Dr. Abi Tamim Vanak

Research interests: My broad interests are in animal movement ecology, disease ecology, OneHealth, savanna ecosystems, invasive species (both plant and animal) and wildlife in human-dominated systems. My work has spanned from studying the movement ecology of elephants, large African carnivores and savanna ecosystem dynamics, to the conservation of semi-arid savanna grasslands in peninsular India and the adaptation of mesocarnivores to human-dominated landscapes. Much of my current work focusses on the outcome of interactions between species at the interface of humans, domestic animals and wildlife in semi-arid savannas and agro-ecosystems. Model systems range from free-ranging domestic dogs in cities and villages, mesocarnivores in an agri-savanna matrix to African savanna elephant, and impacts of Prosopis juliflora. My interests in OneHealth systems and disease ecology include the dynamics of rabies transmission in multi-host systems and in understanding the role of small and medium mammals as tick hosts in the transmission dynamics of Kyasanur forest disease.

Email: avanak(at)atree(dot)org

Academic record

2008 - Ph.D. Wildlife Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

1997 - M.Sc. Wildlife Science, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India

1995 - B.Sc. Zoology, Loyola College, Madras University, Chennai, India

Editorial Affiliations

Academic Editor: PLOSOne

Handling Editor: Conservation Biology

Associate Editor: Animal Conservation

Editor: Endangered Species Research