R. Suresh Kumar

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R. Suresh Kumar

Dr. R. Suresh Kumar 
Scientist - F
Phone: +91 135-2646161
Mobile No: + 91 9359433837

Email: suresh [at] wii [dot] gov [dot] inMy primary interest is in researching on lesser known and threatened fauna, their ecology and conservation. By training I am a wildlife biologist (M.Sc Wildlife Science from the Wildlife Institute of India). I started my research career with a study on pheasant distributions in the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot in the north-east India where I discovered a new subspecies of Sclater’s monal pheasant Lophophorus sclateri. Following which I was involved in carrying out an ecological study on a new species of monkey – the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala from western Arunachal Pradesh, India. On completion of this study, I moved to yet another challenging area and subject of study, to determine the offshore distribution of Olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea along the east coast of India. This study involved the use of satellite telemetry to understand the movements and migration of the ridley turtles, and it was the topic of my doctoral research. In 2008, I joined the Wildlife Institute of India as faculty where I am involved in both teaching and training assignments. My sea faring experiences took me to Antarctica as part of the 29th Indian Scientific Expedition there in 2009, where I conducted aerial surveys for marine mammals and birds.

Specialization
Animal ecology, migration and movement studies, conservation biology

Current Projects

  1. Satellite tracking sea turtles along the Sindhudurg Coast, Maharashtra

  2. Tracking the long-distance migration of Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)

  3. Tracking the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) and mapping its potential habitat across the Deccan landscape, Maharashtra, India.

  4. Causes of avian diversity gradients along the Himalayas

  5. Ecology and conservation of the Yellow-headed Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) in the Rajaji National Park

  6. Age estimation of a breeding population of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) along the east coast of India using skeletochronology

  7. Status survey and conservation of Himalayan Crocodile Salamander (Tylototriton verrucosus) in the Eastern Himalayas

  8. Long-term monitoring of the Tricarinate hill-turtle (Melanochelys tricarinata) in the Doon Valley, India (this study is currently in the 15th year)
 

Select Publications:

  • Kumar, R.S. & J.A. Johnson (2014). Aerial surveys for pack-ice seals along the Ingrid Christensen and Princess Astrid Coasts, East Antarctica. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(9): 6230-6238

  • Kumar, R.S., S. John, K. Sivakumar, & B.C. Choudhury (2013). Egg laying duration in the olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea and its relevance for the estimation of mass nesting population size. Herpetological Journal 23(1):23-28

  • Kumar, R.S., A. Harihar & B. Pandav (2010). Population characteristics of a terrestrial geoemydid, Melanochelys tricarinata, from the Doon Valley, northern India Herpetological Journal 20(3): 139-146

  • Kumar R.S., N. Gama, R. Raghunath, A. Sinha & C. Mishra (2008). In search of the munzala: Distribution and conservation status of the newly discovered Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala. Oryx 42(3): 360–366.

  • Sinha A., R.S. Kumar, N. Gama, M.D. Madhusudan & C. Mishra (2006). Distribution and conservation status of the Arunachal macaque, Macaca munzala, in western Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. Primate Conservation 21: 145–148.

  • Kumar R.S., G.S. Rawat & S. Sathyakumar (2006). Winter ecology of Impeyan monal Lophophorus impejanus (Latham) in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 103(1): 176–183.

  • Kumar R.S., C. Mishra & A. Sinha (2005). Discovery of the Tibetan macaque Macaca thibetana in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Current Science 88(9): 1387–1388.

  • Kumar R.S. (2004). A new subspecies of Sclater’s monal Lophophorus sclateri from western Arunachal Pradesh, India. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 124: 16–28

Popular Articles

  • Kumar, R.S. (2014). Tracking the incredible journey of a small raptor – Amur Falcon from India. Mistnet 15(2): 14-18

  • Kumar, R.S. (2014). Flight for freedom. SAEVUS 3(3): 24-31

  • Kumar, R.S. (2009). Memories from the Camp of Silence. Current Conservation 3(1): 14-16

  • Kumar, R.S. & M.V. Nair (2007). Dark Wraith of the High Himalayas - a recent sighting of the elusive Black Musk deer in Arunachal Pradesh. Hornbill April-June: 17-19

  • Kumar, R.S. (2004). In search of a mountain peacock - a trek into the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh. Sanctuary Asia. 24(2): 24-31


Last Updated: March 24, 2023