Qualifications:

• MSc in Wildlife Conservation and Action, Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, 2026.
• BSc in Zoology and Botany, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, 2024

Email: natalya@dakshin.org

Profile: Natalya Rajkhowa is a Senior Programme Assistant at Dakshin Foundation, based in Malvan, Maharashtra. Her work includes supporting long-term elasmobranch monitoring and conducting guitarfish transect surveys. She holds a Master of Science in Wildlife Conservation and Action from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune, and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Botany from St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru.

During her internship with Dakshin’s Marine Flagships Programme, she monitored elasmobranch bycatch at fish landing sites, identified species, collected biological measurements and managed field data. She also assisted with fishing-community outreach and beach surveys for the Critically Endangered widenose guitarfish.

Her research experience spans marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Her academic projects examined habitat use and fruiting-tree preferences of Oriental Pied Hornbills, alongside ecological and social surveys around Pench Tiger Reserve. She has also gained experience in DNA extraction, PCR and sequence analysis through an internship at the Indian Institute of Science. During her bachelor’s studies, she organised birding trips and conservation-awareness activities, bringing together fieldwork, data analysis and public engagement.