Devica Ranade

I am a behavioural ecologist by training — which means I am trained to study why animals behave the way they do, and how their surroundings shape those behaviours. Growing up, I was endlessly curious about the world around me: Why do frogs croak? Why do peacocks have such long tails? How do flowers attract butterflies? Every little thing sparked a question, and that curiosity eventually shaped my path. I knew I wanted to spend my life understanding animals and the stories their behaviours tell us.

To follow this passion, I completed my BSc in Zoology from Garware College (Pune) and an MSc in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology from the University of Exeter (England).

These years gave me opportunities to study the behaviour of many fascinating animals — from spiders and chinkaras to tadpoles and even giraffes in South Africa. After my master’s, I spent a year at the Kalahari Meerkat Project, also in South Africa. I returned to India to pursue my PhD at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc Bangalore, where I studied the behaviour of female Peninsular Rock Lizards, a beautiful and little-known species.

In 2020, I founded Ecology Explained to make ecological research in India more accessible and to share my love for observing and understanding nature with a wider audience. I currently work as a Program Manager at the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) as part of the Education and Public Engagement team. Our sub-team, Nature on Campus, engages college students and corporate groups through workshops and activities that spark curiosity about the natural world. When I’m not working, I can be found spending time with my family & friends or relaxing with a Bollywood movie! 🙂

To know more about me, here is my CV.