Life in conservation
Recently, I had discussions with several students who expressed concerns about costs and payments in conservation. Intrigued by their questions, I delved into multiple #job listings across various platforms in the UK. Here’s a snapshot of what I found: 1. Roles, like working as a #ranger in a #reserve or in technical positions such as […]
The Modern Bestiary
Brilliant book, I found “The Modern Bestiary” in a local library and then it became a daily read. Lots of nature wonders that surprised me, from the skin-eating caecilians to the #enigmatic harp sponges, each page turns the spotlight on the incredible diversity of life that often goes unnoticed. The narrative weaves science, humor, and conservation, […]
How “WILDER”?
These days, I am reading “Wilder” by Millie Kerr which provides an overview about #rewilding, which aims to #restore ecosystems to their natural state (or a more natural state, there are many definitions for rewilding 😊). Kerr, a journalist and former lawyer, takes readers on a global journey, examining the practicalities and possibilities of […]
The challenging profession
On #EarthDay, I found myself reflecting on the challenges of #conservation as a profession. From tough working conditions to modest pay, the journey is not always easy. Yet, during a recent visit to #Velebit National Park in #Croatia, I was reminded of the profound rewards this work brings. This is an amazing place for many […]
Larger protected areas in borders
Happy to share that our research on transboundary conservation in Asia was published in Frontiers in Conservation Science, was part of our MSc student Vignesh Kamath at University of Oxford a few years ago. Key findings from our research: Protected areas in borderlands of Asian countries: 1. are larger near borders compared to those further […]
Reflections on 2023
In 2023, I gained five valuable experiences that significantly contributed to my personal growth for working in conservation/ecology, and I’d like to share them with you: 1. Expand social circle:Conservationists have some of the most fun get togethers, with amazing stories and funny jokes from our amazing times in the field. Never miss an opportunity […]
Amazing year in DICE
Today marked the last day for this term’s module named “Contemporary Conservation Science”, which I was leading at Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent. We had 11 amazing speakers sharing their knowledge with our students. Four talks from policy/practice sector Natural England, Chester Zoo, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Game & […]
Hope for rewilding?
Once, governments were not keen to translocate large carnivores to an area where they have been exterminated or to reinforce an existing population to increase its viability. However, our hashtag#MSc student Seth Thomas, who recently finished his studies at the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, found an interesting pattern. Published earlier […]
Explaining conservation career to your kids?
Ever wondered how to explain your conservation career to your kids? It’s been an evolving journey for me, especially with my two children – a son (10) and a daughter (4). 👦 👧 When my son started school a few year ago, I used to say him I am an ecologist or zoologist. Initially it […]
Overshadowed by large cats: Wolves in the Asian highlands
On 17 May 2023, we had the post conference Panel Discussion “Overshadowed by large cats: Wolves in the Asian highlands”! with @HimalayanWolves@macdonalddw@ecology_kabir@shivam_wolf C. Augugliaro and B. Lortkipanidze Here is my reflection from panel: 1/ In northeastern Iran, wolves have high occupancy in shared lands (communal lands) BUT Persian leopards have high occupancy in spared lands […]