Rohan Menzies

Research Affiliate, Eastern Himalaya

Master's in Zoology, University of Otago

I was introduced to wildlife at a young age. I used to help with wildlife rehabilitation from the age of seven, where I was exposed to a wide variety of animals, from birds to snakes and everything in between. It is from there that I developed an interest in wildlife conservation and in birds more specifically. I started birdwatching and decided to continue to learn more about these fascinating creatures. I studied the highly endangered and endemic Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) in New Zealand as part of my Master’s thesis. My thesis covered several topics, namely physiology, breeding biology, hematology, and immunology. One subject area which I am yet to pursue is sexual selection in birds, and I hope one day I get the opportunity. I have briefly worked in Uttarakhand and have also assisted other researchers with their theses both with lab and field work.

I love travelling and exploring, and this project will give me the chance to observe a side of the country which is largely untouched. I feel that by studying the critically endangered White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) and endangered White-winged Duck (Asarcornis scutulata) it could benefit and influence the conservation management strategies of countless other species in need in that region.   

Projects

Publications

Journal Article

2020

‘The devil is in the detail’: Peer-review of the Wildlife Conservation Plan by the Wildlife Institute of India for the Etalin Hydropower Project, Dibang Valley

Journal Article

2020

Assessing the status of the critically endangered white-bellied heron Ardea insignis in north-east India

Journal Article

2019

Two new locations for the Vulnerable Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis (Przhevalsky, 1876) (Aves: Gruiformes: Gruidae) in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Journal Article

2019

An update on the Endangered Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda (Gray,1832) from D’Ering Memorial WildlifeSanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Assam

Journal Article

2019

Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca at Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Assam

Journal Article

2018

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris in Anini, Arunachal Pradesh