About Me

I am Kulesh Bhandari, a postgraduate researcher in Zoology and an emerging conservation scientist from the upland forests of Jharkhand, India. The sal ridges, granite outcrops, and tribal homelands of Santhal Pargana are not just my field sites—they are the landscapes that have shaped my ecological thinking, discipline, and worldview.

My work explores how wildlife, forest mosaics, and tribal knowledge systems interact across India’s most underdocumented biocultural regions. I study primate behaviour, rock-dwelling fauna, agroforestry traditions, and ecological gradients in upland ecosystems, bringing together rigorous field inquiry with the lived ecological memory of Indigenous communities.

I work at the intersection of ecology, culture, and conservation practice. My research approach is grounded in long-term immersion, detailed field notes, and an understanding of how landscapes evolve through both natural processes and human relationships. I am deeply interested in how tribal knowledge, ecological ethics, and modern conservation science can reinforce one another to shape resilient futures.

I am a Member of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (2021–2025) and an official Signatory to the UN Ocean Decade & Mercator Ocean International Call for Action on Ocean Prediction (2025)—reflecting my commitment to global environmental cooperation and emerging conservation leadership.

My broader vision is to strengthen scientific representation from eastern India’s granite uplands, forest–farmland interfaces, and tribal ecological systems. I aim to contribute to India’s conservation discourse by developing community-anchored, academically rigorous, and culturally grounded models of biodiversity stewardship.

Education

M.Sc. Zoology — Godda College, SKMU Dumka

• Wildlife Ecology • Biogeography • Conservation Genetics • GIS

• Biodiversity gradient mapping in the tribal uplands of Santhal Pargana

• Field-based ecological surveys across hilly forest landscapes

• Integration of QGIS, Google Earth Pro & iNaturalist in research

• Community-linked conservation & indigenous ecological knowledge

B.Sc. Zoology (Honours) — Santhal Pargana College, SKMU Dumka (2020–2023)

• Strong foundation in animal physiology, ethology & ecology

• Structured fieldwork documenting local biodiversity interactions

• NSS-led biodiversity awareness & rural conservation activities

• Independent documentation of fish fauna, insects & forest species

• Early training in ecological observation & scientific communication

Research Projects

1. Ant Foraging Behavior Across Contrasting Landscapes

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.. 15714261

This ethological study observes how ant species adjust their foraging patterns in cultivated versus semi-natural habitats. Visual data (bar and line graphs) were used to decode trail formation, foraging time, and food resource preferences. The study contributes to microecological understanding of fragmented landscapes 

2. Pollinator Diversity in Agro-Wild Flower Zones

Documented and compared the pollinator community composition in cultivated gardens and uncultivated floral patches. Explored the role of traditional agro-ecological practices in sustaining native pollinator populations 

3. Langur Ethogram in Human-Modified Landscapes

Developed a visual ethogram of Hanuman langurs in the fragmented forests of Kathikund. Categorized behaviors such as resting, vigilance, grooming, and feeding. Contributed a semi-quantitative model to primate behavior studies in Eastern India 

4. Geo-Ecological Zonation and Biodiversity Gradient Mapping

Used QGIS, Google Earth Pro, and iNaturalist to map species diversity across altitudinal and environmental gradients in Santhal Pargana. Visualized ecological corridors and hotspots, aiding in grassroots conservation planning.

 5. Lost Village & Abandoned Cultural Landscape – Thengimo Hills, Jharkhand (Ongoing)

• This project investigates the rewilding dynamics, biodiversity succession, and cultural memory of an abandoned hill village at Thengimo Hills, Jharkhand. It examines how secondary forests, wildlife, and microhabitat specialists recolonize former human settlements in upland tribal landscapes.

• Core Theme:
  Rewilding, cultural loss, and hill-ecosystem resilience.

6. Tribal Malaria Case Studies

Conducted health and ecology-linked surveys in remote villages. Investigated how environmental and vector conditions intersect with tribal health outcomes, particularly malaria prevalence and awareness gaps 

7. Barefoot in the Monsoon: Farming and Ecological Hardship in Tribal Jharkhand DOI: 10.5281/16078806 A narrative field report capturing the lived experiences of barefoot farming in monsoon-struck upland villages. Blends ethnographic storytelling with ecological vulnerability assessment to highlight the challenges of marginal farmers during peak rains 

8.Reflection Note: ICRISAT–RIS Conference 2025, Focus Area: Tribal Agroecology & Food Systems

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.. 16684814

Documented real-time field insights from tribal farmlands in Dumka during the monsoon, highlighting barefoot farming, agroecological resilience, and traditional knowledge systems. Submitted as a reflective note for the ICRISAT–RIS International Conference on Agricultural Resilience 

9. Biodiversity Assessment of Sal (Shorea robusta) in Tribal Forest Landscapes of Jharkhand, India. DOI: 10.5281/ 16852304

This field-based ecological study documents the biodiversity associated with Shorea robusta (Sal) forests in the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand, integrating species richness data, ecological indicators, and traditional ecological knowledge from tribal communities. The research assesses floristic diversity, habitat conditions, and conservation challenges while highlighting the cultural and livelihood significance of Sal in rural forest-edge economies 

10. Traditional Agroforestry and Farming Practices in Tribal Landscapes of Dumka, Jharkhand: Ecological Insights and Community Perspectives: 10.17605/OSF.IO/N6F2T

An in-depth ethnobiological study exploring traditional farming systems and agroforestry practices in Santhal Pargana’s tribal landscapes. The work integrates ecological observations with oral histories, mapping how indigenous farming methods sustain biodiversity, soil fertility, and climate resilience. It highlights the symbiotic relationship between culture and ecology, offering a community-led model for sustainable rural development.

 11. Human–Wildlife Interface & Zoonotic Risk in Tribal Forests of Jharkhand 

A long-term ecological and public-health study across Kathikund, Danro, and Sundarpahari documenting human–langur proximity, shared landscapes, pollinator exposure, and zoonotic spillover risks.
This project integrates:

12. Granite Outcrop Faunal Ecology – Simani & Kathikund Uplands (Ongoing)

Investigating microhabitats, faunal assemblages, and disturbance gradients across granite outcrops in the Santhal Pargana uplands. Documenting thermal refugia, rock-face structures, and human–ecological interactions in an underexplored rocky ecosystem.

13. Bamboo Ecology & Tribal Craft Livelihood Systems – Dumka Uplands (Ongoing)

Studying bamboo regeneration ecology, extraction pressures, and traditional craft-livelihood systems in tribal communities. Integrating ecological observations with artisanal knowledge to understand bamboo’s role in upland socio-ecological resilience.

Core Research Methods Used Across All Projects

To maintain scientific consistency, the following field and analytical methods are used across my ecological and ethnobiological studies:

• Ecological Sampling: Line transects, quadrat surveys, focal-animal observations

• GIS & Spatial Ecology: QGIS, Google Earth Pro, species heat maps, altitude-based zonation

• Ethnoecology & Community Methods: Oral histories, semi-structured interviews, traditional knowledge documentation

• Biodiversity Recording: iNaturalist species validation, timed species counts, opportunistic surveys

• Data Analysis: Excel (advanced), R (basic), descriptive statistics, ecological indicators

• Environmental Observation: Microhabitat assessment, soil–vegetation association notes, weather-linked ecological recording

This unified methods framework supports all my projects—from Wildlife, Pollinators, Agroforestry, Langur Ethology, to Zoonosis and Sal Forest Studies.

 Publications

1. Freshwater fish diversity and market dynamics in Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand: Ecological insights from Mayurakshi, Basloi, and Ganga-linked fisheries 

 Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies (Vol. 13, Issue 4, pp. 417–422, 2025).

2. DOI: 10.22271/j.ento.2025.v13.i4e.9579

3. Barefoot in the Monsoon: Field Reflections on Tribal Farming and Ecological Hardship in Jharkhand, India
   DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16078806

4. Jharkhand Biodiversity Field Report: The Forest Remembers (Santhal Pargana, Dumka & Godda, India)
   DOI: 10.5281/16889476

5. Field Observation Note: Amplexus and Post-Mating Vocalization in Common Toads during Monsoon in Rural Jharkhand
   DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16281012

## Under Review / In Editorial Process

1. Ecology and Ethnoecology of Sal-Dominated Forest Mosaics in Tribal Uplands of Jharkhand
   Tropical Ecology (Springer Nature)
   Submission ID: TROE-D-25-00237

2. Zoonotic Risk at the Human–Langur Interface in the Forested Uplands of Jharkhand, India
   Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)
   (Under editorial review; includes bar charts, interface-risk maps & Kathikund–Danro–Sundarpahari field datasets)

3. Badra Pahad: A Tribal Sacred Landscape and Rock-Dwelling Biodiversity Refuge in the Granite Uplands of Santhal Pargana, Eastern India
   Indian Forester
   (Short Note category; under process)

4. Beyond Sidhu and Kanhu: Remembering Rajveer Singh and Hardev Singh of the Santhal Hul
   Oral History Review (Routledge, Taylor & Francis)
   Submission ID: 254133528
   (Under editorial consideration)

5. . Amplexus Behavior of the Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) in the Tribal Uplands of Dumka, Jharkhand  

 Submitted to Reptiles & Amphibians (SSAR Journal)

DOI: 10.5281/.16281012

6. Monstrose–Crested Developmental Mosaic in a Cultivated Cereus hildmannianus from Eastern India

     Cactus and Succulent Journal (Cactus and Succulent Society of America, CSSA)

(Accepted; in production for Volume 98, Issue 2)

International Conferences & Presentations

1.  India International Science Festival (IISF 2025) – Young Scientist Conclave, Chandigarh Poster Presentation – Wild Food Forests in Tribal Jharkhand: A Community-Led Model for Biodiversity & Resilience Selected under the Young Scientist Conclave at IISF-2025, India’s largest national science platform.

 Recognized for community-based biodiversity conservation, traditional agroforestry, and wild edible plant revival. 

2. 9th International Congress on Zoology and Technology (ICZAT 2025) – Ankara, Turkey

Oral Presentation – Geo-Ecological Zonation and Biodiversity Gradient Mapping

3. Analyzed species richness transitions in upland tribal belts. Applied GIS-based tools to demonstrate ecological fragmentation and highlighted community-supported conservation strategies.

4. Institute of Advanced Virology, Kerala (2025) – International Conference on Nipah and Other Zoonotic Spillovers

Young Scientist Trophy | Oral Presentation – Zoonotic Spillovers: Lessons from Kathikund Tribal Forests, India

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo. 15872028

Presented original field findings integrating primate behavior, pollinator patterns, and forest exposure data to highlight spillover risks in Dumka.

Awarded a travel grant for the Young Scientist category.

5. International Conference on Vector-Borne and Parasitic Diseases for Public Health Research (ICVBDPHR-25) – Alexandria, Egypt

 Poster Presentation – Fighting Malaria from the Ground Up

: Shared field insights on tribal epidemiology, malaria prevalence, and under-documented disease landscapes in Jharkhand’s forest–village interface.

6.  Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata – NCAF 2025

Poster Presentation – Invasive Alien Fauna and Their Impact on Native Ecosystems

Highlighted ecological threats in Santhal Pargana through local narratives, photographic evidence, and case studies, emphasizing national-level conservation concerns.

7. Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU), Dumka – National Seminar on Biosemiotics and Conservation Ethos (2025)

Research Paper Presentation – Biosemiotics and Conservation Ethos in Jharkhand

Explored symbolic ecological behavior and cultural meanings embedded in tribal worldviews and conservation practices.

8. 6. ICRISAT–RIS International Conference on Agricultural Resilience (2025)

Registered Participant | Active Q&A Engagement

Participated in global sessions on digital agriculture, climate resilience, and traditional knowledge systems (Virtual, 31 July 2025).

Raised a field-based question on integrating tribal agroecological practices from Eastern India into global policy frameworks.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16684814

9.  5th International Workshop on Convective Organization (WCO5) – Fortaleza, Brazil (2025)

Contributed Atmospheric–Ecological Interfaces: Biodiversity Gradients and Climate Systems in Tribal Uplands of Jharkhand

Presented cross-disciplinary insights connecting convective climate dynamics with biodiversity zonation research from Santhal Pargana. Shared field-based evidence on how upland ecosystems and community landscapes interact with large-scale climatic processes.

 International contributed talk positioning tribal-zone biodiversity within global atmospheric science dialogues.

10.  ICRISAT–ISSCA Webinar on Scalable Solutions for Crop Improvement & Production Technologies for the Global South

Virtual, 12 September 2025

Participated in UN Day for South–South Cooperation webinar, engaging with scientists and policymakers on scalable crop solutions, agricultural resilience, and Global South cooperation frameworks.

Community Engagement & Field Leadership

• Wild Food Forests in Tribal Jharkhand (2025–Present):
  Founder-Lead of a community-driven biodiversity revival project funded by The Pollination Project (USA).
  Focus areas include:

  • Wild edible plant revival

  • Tribal agroforestry restoration

  • Women & youth ecological leadership

  • Food security through indigenous biodiversity

• Village-Level Biodiversity & Eco-Health Dialogues:
  Conducted field sessions on pollinators, climate indicators, medicinal plants, climate stress, and zoonotic risk in Santhal villages.

• NSS Outreach & Rural Health Programs (2017–2023):
  Group Leader, NSS Unit-10, SP College Dumka — led plantation drives, malaria awareness, biodiversity education, and rural health campaigns.

Awards & Grants 

1. Pollination Project Seed Grant (2025) – Awarded international seed funding to lead the community-driven conservation initiative “Wild Food Forests in Tribal Jharkhand”, focused on revival of wild edible plants, traditional agroforestry, and biodiversity-linked tribal livelihoods.

2. Young Scientist Travel Grant – IISF 2025 (Government of India) – Awarded for selection under the Young Scientist Conclave, India International Science Festival (IISF-2025) to present the national-level scientific poster on Wild Food Forests in Tribal Jharkhand.

3. Young Scientist Travel Grant – IAV Kerala (2025) – Awarded for podium presentation on Zoonotic Spillovers at the Human–Langur Interface at the International Conference on Nipah & Other Zoonotic Spillovers.

4. ICZAT 2025 – International Oral Presentation Selection (Turkey) – Selected to present GIS-based biodiversity zonation and species gradient research at the 9th International Congress on Zoology and Technology.

Membership and Recognitions :

•   Peer Reviewer – Open Veterinary Journal (2026)

Completed formal peer-review for an international research manuscript on shark morphometric taxonomy.
Official reviewer certificate awarded by the journal’s Editorial Board through the eJManager peer-review system.

• Student Member – Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

• Member – IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (2021–2025)

• Endorser – International Call for Action on Ocean Prediction (UN Ocean Decade & Mercator Ocean International, 2025)

• Member Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN )

• EarthEcho Youth Leadership Summit 2026 – Invited Virtual Delegate

Participated in the global youth-led climate summit, contributing insights from Jharkhand’s tribal upland ecology, Wild Food Forests initiative, and community-based biodiversity resilience. 

• Invited Participant – IUCN Global Webinar on Animal Culture & Conservation (January 2026)

• Invited Participant – Yale Tropical Forest Leadership Summit (2026)

### Contributions to IUCN – Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM)

• Contributed to the IUCN Global Consultation on Invasive Alien Species Strategy (2025) as an official CEM member.

• Provided field-based insights from Santhal Pargana on invasive fauna risks, ecological impacts, and community-linked mitigation strategies.

• Submitted expert feedback for the **IUCN Contributions for Nature Platform , integrating grassroots biodiversity data from tribal landscapes.

Workshops & Specialized Training

1. Scientific Scholar Editorial Workshop 2025 (New Delhi, India | Sept 2025)
   Participated in a full-day workshop on Editorial Integrity and Innovation in the Indian Context. Sessions covered editorial ethics, author misconduct, indexing models, policy and practice, and innovations in publishing workflows

2. Copernicus Hubs Essentials: WEkEO 4 Ice Monitoring 2025
   Training on satellite Earth Observation platforms for climate and ice monitoring, with applications in biodiversity mapping and ecological gradient studies.

3. Thermo Fisher Scientific – Digital PCR Applications (2025)
   Learned applications of digital PCR (dPCR) in biodiversity and eco-health: absolute quantification, environmental DNA monitoring, gene expression analysis, and zoonotic surveillance.

4. MarineData4Asia Workshop (Copernicus Marine Service, 2025)
   Sessions on marine data, climate change applications, and biodiversity monitoring; active engagement with experts.

5. WEkEO Online Workshop on Climate Change Applications (2025)
   Explored satellite-based biodiversity and climate modeling. Participated in a live Q&A with global scientists.

6. RCMRD (Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, 2025) (Virtual)
   Engagement with African–Asian geospatial mapping frameworks, linking tribal landscape studies in Eastern India with Global South initiatives.

Technical Skills

• GIS & Remote Sensing: QGIS, Google Earth Pro, basic WEkEO climate data platforms

• Data & Documentation: iNaturalist species records, basic Zenodo & ORCID metadata curation

• Academic Writing & Visualization: MS Office, Overleaf (LaTeX basics) for professional papers and charts

• Geospatial Tools & Mapping ArcGIS Online (RCMRD Training Organization Member – Aug 2025 – Present), QGIS, Google Earth Pro, iNaturalist mapping & biodiversity datasets.

• Field Research & Survey Tools GPS  -based species mapping, ArcGIS Survey123, biodiversity transect & quadrat methods, ecological sampling techniques.

• Data Analysis & Visualization Microsoft Excel (advanced), R (basic ecological analysis), GraphPad Prism, Tableau (basic).

• Molecular Tools: Knowledge of Digital PCR (dPCR) workflows for eDNA biodiversity monitoring, mutation detection, and ecological genomics (based on Thermo Fisher Scientific training material 

Science Communication & Public Writing 

• Commissioned Contributor – Mongabay India (2026)
  Commissioned to produce a deeply reported feature on Jharkhand’s bamboo craft economy, integrating ecological insights, climate-linked vulnerabilities, gendered labour patterns, livelihood precarity, and policy gaps. Selected through Mongabay’s competitive editorial review, with a confirmed assignment, signed contributor agreement, and editorial workflow under one of the world’s leading environmental journalism platforms.

• IndiaBioscience Contributor (2025) – Published a science-feature article on field ecology and forest landscapes of Santhal Pargana, indiabioscience.org/columns/opinion/listening-to-forests-a-field-ecologists-journey-through-santhal-pargana.

• Anthro Bulletin – 3 Published Articles (2025):

• Documented tribal life, ecological transitions, traditional food systems & cultural landscapes through research-driven storytelling.

• Articles bridge anthropology, ecology, indigenous knowledge & conservation science.

• Writes science stories blending community realities with ecological research, making grassroots landscapes visible in national & global science dialogue.

• Focused on positioning tribal upland ecosystems of Jharkhand within contemporary biodiversity & sustainability discourse.

Links to Explore My Work

• Zenodo Publications

• Google Scholar Profile

• ORCID

• OSF https://osf.io/profile/

• GitHub https://github.com/Kuleshbhandari

• Mendeley https://www.mendeley.com/