My Journey
Originating from the remote district of Humla in northwestern Nepal, a country situated in the Global South, I developed an innate affinity with nature from an early age. Renowned for its rich natural and cultural heritage, this region had a profound impact on my life. I completed primary schooling (up to sixth grade) in the village. The learning platforms were limited, but the struggles were countless. I am unable to write down everything here. However, the memories I made in the village are still among the best moments of my life.
Due to the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, which severely affected the Karnali region, including my hometown of Humla, my father brought me to Kathmandu so that I could continue my education in a safer environment. Transitioning from a government school in Humla to a private school in the capital was challenging. Although I excelled in mathematics, my limited English proficiency required me to begin again from Grade 4. This marked the beginning of a transformative chapter in my life. Living away from my parents at a young age taught me independence, resilience, and adaptability.
Communication with my family remained difficult. While mobile phones were becoming increasingly common in urban areas, remote districts like Humla still relied heavily on traditional mail. Letters were often our only means of staying connected, and a message could take nearly a month to travel between Kathmandu and my home village. These experiences strengthened my perseverance and deepened my appreciation for education, opportunity, and the sacrifices my parents made to support my future.
When I received letters back from my parents, I held more than just pieces of paper filled with love, care, and a mother's longing for her 12-year-old child who should have been beside her but was far away. Inside those letters, there was often a gift of 1,000 Nepali rupees that I could spend on myself. A happy child, I would silently thank my parents for their sacrifice and affection. This is just one small moment among thousands of memories that I could share.
I continued my schooling at Little Blooms School in Gattaghar, Bhaktapur, and later attended Guinness International College in Kathmandu for my higher secondary education. These years exposed me to diverse cultures, perspectives, and opportunities that were vastly different from those available in my remote hometown.
Later on, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Forestry from the Institute of Forestry - Pokhara, Tribhuvan University, where I explored subjects ranging from forest management and wildlife conservation to climate change. My undergraduate dissertation, "Ecological and Temporal Assessment of Himalayan Rangelands: A Case Study from Annapurna Conservation Area", funded by WWF Nepal/Hariyo Ban Project, marked the beginning of my research career in ecology and conservation.
This was a transformative period in my life, during which I gained not only theoretical knowledge but also practical and evidence-based conservation skills. I fondly remember the field days spent exploring the rugged landscapes of eastern Taplejung, the Trans-Himalayan regions of Manang and Mustang, and the plains and protected areas of lowland Nepal. These experiences allowed me to witness Nepal's remarkable ecological diversity firsthand and deepened my appreciation for nature and conservation.
More than the landscapes themselves, I was profoundly inspired by the innocence, harmony, resilience, and down-to-earth nature of the local communities I encountered during my travels. Their close relationship with nature and their traditional knowledge left a lasting impression on me. It was during these journeys that I realized my true passion lay in Conservation Science, and I became determined to dedicate my career to understanding and protecting biodiversity while working alongside the communities that depend on it.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I joined KIRDARC Nepal as a Project Officer for the SAAMARTHYA Project, which focused on climate change adaptation, sustainable livelihoods, and community resilience in Sarkegad Rural Municipality of Humla. In many ways, this was a journey back to my roots. Although Humla is my home district, I had never truly experienced it beyond brief visits during school and university breaks. This opportunity allowed me to stay for an extended period and understand my homeland from a different perspective. For nine months, I worked closely with local communities, listening to their stories, understanding their daily struggles, and learning how people survive and thrive in one of Nepal's most remote and challenging landscapes. Those months taught me lessons that no classroom could ever provide. I witnessed firsthand how climate change affects mountain communities, how limited access to infrastructure shapes everyday life, and how local people continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite numerous challenges. More importantly, I developed a deeper connection with my own community and gained a stronger appreciation for the culture, traditions, and knowledge systems that have sustained people in the Himalayas for generations.
At the same time, I was pursuing a Master's degree in Natural Resources and Development at Nepal Open University. The flexibility of the program allowed me to continue my professional work in Humla while advancing my academic journey. Balancing fieldwork, community engagement, and graduate studies was demanding, but it was also one of the most rewarding periods of my life. My master's dissertation, "Diversity and Distribution of Mammals in Madane Protected Forest, Nepal", was supported by WWF Nepal-USAID. Through this research, I expanded my skills in wildlife monitoring, camera trapping, ecological analysis, and scientific research.
During my graduate study, I received the first Rufford Small Grant for a project "Empowering Local People for Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation in Lower Humla District, Nepal". Receiving international support for a project in my own home district was a proud and humbling moment, reinforcing my belief that conservation must be built on local participation and community leadership. These experiences shaped my professional identity as a conservation scientist. They taught me that successful conservation is not only about protecting wildlife and ecosystems but also about understanding people, their aspirations, and their relationship with nature.
Following my master's degree, I joined Third Pole Conservancy (TPC) as a Wildlife Biologist, where I led projects focused on community-based conservation and climate adaptation in some of Nepal's most remote regions. I also continued my work in Lower Humla as Project Leader and Principal Investigator for the second Rufford Foundation-funded conservation project. In addition, I became a member of the Rusty-spotted Cat Working Group, contributing to international efforts to conserve the world's smallest wild cat.
These professional experiences eventually led me to the next chapter of my journey.
Today, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology at the University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, under the mentorship of Dr. Nicola M. Anthony. My doctoral research focuses on urban wildlife ecology and human–wildlife coexistence, exploring how people and wildlife share increasingly urbanized landscapes. Alongside my research, I serve as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, contributing to undergraduate education and mentoring students in biological sciences.
The story of how a boy from the remote Himalayas of Nepal found his way to a Ph.D. program in the United States is a story for another day.
Beyond academia, I remain passionate about photography, documentary filmmaking, and storytelling as tools for conservation awareness. These passions have allowed me to share conservation stories with broader audiences and have brought recognition through awards such as the 2022 International Mountain Day Photo Contest organized by FAO and Mountain Partnership. My work has also been featured by conservation platforms, including Mongabay and the Rusty-spotted Cat Working Group.
As I continue my journey, I remain committed to bridging science and society using ecological research, community engagement, and storytelling to promote biodiversity conservation, human–wildlife coexistence, and sustainable development.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey. I hope my story serves as a reminder that no dream is too distant and that our origins do not define our limits. They simply shape the perspective we bring to the world.
