Ecologist Ravi Jambhekar Shares The Wonders Of The Living World

Ravi Jambhekar is a landscape and urban ecologist who focusses on plant-animal interactions, community ecology and animal behaviour. He completed his PhD in ecology from the Indian Institute of Science, Karnataka, and now works to document biodiversity and design long-term monitoring schemes at the Indian Institute of Human Settlements in Bengaluru.

He uses art, illustrations and popular science to communicate the research he does to the general public. His illustrations are popular on Instagram, where he has nearly 4,000 followers. We interviewed Jambhekar about his work and why it matters.

You have a deep love for butterflies. Where did it begin?

Surprisingly, my affinity with butterflies began in a backyard in Mumbai when I was studying. A small patch of native plants and trees attracted many butterflies and my professor was very keen on me archiving their feedings and the other observations I had. What began as a record-keeping exercise turned to devotion and a decade later, here I am still working on these lovely creatures.

Is rescuing small birds and squirrels also a part of your research?

It is more of a personal interest than research. I spent much of my childhood bringing home strays, or rescuing pigeons and squirrels and trying to nurse them back to health. It is just something I practise. Now, it seems a lot of people have taken note and I often get called to tend to injured animals.

Where does your fieldwork take you?

Currently, I am based out of Bengaluru, a place where I earned my PhD and where I worked as a postdoctoral research fellow. My work revolves around butterflies and birds, and how urbanisation has changed biodiversity in India. I frequently travel to the grasslands and forests of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Why do you focus on the Western Ghats?

Well, it is a biodiversity hot spot full of jungles and grasslands and is home to almost 300 species of butterflies. The Western Ghats form a unique ecosystem with light deciduous forests and laterite plateau grasslands. And, of course, its butterflies are highly endangered and understudied, which only furthered my interest.

You are also a painter. Tell us more about your leaf paintings.

Painting is another passion. Initially, it was oil and acrylic and now it is watercolours. With the majority of my day spent on fieldwork, I would hardly get a few hours to myself. All my energy went into painting the leaves I would handpick from the forest. There was hardly any connectivity, so I couldn't rely on the internet for pictures of butterflies and birds. But leaves were aplenty all around me and they do make for great subjects. It is a great way to document the variety and brings people's attention to the vivid colours, beauty and minute details on their surface.

Do you travel to illustrate?

Ah, no. It is mostly the other way around. I like to observe, do a quick sketch or even click a photo of native varieties. Detailed sketches come later.

What do you wish to achieve with your work?

Awareness would be one. My work adds directly to the management plans of endangered habitats but the artwork achieves something different. Conservation only comes with interest, and I hope that more people will look into the world of butterflies and leaves. Or so I hope.

How do you respond to the nicknames people have given you?

I find it very funny and honestly, I don't know how to react to them: 'birdman', 'dead leaf guy' or the 'butterfly whisperer'. Positively is how I take it.