Nishant Kumar
I am Nishant Kumar, a Field Biologist exploring how humans and animals co-exist in shared spaces. Specifically, I investigate the evolving dynamics of human-animal relationships in tropical parts of the world, with a focus on the impacts of both accidental and intentional feeding of wild animals (from food waste and ritualistic practices). I look at animals like street dogs, pigeons and monkeys that come into conflict or contact with humans and how that increases the risk of disease transmission across species.
I am an India Alliance Fellow (2023 – 2027) at the Department of Biology and Mansfield College at the University of Oxford, but primarily undertake my research at the National Centre for Biological Science, TIFR, in Bengaluru, India. I also hold a faculty position at Dr B R Ambedkar University Delhi.
My story
Me as a young child.
My journey into field biology began with fun-filled childhood observations of common animals in the farms at the edge of my village in Siwan, Bihar, India. My parents were keen for me to understand farming techniques as a precautionary measure against unforeseen circumstances, which helped lay the foundation for my passion for outdoor exploration. This was only strengthened during my undergraduate studies at Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University. Over time, I cultivated my appreciation for nature using both scientific and artistic perspectives: using comic booklets and innovative literary expressions, I blend the worlds of science and art to engage the public in science and promote open access to knowledge, making research more accessible and relatable. I also approach my scientific research in a unique way – I explore cultural, sensory and ecological perspectives on human-animal coexistence, not just scientific. By combining natural and social sciences with humanities, and therefore bridging gaps between diverse fields, I am able to address global challenges and advance our understanding of how humans and animal can coexist.
A few photos of me as a child, surrounded by my family.
Throughout my studies as part of Delhi University and the Wildlife Institute of India, I observed how human activities can affect the relationship between people and nature; I studied multiple life forms, from insects to higher vertebrates (which are animals that have a backbone inside their body – not all animals do!), with a particular focus on black kites (a species of opportunistic avian predators). I continued this research during my DPhil at Oxford between 2014 -2019 (watch this video to find out more!). Funding (called a seed grant) from the India Oxford Initiative (2019 – 22) helped to expand my research and led to the development of an organisation called THINKPAWS. Through THINKPAWS, my research now includes dogs, rhesus macaques (a species of monkey), livestock, and poultry.
A series of photos from my undergraduate studies, doing fieldwork with friends.
My research
Urban ecosystems offer a unique opportunity to study the interactions between humans and animals, where species adapt to survive in rapidly changing landscapes. My research at THINKPAWS explores how different species navigate these rapidly transforming landscapes affected or created by human expansion. We then hope to create a model for addressing similar challenges worldwide.
Meditating in front of a waterfall, reconnecting with nature.
South Asia in particular provides a rare opportunity to explore coexistence due to its cultural beliefs. Therein, human-animal interactions go beyond simple coexistence. Traditional philosophical and religious beliefs have, for a long time, recognised an “interconnectedness” across species. What we mean by this is that devout people believe that completely different animals (for example, humans, dogs and monkeys), have a shared ‘soul’ or fundamental essence that connects them. This cultural understanding of interconnectedness between life forms emerged centuries before science proved this, by uncovering genetic similarities and common ancestries among species. These deeply rooted cultural values are evident through everyday interactions in South Asia, such as ritual feeding of urban animals that occupy ecological niches (for example through waste and ritualistic practices) within human-created environments.
Tagging a black kite so we can track it.
While for opportunistic urban species like street dogs, pigeons, and monkeys, hunting for food in urban environments is all about survival, they also provide critical services to the ecosystem by managing organic waste and participating in new urban food webs. As an ecologist, I am particularly interested in the sensory and behavioral mechanisms that shape how these species respond to urban environments. By studying how cultural practices, environmental conditions, and interspecies interactions influence and shape population dynamics, my research offers a more holistic (all-inclusive) understanding of urban ecosystem. This approach challenges traditional ecological research by treating urban ecosystems as complex social-ecological networks where cultural practices, sensory experiences, and biological interactions are deeply intertwined.
Research journey
At a waste site in India, where you can see birds and dogs in the background.
At THINKPAWS, our preliminary findings show that animals are not just passive inhabitants or participants, but actively adapt to and engage with the human world. Diverse animals, from ground-dwelling dogs and cattle, to primates, to aerial kites, adjust their senses – such as smell, sight and hearing – to new environmental challenges and changes.
My research over the past decade has revealed that urban ecosystems are not just spaces of potential conflict, but rich, complex systems of continuous natural experimentation. Working as a field biologist in urbanising areas provides unprecedented opportunities to observe real-time ecological adaptations, where humans and animals continuously negotiate coexistence.
Working with colleagues on black kite behaviours.
By studying animal behavior and ecological interactions, we can address complex real-world problems like birdstrike prevention in aviation, zoonotic disease transmission, and urban wildlife management. In the context of the Global South, and particularly in urban landscapes like Delhi, our research group investigates population dynamics, demographic patterns, and breeding ecology of opportunistic urban species. We focus on understanding how infrastructure, resource availability, and cultural practices shape interspecies interactions. This approach allows us to develop nuanced, context-specific strategies for managing human-animal conflicts like dog bites that occur every two seconds in India. Our work demonstrates that field biology is not confined to remote wilderness but is equally vibrant and crucial in the spaces we inhabit.
Me and a baby crocodile!
