About Me​​

I am an interdisciplinary conservation professional from Gujarat, currently serving as the Executive Director at the Voluntary Nature Conservancy (VNC-India). In this role, I contribute to the organization’s growth by developing research and conservation projects, raising funds, networking with various stakeholders, and fostering dialogue with local communities.

My research and conservation work spans a variety of disciplines and species, including population ecology, social sciences, citizen science, and the use of technology in conservation to better understand wildlife, people, and the complex relationships between the two. Over the past decade, I have addressed various ecological and conservation challenges across diverse landscapes in Gujarat, working with species such as crocodiles in the agricultural landscapes of Charotar, Indian wolves in the arid regions of Kutch, and Forest owlets in the Dang forests of the Western Ghats.

Currently, my conservation efforts are focused on mitigating the damage caused by crocodiles and developing inclusive models that promote safer shared spaces between people and these predators. Much of my work involves exploring how changes in landscapes, cultural norms, social values, and economies have created new geographies of interaction between crocodiles and communities. As part of my doctoral research at SACON, I am examining how individuals, groups, and institutions respond to these changes and how their actions influence crocodile conservation and management.

I am also actively developing community-based initiatives like the “Crocodile Guardian,” an innovative program that engages local youths in monitoring crocodiles, promotes ownership, and reduces negative interactions between humans and crocodiles. As a strong advocate for education and public outreach, I pioneered the “Charotar Crocodile Count,” a citizen science initiative aimed at involving people in monitoring crocodiles in Charotar, as well as the “Children’s Crocodile Festival,” a fun-filled event designed to educate and engage children in crocodile conservation.

I am an active member of several prestigious organizations, including the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication, the IUCN/CEC Outreach Specialist Group, and the Society for Conservation Biology.