Over the years, I've worked at a number of field sites. I started out in the Upper Nilgiris in the shola-grassland montane ecosystem. Stunningly beautiful in winter and soaking wet in the monsoon. I then spent several years traveling to beaches around the coast in search of sea turtles. The best ones are remote and peacefully secluded. Most recently, I've discovered the world under the sea. Diving is an addiction with the bonus of highlight reel marine life sightings on a daily basis.
The AmdamansI started working in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2001 and spent several months at Galathea beach in Great Nicobar Island, tagging leatherbacks and collecting samples for genetic analysis. Since 2008, we have monitoring camps on Little Andaman Island. Read more. |
Rushikulya in OdishaI visited Gahirmatha and Rushikulya beaches in Odisha in 1999 to initiate my research on ridley genetics. Since 2007, we have been monitoring the mass nesting population at Rushikulya. Nearly 60,000 turtles nested on one night during the March 2013 arribada (above). Read more. |
The Lakshadweep
I learned to dive in 2010 at Kadmat in Lakshadweep and finally got to see marine turtles in their true habitat. Their grace and elegance in the water is beyond description. I was hooked. I am now involved in projects on reef fish foraging and on green turtles in the Lakshadweep. Read more. |