Gitanjali Banerjee, 2005 Women Of Discovery Field Research Award

"Ambition without effort is like a bird without wings." — Gitanjali Banerjee

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Conservation Biologist

Born: 1978-01-01

Hometown: Dehradun, India

Education: PhD in Ecology

Achievements

Discoveries: Indian rhinos avoid competition with other herbivores by altering their use of resources in space and time.

Expeditions: To Assam and Garhwal Himalayas, India.

Biography

Gitanjali Banerjee concentrates her field research on the nutritional ecology of four herbivores in Kaziringa National Park in Assam, India. Her work focuses on developing an understanding of habitat use by the Indian rhinoceros to try and aid in the resolution of longstanding human/rhino conflicts. Currently a doctoral candidate in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology at Columbia University, Gitanjali teaches a course on the colorful history of evolution and its impacts on the study of conservation biology.

"I am interested in the dynamics of land use change, its impact on wildlife, particularly highly endangered large mammals, and finding ways to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. I hope to translate my training and field experience in addressing such issues into effective conservation policy."  Gitanjali's projects include: Habitat ecology of greater one horned rhino and sympatric species in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India, and the nutritional ecology of greater one-horned rhino and sympatric species in the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, North Bengal, India  (Excerpted from Naturenetwork.com profile)

Fun Facts

Favorite Item to have in the field: Binoculars, camera and my Brasher shoes.

Heroes: Naturalist Gerald Durrell and my mother whose wisdom and courage are my inspiration.