A path that found me. (Part 2- The steps I didn't know I was taking)

THE STEPS I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS TAKING


The first step into research: understanding humans and monkeys 

My first actual research project was a perception survey on bonnet macaques in Bengaluru.
It opened my eyes to a truth most people forget:

Human–monkey conflict isn’t just about monkeys entering cities;
it’s about how we perceive them, fear them, tolerate them, or admire them.

That project showed me how layered primate conservation really is — you’re not studying only the animal, you’re studying the relationship between animal and human.

And that complexity drew me in even more.


The moment everything changed: discovering primate vocalisations

During my internships and volunteer work, I started paying close attention to vocalisations.
One alarm call could mean:

an eagle overhead,

a leopard nearby,

a troop member wandering too far,

or simply irritation with another macaque

Primate communication wasn’t just sound — it was emotion, warning, negotiation, reassurance.
And I knew I wanted to study this deeper. 


Guindy: the internship that shaped everything

When I interned at Guindy, the park was in the middle of redesigning enclosures.

I got the chance to design enrichment for 10 species — a dream I didn’t even know I had.

But the primates stood out.

Their reactions to enrichment were immediate, clever, and dramatic. Watching how they solved problems, manipulated objects, or adapted to new structures made me realise:

Behaviour isn’t random.

That was the moment I understood:

Primates were my Niche. 


Fieldwork: Pench, Gir, and the forests that became classrooms

When I entered my MSc, everything became real.

During line transects, sign surveys, and long field days, I found myself instinctively tuning into primate movements:

the rustle of leaves

the rhythm of feeding

the subtle sound of branch-to-branch travel

the sudden hush before an alarm call

Even when I was supposed to focus on other species… the primates always caught my attention first.

And then came the decision that shaped the next chapter.

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