in July 2007, Nirmala worked at various engineering colleges. She has 24 years of experience in the field. Nirmala has a master’s degree in Mathematics and in Library & Information Service from Mumbai University. She has been instrumental in generating funds for the restoration of old books at BNHS. She is currently foreseeing the restoration and digitization of old documents.

Divyesh Parikh manages the sales activities and supervises the events of the Programmes department. He is responsible for paving the way for new eco-friendly products, chalking out programmes that ensure optimum result and fundraising for conservation work. Divyesh has been with BNHS since 2008.

Sanjay currently manages the Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (SLTP), where BNHS is working with multiple partners and various funding agencies to address tiger conservation issues in the Satpuda landscape through two mobile education units.

As in-charge, he is responsible for the varied community intervention programmes under SLTP such as awareness camps for students and teachers, targeted capacity building workshops for forest department staff, tour guides and local youth, revival of biogas units for local residents and advocacy leading to effective policies. He has written over 500 articles and news pieces on environment and wildlife.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• environment education through community participation

Ranjit has over 38 years of research experience at BNHS, having worked on the Great Indian Bustard, grassland birds, waterbirds, forest birds, Spot-billed Pelican, fish, Indian Fox and Asian Elephant. Currently he is working on projects related to bird hazards to aircraft. Ranjit has headed 13 projects as the Principal Investigator. He is a Ph.D. guide attached to Mumbai University, and is on the board of editors of the Society’s journal (JBNHS) and magazine (Hornbill).

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       birds

·       waterbirds

·       grassland birds

Rahul joined BNHS in 2009 as a Research Assistant in the Entomology Section of Collections and currently heads the department. He works on a range of topics from entomology to citizen science initiatives.

Rahul has described one new species of insect for science and named a new genus of land snail. He enjoys talking to students who visit BNHS. Currently he is engaged in a long-term

ecological monitoring of migratory waterbirds around Mumbai. He is the country coordinator of eMammal International Project that seeks to promote scientific understanding in school children.   

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       natural history collection management

·       entomology

·       citizen science

·       bird hazard studies at airports

· long-term ecological studies on migratory waterbirds

·       natural history collection digitization

·       biological preservations

·       biodiversity monitoring studies

Divyashree joined BNHS in April 2018 and ever since has been working towards building a membership community of nature lovers, wild life enthusiasts and environmentally conscious citizens.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       public and corporate relations

·       member engagement

Vibhuti is the head of the Publications department. She has been with BNHS since 1997 and currently works as Copy and Production Editor of JBNHS, Co-editor of Hornbill and Copy Editor of BNHS books.

Sathiyaselvam has over 20 years of research experience in wetland ecology, bird migration, avian disease monitoring and management planning for the wetlands. He has worked in various ecological and environmental impact assessments and biodiversity studies across the country. Having been trained by United States Geological Survey (USGS) in satellite tracking of waterbirds, Sathiyaselvam has independently deployed 48 satellite transmitters on nine waterbird species.

He has to his credit about 50 publications including scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, popular articles and scientific reports. He has also authored three books. He is one of the members of the Editorial Board for EGREE Newsletter and Biodiversity Field Guide brought out by the State Biodiversity Board of Andhra Pradesh.

Sathiyaselvam initiated the Olive Ridley Turtle Conservation Programme in association with Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and Fishing Cat and Whale Shark Conservation programme with Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. While the turtle conservation programme is in progress, the Fishing Cat and Whale Shark conservation initiative has been taken up in a big way by the state forest department. The global status of the Fishing Cat has been revised and the Whale Shark conservation initiative has attained international recognition.

Sathiyaselvam has worked as a Field Biologist with the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu and as Conservation Biologist in the project ‘Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production sector’, implemented by the Government of India-UNDP-GEF and Government of Andhra Pradesh.

He has played an advisory role, motivating many industries towards biodiversity conservation and continues to be involved in community mobilization towards biodiversity conservation.  Presently BNHS has deputed him to the Central Asian Flyway Secretariat, established in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to provide scientific and technical inputs to the secretariat for the conservation migratory birds.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• wetland ecology
• bird migration

Raju is currently Assistant Director and heads the Conservation Education Centre in Mumbai. He joined BNHS as IBA Programme Manager in 2010, after working for almost 18 years in the pharmaceuticals industry. He has authored many books and written numerous research papers and articles. He also writes popular science articles in Marathi. Raju regularly contributes to Wikipedia and many websites, and makes Android Apps about birds and butterflies.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       birds and butterflies

As Programme Officer, Nandkishor partakes in all activities of the Conservation Education Centre, Mumbai. He has been with BNHS since June 2014.

Areas of interest/expertise :
• ornithology

Deepak took over as BNHS Director in 2015, after serving the organisation for 22 years in various capacities. He has a doctorate in Marine Ecology. He also has to his credit post graduate certificates in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (AIT, Thailand) and Marine Ecology and Policy (Duke University, USA).

Deepak has been exploring marine life along the Indian coast for over 30 years now. He has authored four books, over 45 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals like Nature, Evolution, Systematic and Biodiversity and JMBA (UK) and several popular articles.

At present, he heads a number of research and conservation programmes in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar and central India.

In 2008, Deepak received the prestigious Whitley Award from the Shears Foundation for his contribution towards establishing community-managed marine protected area and saving Giant Clams in Lakshadweep. He also received Whitley’s Continuation Funding to carry out research and conservation of giant clams in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He is a Fellow of the Smithsonian Environmental Leadership Programme, LEAD-India, International Visitors Programme, USA and Duke University Marine Programme. He has travelled to over 50 countries and has undergone extensive training on sustainable development. Deepak is an excellent underwater photographer and Advance Open Water PADI diver with more than 5000 hours of dive log. He aims to popularize marine biodiversity through research, field expedition and publications. He has established a full-fledged Marine Conservation Programme in BNHS.
• Chairman – Environmental Appraisal Committee (CRZ and Infrastructure 1), MoEFCC, Government of India.
• Member – National Board of Wild Life, MoEFCC, Government of India
• Member (Ex) – Forest Advisory Committee, MoEFCC, Government of India
• Member – Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board Fauna Committee
• Executive Committee Member – CBD-NGO Alliance
• Executive Committee Member – UNDP-GOI East Godavari Programme
• Governing Council Member – Mangrove Foundation, Government of Maharashtra
• Executive Committee Member – Mangrove Foundation, Government of Maharashtra
• Member – Committee on Mangrove and Coral Reef Action Plan, Gujarat State
• Member – CRZ Committee, Government of Maharashtra
• Member – Wetland Committee, Government of Maharashtra
• Member – National Vulture Recovery Programme, Government of India
• Member – Research Advisory Committee, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai
• Executive Committee Member – Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
• Member – Wildlife Institute of India Society
• Executive Committee Member – CAMPA, Maharashtra State
• Member – State Wildlife Advisory Board of Maharashtra
• Member – State Wildlife Advisory Board of Madhya Pradesh
• Member – State Wildlife Advisory Board of Andaman and Nicobar
• Member – Sarus Conservation Committee, Government of Utter Pradesh
• Member – Bird Control Committee, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India

Sohail Madan is a Project Manager with BNHS and heads the
Conservation Education Centre (CEC) at Delhi. He studied
engineering at Pune University and San Jose State University,
California. In his capacity as CEC-Delhi head, Sohail is actively
involved in numerous initiatives by the Delhi Government to
create and conserve green zones in the city. He has been one
of the key advocates in creating awareness and carrying out a
plantation drive of native trees in the city. Some of his
significant contributions to Delhi have been building the butterfly
park at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary with the support of the
Department of Forests and Wildlife, GNCT of Delhi and running
educational programmes, with an emphasis on hands-on field
training that promotes strong conservation ethos.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Rewilding
• Lepidoptera
• Environment Education
• Photography

As part of the Director’s Secretariat and HR, Nishigandha currently handles multiple tasks like organising and managing the Director’s schedules, coordinating between various stakeholders, communicating with local authorities of a given project area, meeting up with funding agencies, preparing PPTs and compiling report data. She coordinates with various departments of BNHS as per the Director’s specifications.

Nishigandha joined the BNHS in 2006, soon after her master’s in Environmental Science from Mumbai University, as an event coordinator for Green Governance Awards. She later worked as an education officer in the Mangrove project. To enhance her
experience in the field of environment, Nishigandha worked for a couple of years as an environmental analyst at Padmaja Aerobiological Private Limited and as a resource manager at the Centre for Environment Education and Development. 

Rejoining the BNHS in 2012, Nishigandha worked on several CSR projects and coordinated the activities of the conservation department, assisting the COO in strategic planning for the organisation and in writing project proposals and reports.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Mangrove identification and their conservation using GIS techniques.
• Baseline data collection for EIAs.
• Ecological as well as socio-economic surveys.
• Content writing for environmental issues.
• Resource material development.
• Capacity building.

President, GC

Deputy Director - Administration and HR

Saras Behera

Vithoba has been with BNHS since 1982, working as a taxidermist and helping to maintain and preserve specimens. Vithoba also works on different projects from time to time. He has been part of several programmes for members and other interested people.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• taxidermy
• bird studies

Sachin is responsible for the day-to-day administration at BNHS. He joined in 1990 and has worked in various capacities before taking charge of the administration of the Society.

Tuhina is involved in bird migration studies at BNHS since January 2013. She is currently posted at Mumbai. Tuhina was at the Bird Migration Study Centre in Point Calimere until 2016, where she participated in collating and analyzing band recovery data obtained by BNHS since 1959. During the period, she also carried out bird ringing at Pong Dam (Himachal Pradesh), Chilika Lake (Odisha), Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Point Calimere (Tamil Nadu).

She is the co-author of Indian Bird Migration Atlas, a BNHS publication that deals with the ring recovery information of birds from India. She is now part of the Wetlands Programme, working on monitoring sites important for migratory birds under Central Asian Flyway. Currently, she is involved in monitoring sites along Maharashtra.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       bird migration study

Sumantha is a marine biologist, exploring marine life across Indian coast for the past 9 years. He has a Ph.D. in Marine Science and has been with BNHS since 2013. Sumantha’s research mainly focuses on marine mollusks, harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms and the effects of climate change on the coral reefs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Archipelago using giant clams and gorgonians as surrogate.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       marine algae (cyanobacteria)

·       taxonomy of marine molluscs

Rohan assists the BNHS Director on environment clearance and forest clearance projects involved in Environmental Advisory Committee CRZ & Infra-1 and Forest Advisory Committee. He also assists the Director on projects considered for State Wildlife Board Meeting. He is part of the Policy Cell and looks after the GIS work on various projects, including IBAs.
After a bachelor’s in Biotechnology, Rohan shifted to Environmental Sciences for his master’s programme in The Institute of Science, Mumbai. Rohan worked with Tiger Research and Conservation Trust (TRACT), Nagpur in the buffer zone of the Tadoba reserve for his M.Sc. dissertation on ‘Anthropogenic pressures acting on Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve: A socio-economic study of the villages in the Western Periphery of Tadoba, Maharashtra’. He was a Research Biologist with Wildlife Institute of India where he was involved in MSTrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Patrolling and Ecological Status) and was also part of monitoring Tigers, co-predators, prey and their habitat. In North east and Central India. He has volunteered for studying the ecology of mongoose using radio-telemetry .
He joined BNHS as Junior Research Fellow in 2015 and has been involved in various projects under the Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (SLTP) and other biodiversity study projects. Under SLTP, he has also been involved in school education and awareness programmes, socio-economic surveys and trainings programmes for the Forest staff in camera trapping. Rohan has worked on the status of Marmots in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh.
Areas of interest/expertise:
• mammals
• camera Trapping
• human-animal Conflict
• behavioural studies
• GIS
• socio-economic surveys
• community awareness
• education programmes

Gisha has been with the marketing department of BNHS since April 2006. She loves to interact with people and seeks opportunities to raise funds for the Society. Ensuring the customer's satisfaction with the organisation and with the service provided is her sole motto.

Gisha graduated in Commerce, with specialization in costing and is currently pursuing MBA in Marketing.

B.Sc. in Chemistry and M.L.I.Sc., working
with BNHS from 2nd May 2014. Expertise in Library management. 

Ishtiyak is involved in the development of medicinal and
butterfly gardens. He regularly conducts biodiversity surveys.
Ishtiyak enjoys conducting nature trails for schools, collecges, families and corporate bodies. He organizes special theme-
based walks, workshops and events.

Ishtiyak has a master’s in Zoology with a specialization in fish
and fisheries from Purvanchal University, U.P. He has been
with the centre since November 2007 and has special interest in birds and butterflies.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Nature education

Sonali has been involved in the production of the Society's publications.

Areas on interest/expertise:

·         Editing, proof reading and colour corrections.

GC, Vice President

Asif

Bala

P. Kurusamy

Working since 2013

Bhavik’s work focuses on opisthobranch fauna, mangrove and coral ecosystem, bird ringing, marine environment impact assessment, awareness programmes and GIS component. He has completed his Ph.D. on Mangrove Ecosystem and its socio-economical aspects from M.S. University, Baroda and is with BNHS since April 2017.
Areas of interest/expertise:
• mangrove conservation
• socio-economic
• awareness programme s
• biodiversity assessment
• GIS
• opisthobranch taxonomy

Sanchita is involved in the designing of BNHS publications since September 2014. Her expertise lies in the area of layout designing.

Sandesh is from Guhagar, Ratnagiri graduated from Siddharth College, Mumbai. 

Sandesh is working since 1998 in Marketing Department. 

Working since 1984

Rajender started his journey with CEC Delhi in 2005, the year
the centre began its operations in the city. He has a keen
interest in environmental education and has been part of the
BNHS survey team. Rajender is also passionate about wildlife
photography.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Nature education
• Photography

Sameer is fascinated with all disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology, but he is particularly interested in the diversity and systematics of mammals in South Asia, population ecology of threatened species, community ecology, landscape ecology, macroecology and conservation biology. He is also interested in testing the advanced quantitative methods for monitoring biodiversity, especially multi-species occupancy modelling in the northern Western Ghats, and developing appropriate policies and management action plans for the conservation of biodiversity.

Currently, he is working on the ecology and conservation of Kondana Soft-furred Rat (Millardia kondana) in the northern Western Ghats, systematics and evolution of rodents in the Indian subcontinent, spatial patterns of distributions of the mammals in South Asia and impact of developmental activities on shorebirds in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).       

Areas of interest/expertise:

• diversity and systematics of mammals
• population ecology
• community ecology
• landscape ecology
• macroecology
• conservation biology

GC, Vice President

Administration & HR Assistant

Sushmita Karmakar

Rajat

Kirubanandan A

Working since 2005 

After a two-year stint in the Conservation Education Cell (CEC) of BNHS as Education Officer, Omkar is part of the Wetlands Programme since September 2018. He did his bachelor’s in Zoology and master’s in Environmental Science at Mumbai University. His MSc dissertation was on the 'Factors on the Corporate Social Responsibility performing companies' 

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       birds

·       butterflies

Sunil has been with BNHS since 1980, serving in the administration department in various capacities.

Mrugank is a researcher with BNHS since October 2012. He is currently working on the ecology of migratory birds at Navi Mumbai study site, and population ecology of stream breeding amphibians at Karnala and its adjoining areas.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       amphibian and shorebird ecology

As an education officer, Priyadarshini’s work at CEC includes conducting trails at BNHS Nature Reserve, coordinating the online-hybrid courses run by BNHS and conducting environmental awareness sessions for school students.

She has a bachelor’s in Biotechnology and master’s in Environmental Sciences. Before joining BNHS in February 2017, she worked as a Biology lecturer.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       environmental awareness

·       general biodiversity

Maithreyi has been with BNHS since September 2014, working on its various publications. She has earlier worked at The Week and Deccan Herald in Bangalore and Orient Blackswan in Hyderabad. She has freelanced for Penguin India and Rupa and worked on research assignments for various organizations. Her translations from Kannada have appeared in edited texts such as The Inner Mirror: Kannada writings on society and culture, Steel Nibs are Sprouting: New Dalit Writing from South India and Karnataka Sahitya Academy journal Aniketana.

Working since 1st May 2004

Born and brought up in Delhi, Geeta Yadav is a Geography
student who found her true love after volunteering for BNHS in
2014. She joined the Conservation Education Centre, Delhi at
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in 2016.

Geeta has worked at the Green Bean Society in Kamala Nehru
College, Delhi University and volunteered for the Common
Wealth Games in 2010. As a child, Geeta held a keen interest
in trees and butterflies. She loves to spend time with children,
imparting in them a love for nature and the need to conserve it.
She also conducts awareness programmes and volunteer
events. She assists in various projects and surveys, besides
handling the social media account of CEC-Delhi.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Handling Social Media
• Nature Education
• Photography
• Gardening

GC, Vice President

Sujit

S. Govindraj

Account Assistant working since 2014

Sivakumar is working on the Wetlands Programme since January 2018. After completing his master’s in Wildlife Biology, he served as a field biologist at BNHS from 1998 to 2007. During the period, he had the opportunity to study the birds of Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal and the faunal diversity of Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh, and work in the Vulture captive breeding programme. Sivakumar has had more than 20 years of experience in in-situ and ex-situ conservation of Indian wildlife and in the area of environmental education.

Before joining BNHS, Sivakumar was with World Wide Fund for Nature – India, Chennai Snake Park and Centre for Environment Education in various capacities. He has published nearly 50 scientific and popular articles in both national and international journals/newsletters/magazines. Sivakumar is presently working in the area of bird migration studies.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       birds

·       reptiles

·       environment education

Siddhi is adept at various administrative jobs and currently manages the travel and accommodation bookings of the staff.

Kiran joined BNHS in February 2018 as Education Officer at Mumbai’s Conservation Education Centre. Prior to this, she worked as Assistant Professor at Wilson College and was associated with the forest department’s plantation monitoring work.  Kiran did her master’s in Botany, with specialization in angiosperm taxonomy. She is passionate about advocating environmental awareness and native tree plantation.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       plants

Working since May 2007

Apart from being an adept driver, Omveer is also a keen
photographer and gardener. He helps the education staff in
conducting programmes and surveys. He has a good
knowledge of plants and helps to maintain the butterfly garden.
Omveer has been with the BNHS since December 2015.

Areas of interest/expertise

•    Gardening
•    Photography

JRF

Parveen joined BNHS as a research fellow in 2012. Since then, she has been involved in various biodiversity assessment projects and the shorebird population monitoring project in Navi Mumbai.

Currently, Parveen is working on the breeding ecology of Indian Skimmer and other riverine nesting birds in the National Chambal Sanctuary, where she is trying to understand the factors influencing the nest site selection and nesting success in the sympatric riverine nesting birds.

When she gets some leisure time, Parveen likes doing illustrations and zentangling.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Behavioral ecology
• Conservation biology
• Conservation through community participation and citizen science

GC, Hon. Secretary

Abhijit

Sivakumar Balsamy

Account

Working since 3rd November 1988

Shubhadeep has a master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from Pondicherry University. He has worked at Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS), Pune where he was involved in the study of the Critically Endangered Forest Owlet. Shubhadeep was also with Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), Kolkata where he worked on community-based mangrove conservation. He is interested in exploring nature and wildlife, particularly avian ecology and conservation, and keen on imbibing new study techniques.

Gopi joined BNHS in 1993 and has worked on a number of brochures, banners and reports, besides Hornbill and JBNHS. He brings his creativity into the layout and design of BNHS publications.

Priyanka joined BNHS as an education officer in January 2018. Her work involves environmental awareness sessions in schools, nature trails, coordinating the online courses of BNHS including field visits and field camps, and the CSR programmes at CEC.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       biodiversity conservation

·       education.

Working since 2015

Jitender joined the BNHS in 2014, after completing his
graduation from Delhi University. He helps in coordinating the
centre’s programmes and surveys. Jitender has a great interest
in gardening and he loves his workplace as it is the green lung
of Delhi.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Nursery technique
• Kitchen Gardening

Saunak is fascinated by wildlife and the complexities in the animal communities, but his special interest lies in herpetofauna. He has been with BNHS since 2015, chiefly engaged in understanding the factors that influence diversification of amphibians and reptiles, patterns of distribution and causes for endemism in the Western Ghats.

Saunak manages the digitization of the BNHS natural history specimens, a work under progress. He is also involved in various biodiversity mapping and conservation projects across the country.

While not in the field looking for lizards or in the museum photographing them, Saunak dabbles in art, music, poetry and cooking.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       biogeography

·       systematics

·       phylogeny

·       reptile & amphibian taxonomy

Gayatri joined BNHS as Publications Officer and HoD. Her editorial work has included Hornbill, Journal of the BNHS and BNHS books, Buceros, Mistnet, as well as incidental publications. She provides editorial support to other departments.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·         Editing, Writing, Reading

GC, Honorary Treasurer

Dilip Giri

S. Saravanan

Working since 13th February 2017

Madhumita is involved in bird migration and wetland-associated studies. Since 2017, when she joined BNHS, Madhumita has carried out bird ringing and banding in Gujarat and Maharashtra, and participated in developing a restoration plan for Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Jamnagar, Gujarat. She regularly partakes in bird ringing and migration training workshops conducted by BNHS. Madhumita is pursuing her Ph.D. from Sálim Ali Centre of Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), with focus on the bird community in Agasthyamalai Hills, Western Ghats, Kerala, India.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       ornithology with focus on community ecology

Lakhan joined BNHS in 2013, after a stint at the forest
department’s restoration project work in Asola Bhatti Wildlife
Sanctuary. He has a good knowledge of plants and insects and
is a keen photographer. Lakhan regularly monitors the wildlife
activity of the sanctuary and keeps a record of the same. He
has a keen interest in birds.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Entomology
• Plants
• Photography

GC, Member

Vinod has been with the BNHS since August 1998. Apart from maintaining the natural history specimens at Hornbill House. Vinod also assists the BNHS scientists to conduct field work and collect data.

Vinod loves music, which works as meditation for him.

Prakash

Manoj Kumar

Working since 13th August 2008

Ramesh is currently on deputation to the Central Asian Flyway Secretariat at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi, where he is engaged in providing scientific inputs to the secretariat regarding the conservation of migratory birds across the flyway.

Ramesh has obtained doctoral degree for his thesis on the impacts of wind farms on birds. He has been involved in strengthening the community conservation efforts in Nagaland. Ramesh joined BNHS in May 2017.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·       ornithology

·       wind energy impacts

·       migration studies

Chandani has been with BNHS since 2017, helping to keep the
office premises clean and green. Being very hard-working, she
not only maintains the CEC garden but also assists in
coordinating school and public programmes. Chandani is
interested in birds and butterflies.

GC, Member

Harshal possess a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Fergusson College, University of Pune. In 2013, the year he completed MSc, Harshal also attended the School of Herpetology, organized by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, where he was awarded the best student award for his performance.

Harshal has worked at several well-known institutes like IISC in Bengaluru and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune, where he got the opportunity to work on rich and varied landscapes in northeast India, Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. He has published papers on taxonomy, biogeography and reptile behaviour in journals like and Nature Ecology and Evolution, Plos one, Contributions to Zoology and Zootaxa. Harshal has worked extensively on the plateaus of Northern Western Ghats and gathered valuable baseline data by describing new species and reporting new records of reptiles, amphibians and mammals. His study of the plateaus focuses on the impacts of wind turbines on ecology and behaviour of Superb Fan-throated Lizard Sarada superba.

Harshal joined BNHS as Conservation Officer in January 2019.

Areas of interest/expertise:

• Behavioural ecology
• Community ecology
• Natural and sexual selection
• Taxonomy

Ashish Yadav

Mahasweta

Working since 11th December 2009

GC, Member

Nikhil joined BNHS in February 2019. He did his PhD from Savitribai Phule Pune University, during which time he described 7 new species of frogs and a new genus; except one, all are endemic to the Western Ghats.

Nikhil is a former summer fellow of IAS and has worked at NHM, London and MNHN, Paris on MCZ’s Ernst Mayr Travel Grant. He is currently working on the effects of environmental variables on species assemblages of frogs.

Areas of interest/expertise:

·         Systematics, ecology and evolution of amphibians.

Dashratha

Akshata Kartnik

P. Murugesan

Working since 2nd May 2015

Ajit joined the BNHS in October 2006.  His areas of interest and expertise include:

·         Accounts

·         Tally ERP

·         MS Office

GC, Member

Pritam

Soham Pattekar

Working since 1st July 2005

GC, Member

Omkar Dilip Adhikari joined BNHS in December 2018 as Junior Research Fellow. He is interested in the taxonomy & systematics of reptiles and their conservation. Currently, Omkar is studying the diversity, taxonomy & systematics of geckos from Rajasthan as part of the project on the gecko diversity around Dhaulpur, Rajasthan. Omkar has a master’s in zoology from Mumbai University.

At BNHS, he is involved in the digitisation and maintenance of natural history collections. 

Areas of interest/expertise: Reptiles

Vinayak Giri

Sarbasis Dutta

Working since 12th July 1995

GC, Member

JRF

Sugandha

Harshal Jitakar

GC, Member

Santosh

Krishna 

Vikas Pisal

Working since 5th February 1977

GC, Member

Collections

Parasnath

Ashok Pisal

Working since 4th January 1980

GC, Member

Parvate

Mohd. Ali Hussain

GC, Member

GC, Member

Unmesh

Mohd. Sikandar

Mohd. Rijwan

Salahudeen

Mohd. Haidar

Sayali

Mohd. Aashit

Sampada

Ramesh Kumar

Mandar

Balaji

Charandas