Dr. Vivek Ranjan: Principal Project Associate at Wildlife Institute of India, India

Dr. Vivek Ranjan is a wildlife scientist and conservation practitioner specializing in biodiversity impact assessments, large carnivore ecology, and human–wildlife interactions. With more than nine years of field-based and policy-oriented experience, he has led projects addressing conservation challenges in forests, wetlands, and transboundary landscapes. Currently serving as Principal Project Associate at the Wildlife Institute of India, he integrates ecological research with conservation planning and community engagement. His work emphasizes creating science-based solutions for habitat management, mitigating wildlife conflicts, and balancing infrastructure development with biodiversity needs. Through his research, teaching, and advisory roles, he contributes to strengthening wildlife conservation policies in India and beyond.

Online Profiles

ORCID Profile

Education

Dr. Ranjan earned his Ph.D. in Forestry (Wildlife Science) from the Forest Research Institute (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, conferred in June 2025. His doctoral research explored habitat changes and their ecological implications for wildlife species, particularly in human-dominated landscapes of the Terai. The program provided him with rigorous training in ecological methods, conservation biology, and interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges. His educational journey was shaped by earlier research fellowships and project work that laid the foundation for his expertise in species ecology, conservation planning, and biodiversity impact mitigation.

Research Focus

Dr. Ranjan’s research primarily focuses on human–wildlife interactions, with an emphasis on understanding conflict dynamics and developing mitigation strategies. His work spans ecological assessments of large carnivores such as tigers, leopards, and dholes, population studies of endangered aquatic species like the gharial, and biodiversity surveys in critical habitats across India. He also specializes in evaluating the ecological impacts of linear infrastructure, irrigation, and wetland projects on wildlife. A core component of his approach integrates field-based ecological monitoring, socio-economic assessments, and stakeholder engagement to design conservation strategies that are scientifically sound and socially inclusive.

Experience

Over nearly a decade, Dr. Ranjan has held multiple positions ranging from Wildlife Biologist and Project Fellow to his current role as Principal Project Associate at the Wildlife Institute of India. He has managed interdisciplinary projects addressing tiger conservation in the Indo-Nepal transboundary region, biodiversity assessments in the Indian Himalayan landscape, and wetland impact studies in Punjab. His expertise includes field survey design, ecological data analysis, conservation planning, stakeholder coordination, and community-based conservation initiatives. Beyond research, he has contributed to capacity building, training forest staff and engaging local communities in sustainable practices, making his work both impactful and inclusive.

Research Timeline & Activities

Between 2016 and 2025, Dr. Ranjan has led or contributed to more than seven major research projects covering species conservation, habitat management, and human–wildlife coexistence. Early in his career, he conducted gharial population studies under the Rufford Small Grant, followed by biodiversity surveys in Bihar and Jharkhand to address infrastructure impacts. From 2019 to 2023, he advanced tiger conservation strategies in Uttarakhand and Nepal, integrating ecological and socio-economic insights into management plans. More recently, he has been involved in assessing the impacts of irrigation and wetland projects, with a strong focus on developing mitigation frameworks and conservation plans. These activities highlight his ability to bridge field ecology with conservation policy.

Awards & Honors

Dr. Ranjan has received recognition for his contributions to conservation, notably the Rufford Small Grant (2016–2017) for his pioneering research on gharial populations in the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. His leadership roles in multi-institutional and government-funded projects have brought him opportunities to present at prestigious national and international conferences. He has also been acknowledged by institutions and forest departments for his capacity-building initiatives, training programs, and conservation advisory support. These honors reflect both his academic contributions and his ability to influence on-the-ground conservation outcomes.

Top Noted Publication

Among his 13 peer-reviewed works, one of his most cited contributions is the 2025 article in Scientific Reports, titled “Assessing the implications of habitat transformations on human–large carnivore interactions outside protected areas.” This publication offers novel insights into how land-use changes beyond protected areas shape carnivore ecology and conflict with humans, providing valuable inputs for conservation planning in developing landscapes. In addition to this, his body of work includes articles in Journal of Threatened Taxa, Oryx, Scientific Reports, and Indian Forester, collectively advancing scientific knowledge and practical conservation strategies across India’s diverse ecosystems.

• Ranjan, V., Badola, R., Hussain, S. A., & Dhakate, P. M. (2025). Assessing the implications of habitat transformations on human–large carnivore interactions outside protected areas. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-13808-4
  This study highlights how land-use changes beyond protected areas influence carnivore ecology and human–wildlife conflicts, offering vital insights for conservation policy.

• Ranjan, V., Hussain, S. A., Badola, R., Vashistha, G., & Dhakate, P. M. (2024). Feeding dynamics of sympatric large carnivores in an anthropogenic landscape of the Indian Terai. Journal of Threatened Taxa. DOI: 10.11609/jott.9286.16.9.25791-25801
  This paper provides novel insights into the dietary overlap and resource partitioning among large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes, contributing to coexistence strategies.