Mr. Ramesh Kumar Pandey
ADGF (Wildlife)
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
Email: ramesh.pandey [at] nic [at] in

Dr. Vaibhav C. Mathur
IGF (PT&E)
Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, 
Govt.of India, New Delhi
Email: igfwl-mef [at] nic [dot] in

Associate Nodal Officer

Anukul Nath
Scientist - C
E-mail: anukul [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in
   

Gaurav Sirola
Consultant - B (Policy)

I’m Gaurav Sirola, a wildlife ecologist with a deep passion for nature and conservation. I was born and raised in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, where my fascination with wildlife began at an early age. This interest led me to pursue my graduation and post-graduation in Zoology from the University of Delhi and Jiwaji University, respectively.

In 2017, I joined the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), where I’ve been fortunate to contribute to several significant conservation projects. These include documenting traditional ecological knowledge in the Himalayas through the NMSHE project, working on trans-boundary tiger recovery, and assessing the impacts of power-lines on bird species in regions like Kachchh and Assam. These projects have given me valuable experience in species monitoring, spatial data analysis, and developing conservation strategies.

Currently, I serve as a Consultant B in the Elephant Cell under the Project Elephant Division at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), focusing on elephant conservation and management across India.

Dr. Sadhana Yadav
Project Scientist- II
Email: sadhana [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

I hold an M.Sc. in Environmental Science and a Ph.D. in Forestry. My doctoral degree was awarded by Forest Research Institute (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, with Indian Institute of Remote Sensing serving as my research center. I am also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Scholarship (Canada). My specialization is in microwave remote sensing for the extraction of forest biophysical parameters such as aboveground biomass, tree height, and related vegetation attributes. My research focuses on integrating advanced geospatial technologies with forestry applications to support sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation.

I have worked with reputed organizations in India on several research-oriented environmental and forestry projects. Currently, I serve as a Project Scientist-II in the Elephant Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India, where I contribute to wildlife research, spatial data analysis, and provide science-based inputs for conservation planning and management.

My professional interests include remote sensing applications in ecology, biodiversity conservation, habitat assessment, and landscape-level environmental monitoring.

Dr. Netri Datta Banerjee
Project Scientist - I 
Email: netri [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

I am Dr. Netri Datta Banerjee, a Zoologist with a profound interest in nature and animals and a sustained commitment to advancing scientific research and conservation practice. I completed my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Zoology at the University of Calcutta, where I developed a strong academic foundation in animal biology and ecological sciences. I subsequently earned my doctoral degree in Zoology, specializing in Fish Parasitology, from Visva-Bharati University. My doctoral research focused on the effects of Argulosis on Rohu fish and explored its biological control strategies.

At present, I serve as Project Scientist-I in the Elephant Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India under the Project Elephant Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In this role, I contribute to planning, coordinating, and supporting elephant conservation and management initiatives nationwide.

Kirti Bisht
Data Entry Operator
Email: bishtkirti69 [at] gmail [dot] com

From the year 2021, I am working as Data Entry Operator in the Elephant Cell under the Wildlife Institute of India. My duties are to make arrangement for meetings/ seminars / workshops besides processing of sanction orders to Elephant Range States, day to day office work etc. Since 2005, I am working in the Project Elephant Division, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.  My job profile in Project Elephant Division was to prepare sanction order of All Elephant Range States, making arrangement for seminars/workshops/meetings and miscellaneous matter related to Project Elephant etc. I also processed the TA/DA and sitting fees of non-official members of Project Elephant besides settling their dues if any.

Raju Rawat
Data Entry Operator
Email: ritabh65 [at] gmail [dot] com

I am currently associated with Elephant Cell of WII as a Data Entry Operator.  I am a B. Com graduate from Sabarmati University.  Before joining the Elephant Cell, I was working with Project Elephant Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).  I have more than a decade of working experience under various central sector scheme of Government of India.  I am proficient in dealing Human Elephant Conflict data management, Parliament related matters, application under Right To Information Act and other official administrative work.

Mr. Abhishek Sharma
Office Assistant
Email: asharma [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

I am a B. Tech graduate with prior experience in the IT industry. After beginning my career in the technology sector, I transitioned to the environmental domain to work in a more meaningful and balanced environment. Currently, I serve as an Office Assistant at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), supporting the Elephant Cell in various administrative and coordination-related tasks. My responsibilities include drafting official notes and correspondence for senior scientists, assisting in TA & FA settlements, coordinating meetings and workshops, and designing banners and posters for official events.

My technical background, combined with administrative experience, enables me to efficiently manage documentation and coordination work while contributing to conservation-focused initiatives in Dehradun.

Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Elephant Reserves (MEE-ER)

Long-term elephant conservation requires regular assessment of Elephant Reserve management in response to changing socio-ecological conditions. Accordingly, Project Elephant, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has entrusted the Wildlife Institute of India with implementing the project Conducting Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Elephant Reserves in India.

Anoop Raj Singh
Project Scientist – I
Email: anoop [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

I come from Mirzapur, a small town in the Vindhya range of Uttar Pradesh, and my work as a wildlife ecologist has since taken me from the Himalayas to the coastal landscapes of the Andaman Islands. I completed my master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Resource Management from TERI School of Advanced Studies. My research journey began in Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where I studied how climate change affects biodiversity and local communities under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem. In 2025, I earned my PhD from Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be) University. During the five years of my PhD journey, I researched on mangroves and coastal communities in the Andaman Islands following the 2004 tsunami. I later contributed to India’s Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Over the past eight years, I have published more than 18 peer-reviewed articles, written several technical reports, and received the Rufford First Small Grant. I currently serve as Project Scientist–I for the first cycle of the project Conducting Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Elephant Reserves in India.

Sourabh Pundir
Project Associate – II
Email: sourabhp [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

My connection with wildlife was shaped by my grandfather’s stories of guarding maize fields and cattle from Himalayan Black Bears, and from growing up amid Himalayan oak and pine forests. That connection gained scientific meaning when I joined the All India Tiger Estimation 2018 at the Wildlife Institute of India, working in landscapes such as Kaziranga and Ranthambhore. I later pursued an M.Sc. in Forestry from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Later, working as a Biologist with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department at Renuka, I learnt to work with local communities and understand their experiences of living close to wildlife.

I currently work as a Project Associate II on the project titled Conducting Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Elephant Reserves in India. I hope to use these experiences to find meaningful ways to protect wildlife and their habitats while supporting coexistence with local communities.

Nikhil Singh Kahera
Project Associate – II
Email: nikhilk [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

Growing up in the foothills of the Himalayas, where encounters with apex predators such as leopards were part of everyday life, I developed an early curiosity about wildlife and the landscapes we share with it. I hold an M.Sc. in Zoology from H.N.B. Garhwal University, along with postgraduate qualifications in Geoinformatics and Disaster Management from IGNOU. My field journey began in 2017 with a status survey of the Great Indian Bustard and associated species in Maharashtra, undertaken jointly by the Wildlife Institute of India and the Maharashtra Forest Department. I later joined the Wildlife Institute of India under the DST-NMSHE project, studying the effects of climate change across the Himalayan landscape, and subsequently contributed to river ecosystem conservation under the National Mission for Clean Ganga. These experiences gradually led me towards elephant conservation. 

I currently work as a Project Associate II on the project Conducting Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Elephant Reserves in India, supporting the smooth coordination and implementation of the evaluation process..

Sonakshi Negi
Administrative Assistant
Email: sona [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] in

I graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Biotechnology and currently serve as an Administrative Assistant for the Project Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Elephant Reserves in India (MEE-ER). In this role, I support the project's administrative and operational activities by managing day-to-day office operations, maintaining both physical and electronic documentation systems, and coordinating travel arrangements and accommodation.

I also assist in organizing events, seminars, workshops, and meetings by coordinating registrations, invitations, and logistics. Additionally, I support the processing of invoices, bills, and reimbursements, maintain budget tracking records, and assist with procurement documentation, contributing to the efficient implementation of project activities.