aparajita datta

Conservation Expert/Wildlife Biologist & Ecologist Aparajita Datta engaged in long-term protection of threatened wildlife with local communities in northeast India. She has discovered two species of little-known muntjacs (deer) in Arunachal’s forests, and a new species of monkey (the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala Mammal) during her yearly exploration surveys in western & eastern Arunachal, India. 

Born: 1970

Hometown: Kolkata, India

Education: Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology

Occupation: Wildlife ecologist (Senior Scientist at the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India); primary focus on hornbills

Expeditions: Mammal exploration surveys in Western & Eastern Arunachal and yearly treks into eastern Arunachal’s forests

Favorite Place To Be: Namdapha’s magical forests and a remote Lisu tribal village in Arunachal Pradesh, NE India

Best Discoveries: Understanding a bit about 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.

Favorite Item In The Field: A camera

Personal Hero: My grandfather

Hobbies: Reading and swimming

Website: https://www.ncf-india.org/

Advice: Don’t ever lose your curiosity and sense of wonder.