Aparajita Datta, 2009 Women of Discovery Humanity Award

"Don’t ever lose your curiosity and sense of wonder." I also love what Don Juan, a Yaqui Indian said: “For me there is only the traveling on the paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge for me is to traverse its full length. And there I travel—looking, looking, breathlessly." — Aparajita Datta

Wildlife biologist (Senior Scientist at the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India)

Born: 1970-01-01

Hometown: Kolkata, India, (Lusaka, Zambia as a child)

Education: Ph.D in Wildlife Ecology

Achievements

Discoveries: Every day in the forest is full of small discoveries! Understanding the intricate connections between plants and animals in a forest, finding two species of little-known muntjacs (deer) in Arunachal’s forests and a new species of monkey (the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala) with NCF colleagues in 2004.

Expeditions: Mammal exploration surveys in western & eastern Arunachal in 2002, 2003, yearly treks into eastern Arunachal’s forests (2004 - present)

Biography

Wildlife biologist Aparajita Datta has spent the last 13 years working to conserve the rainforests of Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India, arguably India's richest biodiversity region. She pioneered long-term wildlife research in the area with a study on hornbill biology. The hornbill's role as a seed disperser led to her doctoral dissertation. She has been responsible for the discovery of several large mammals previously unknown in India. This included the discovery of two muntjac species. In 2003, she was involved in exploring the high altitudes of Arunachal Pradesh that led to the discovery of a monkey species altogether new to science. This work also led to the declaration of a biosphere reserve in the area. While working as a biologist, Aparajita became fascinated with the history, culture and way of life of the people of Arunachal and got involved in trying to work with indigenous tribal communities to foster wildlife conservation. She has been leading community-based conservation initiatives with the Lisu community, a marginalized tribe living in one of the most remote areas of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, the access to their settlements being over four days of hiking through forested mountains and valleys. This work involves medical support, training community members in primary health care, and helping to run village schools. The program also seeks to provide alternate livelihood options with a primary aim of bringing about a reduction in hunting, which is among the most serious threats to the area's wildlife. Aparajita is also interested in nature education and has co-authored several educational books and aids, especially for tribal children. As a member of the State Advisory Board, she advises the state and central governments on conservation issues. She also supervises several Ph.D. level students, and her own work has resulted in 23 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and books, and several media articles.

Aparajita Datta has worked in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh for nearly a decade, studying and helping conserve the rich wildlife population. Following a survey on hunting practices among tribal communities, she undertook surveys with tribal hunters and discovered two species of deer previously unknown in India, the leaf deer, Muntiacus putaoensis, and the black muntjac, Muntiacus crinifrons. Blending her twin concerns, for Arunachal Pradesh's tribal people and its wildlife, she runs programmes in the Namdapha National Park and the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary that integrate the needs of both.

The husband-wife team of Charudutt Mishra and Aparajita Datta has focussed on understanding human impact on high-altitude wildlife, the ecology of human-wildlife conflicts, large herbivore community ecology and carnivore ecology. Charudutt has helped set up experimental community-based wildlife conservation programmes in the mountainous areas in India and has been engaged in post-conflict wildlife assessments in Afghanistan on behalf of the United Nations. He persuaded the local people to set aside grazing-free areas, a move that resulted in a successful livestock insurance programme. Charudutt Mishra and others are also credited with the discovery of the Chinese goral, Nemorhaedus caudata, a new record for the subcontinent, as well as a species of macaque in 2003, recently named the Macaca munzala.

Fun Facts

Favorite Item to have in the field: Camera, binoculars, field notebook, water, leech-proof socks!

Heroes: My grandfather for his courage, Gerald Durrell, David Attenborough for introducing me to the world of animals as a child, Dr. AJT Johnsingh (my teacher) for inspiring a generation of Indian wildlife biologists.

Publications

Aparajita and Education:

Children's Book: "Walk the Rainforest With Niwupah" http://www.katha.org/earlly-lvl3-picturebooks-8-10.html