Nishith

Dharaiya

Nishith is currently positioned as an associate professor at the Department of Life Sciences, HNG University, Patan (Gujarat), India.  For the past 20 years, he has been working mainly on large mammal ecology and biodiversity monitoring in India. He did his doctorate on the ecology and behaviour of Asiatic lions. Since 2006 he has been doing research on small mammals, sloth bears, wetlands and contributed to various ecological surveys and investigations with the government of Gujarat. Nishith has developed a revised map of Sloth bear distribution in the world for IUCN and also authored the Bear conservation action plan for Gujarat.  In addition to sloth bear research, he has conducted studies focused on wetland monitoring and monitoring of small mammal populations in Gujarat and supervising work on pesticide contamination in wetlands. Nishith is working toward collaborative capacity building programmes for wildlife conservation at his university. He has coordinated the recent sloth bear population estimation in Gujarat state with the Gujarat forest department. Nishith aspires to elevate and direct the young researchers towards the conservation of wildlife and habitat. He is appointed as a member of the State Wildlife Advisory Board of Gujarat state by the chief minister of Gujarat. Currently, he is a Co-Chair of IUCN SSC Sloth bear Expert Group and representing in various International conservation organizations. Nishith is also a member of university International Relationship Cell and been instrumental in establishing collaboration with many national and international agencies. He published more than 60 research papers in the scientific journals of international repute and contributed to community awareness through science-based activities.