Academic Positions
Scientist & HOD- Wildlife Biology
Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur (2018 - Present)
Scientist
Division of Conservation Biology, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram (2013-2018)
Assistant Professor & Head
Dept. of Zoology, N.S.S. College, Manjeri (2010-2013)
Education
Ph.D. in Zoology
2008
Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History and Bharathiar University
M.Sc. in Zoology
2001
Bharathiar University
B.Ed. in Natural Science
1999
Calicut University
B.Sc. In Zoology
1998
Calicut University
Other Information
Awards
- DST Young Scientist Award (2010)
Memberships
- Member, Board of Studies, Forestry and Wood Science, Kannur University
- Member, Board of Examiners, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalaylam
- Member, Board of Examiners, Forestry College, KAU, Thrissur
- Member, Malabar Natural History Society
- Member, Indian Bird Conservation Network
- Member, Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust
- Member, International Association for Ecology, USA
- Member, International Network of Next Generation Ecologists, USA
- Member, Citizen Science Association, USA
Professional Contributions/Roles
- Ph.D. Guide and RAC member, Calicut University.
- Ph.D. Guide and RAC member, FRI Deemed University.
- Member, DLCC to deal with Human Wildlife Conflicts in Kerala.
- Member, Thematic Expert Committee on Animal and Fish biodiversity under National
- Biodiversity Authority, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Mentor and Evaluator, Young Innovators Programme, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), Govt of Kerala.
Research Area
My research interests range broadly in wildlife biology, conservation biology, behavioural ecology and evolutionary ecology. Specific interests are ecology and conservation of threatened and fragmented populations, population monitoring, wildlife–habitat relationships, biodiversity conservation in human-altered habitats, population dynamics and life-history evolution of vertebrates, human-wildlife interactions, human dimensions of wildlife and conflict mitigation, evidence-based conservation and policy making, citizen science and conservation education.
Most Cited Total Publications: 35
Increasing Food Provisioning and Habituation Threaten the Endangered Lion-Tailed Macaque Macaca silenus in the Western Ghats, India.
Sheheer, TA, P. Balakrishnan, M. Singh. Primate Conservation. (38): 129–137. (2024)
Diversity, characteristics, and co-occurrence patterns of tree microhabitats in the tropical forests of the Western Ghats, India.
Patel, B., Hrideek, T. K., & Balakrishnan, P. Plant Biosystems, 158(6), 1221–1233. (2024)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2024.2399051
Predation of Indian giant flying squirrel and Travancore flying squirrel in the Western Ghats, India.
Balakrishnan, P., Das, K.S.A., Patel, B. and S. Sivaraman. Mammalia, Volume 86 Issue 5. (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2021-0097
Nesting Ecology of Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus in a Mosaic Landscape in the Southern Western Ghats, India.
Patel, B., Sivaraman, S. and P. Balakrishnan. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 75: 337-348.(2022)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12595-022-00446-1
Seeding baculovirus HpNPV in the epicentre populations of teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera to prevent large-scale outbreaks.
Bindu, T. N., Balakrishnan, P., Sajeev T.V. and V.V. Sudheendrakumar. Current Science, 122(7): 812-818. (2022)
http://dx.doi.org/10.18520/cs/v122/i7/812-818
Use of tree cavities by Indian vertebrates: status of research, knowledge gaps and future conservation perspectives.
Patel, B., Sivaraman, S. and P. Balakrishnan. Current Science, 121(4): 490-501. (2021)
http://dx.doi.org/10.18520/cs/v121/i4/490-501
Density dependent polyphenism and baculovirus resistance in teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera (Cramer).
Bindu, T.N., Balakrishnan P., Sudheendrakumar, V.V. and T.V. Sajeev. Ecological Entomology, 37: 536-540. (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2012.01389.x
Parental care strategies of Grey-headed Bulbul, Pycnonotus priocephalus in Western Ghats, South India
Balakrishnan, P. Current Science, 98(4): 673-680. (2010)
An education programme and establishment of a citizen scientist network to reduce killing of non-venomous snakes in Malappuram district, Kerala, India.
Balakrishnan, P. Conservation Evidence, 7: 9-15. (2010)
Team Members
Sreejith Sivaraman.
Junior Research Fellow
UOC (From 2021)
Community structure and habitat use of rodents in a tropical forest of the Southern Western Ghats, India.
Sheheer T A.
Junior Research Fellow
UOC (From 2021)
Foraging ecology of Bonnet Macaque along the anthropogenic gradients: Food traits perspective.
Nithin Divakar.
Junior Research Fellow
UOC (From 2023)
Community ecology and ecosystem services of bats along elevational and land-use gradients in the Southern Western Ghats.
Sreehari R.
Junior Research Fellow
UOC (From 2025)
Unravelling the cryptic diversity of vespertilionids (Chiroptera : Vespertilionidae) in the Western Ghats through an integrative taxonomic approach.
Alumni - Research Scholars
| # |
Name |
Research Work |
Current Position |
| 1 |
Bharati Patel |
Forest Ecology & Environment Diversity and abundance of tree-microhabitats and its potential as indicators of vertebrate diversity in tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats., [FRI DU, 2024] |
Scientist at Institute of Forest Biodiversity (Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education), Hyderabad |
