Yashendu Joshi Email & Phone Number

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Dissertation Title: The Crocodile Conundrum of Charotar: Studies on Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris Behaviour and the Socioecological Connections between Human and Mugger Communities in Central Gujarat, India. This study investigates the behavioural ecology of mugger crocodiles Crocodylus palustris in rapidly changing, human-dominated, landscapes of Gujarat state, with varying levels of conflict, together with the attitudes and perceptions of the local human communities towards muggers. Vadodara is a city on the banks of Vishwamitri river, where human–mugger conflict has historically been high, with human mortalities in some years. In stark contrast is the Charotar region, an agriculture-dominated landscape – interspersed with villages and wetlands – barely 50 km away, constituting parts of Anand and Kheda districts of Gujarat, but harbouring a unique community of mugger crocodiles and humans, with scant cases of conflict reported over the last five decades. What is of immediate concern, however, is the changing nature of these interspecies interactions, brought about by increasing competition for resources under drastically changing environmental and political ecologies. With this study, therefore, we aimed to understand what has been driving the change in the nature of human–mugger interactions in these areas. How has a large predator peacefully occupied space with humans in their shared habitats in the past and wherein lies the future of this coexistence? Are there appropriate conservation and management strategies that should be devised to counteract the increasingly dire situation that the crocodiles are likely to face in the days to come?

Gujarat, India

Worked as a project assistant in project "Survey of Synanthropic Bird Species of India - Gujarat Component" of SACON (Salim-Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History). We conducted bird survey in every district of Gujarat, using point count method. Points were taken automatically using computer software. Each day two counts were taken, one in morning (06:00AM to 11:00AM) and another in evening (04:00PM to 07:00PM). On an average we covered each district within 2-3 days. Our team was of 3 JRFs from SACON and 3 Field Assistants from Gujarat. We divided ourselves in three teams and conducted surveys on different points simultaneously.

Gujarat, India

Worked as field assistant in project "Bird-Hit Assessment at Ahmadabad Airport" of SACON (Salim-Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History). I worked under the JRF from SACON. Primarily we conducted bird surveys in area within 10km radius of Ahmadabad Airport. We divided this area in three layers (2km, 5km and 10km radius) and each layer consisted four zones. In each zone 10 point counts were taken during 06:00AM to 10:00AM. We also conducted point counts inside the premises of Airport including the runway. After the primary data collection we started the survey of butcher shops in 10km radius of Airport which suggested that disposal of waste in open spaces attracted large birds especially Black Kites near that region. After the completion of project various suggestions were given to Airport Authority as well as AMC to reduce the count of Bird Hit.

Master'S Degree, Wildlife Biology And Conservation

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Zoology/Animal Biology

Activities and Societies: Nature Club Literature Club Reading Club Science Club NSS

High School Diploma, Biology, General