Illegal hunting, over the past decade, has caused local extinctions of several waterfowl species and complete loss of numerous heronries in southern India. However, there have been no attempts to understand the dynamics of illegal hunting in these unprotected, yet biodiversity rich wetlands. My broad research interests are in understanding the impacts and dynamics of illegal hunting and wildlife trade; particularly outside formally protected areas. I am also interested in effectively utilizing such knowledge towards biodiversity conservation. Besides this, policy development through adaptive and effective management regimes that reconciles biodiversity conservation with socio-economic needs, also interests me.

For my master’s dissertation, I investigated the impacts of hunting on the community structure of wetland avifauna in a human dominated agrarian landscape of southern India. Illegal hunting, being among the significant causes for extinction of various taxa, needs to be controlled on a priority basis. I believe in multidisciplinary approaches involving ecology, economy, sociology, and a wide range of other areas in dealing with issues such as illegal hunting and wildlife trade; and this is what got me interested in joining the Cranes and Wetlands Programme.