Validation of Threatened Mammals of India

Born in 1947 in Nagpur (Maharashtra State, India), Dr. M. S. Pradhan completed his earlier part of education upto Post-graduation in Zoology from Nagpur University. After successful doctoral studies on Bombay rats, he joined Zoological Survey of India, Pune, in Dec. 1976. After serving in various capacities in this premier organization for more than thirty years, he proceeded on superannuation in 2007. He was looking after mammals section during his entire service carrier. His assigned tasks were to conduct taxonomic research activities in small mammal species with special reference to rodents, chiropteran and insectivore species, to prepare inventories of mammal species from various assigned protected/non-protected areas in addition to the routine curatorial duties. His involvement in wildlife and EIA studies has also been noteworthy to such an extent that the law enforcement authorities including judiciary and educational institutions are consulting him in matters related with these subjects in mammalian and reptilian taxonomic identifications even after his superannuation. He has conducted/participated in more than 100 extensive faunistic surveys of long and/or short durations of protected and/or non-protected areas in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka States. The focus of his studies were concentrated mainly on mammal species of Western Ghats. While in service he has successfully completed independent research project on Chaemotaxonomic studies of rodent species from Wetsern Ghats. Some of the conclusions from this project led him to revise taxonomic studies of Genus Bandicota. Further, MOEF, New Delhi, funded project assigned to him resulted in a publication of a book on Validation of Threatened Mammal species of India. He has published, independently and/or jointly, more than 120 articles in scientific journals of national as well as international repute. He is one of the authors of four books published by Zoological Survey of India. Dr. Pradhan was Officer-in-Charge of Western Regional Station, Pune, for almost six years from 1996-2001. He retired as Scientist-SE (Jt. Director) from Zoological Survey of India on 31st January 2007.