Recruited to an Indo-US snow leopard project in the mid-1980s, Dr Raghu Chundawat encountered a species about which remarkably little was then known and a mountain ecosystem that demanded years of patient observation. Raghu subsequently undertook doctoral research into the ecology of the snow leopard and its prey in Ladakh. Working for much of each year in remote, high-altitude terrain, he completed his doctorate in 1992. His dissertation has been described as the world’s first PhD devoted specifically to snow leopards and established him as one of the pioneers of the species’ scientific study in India.
He has worked with the Snow Leopard Trust since the 1980s, including as Regional Science and Conservation Director. In this role, he oversaw research and conservation programmes in Mongolia, Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Afghanistan and India, bringing scientific study together with community involvement and the long-term protection of the species. He is also a member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group and served for many years on the Wildlife Advisory Board for Madhya Pradesh.
After joining the Wildlife Institute of India, Raghu turned his attention to another elusive predator. From 1996 to 2006, he led an intensive study of tigers in Panna National Park. The project followed individual animals and examined how habitat, prey, protected-area boundaries and human decisions affected the population. This work later formed the basis of his book The Rise and Fall of the Emerald Tigers, combining long-term scientific research with a candid account of the challenges surrounding tiger conservation.
Raghu is working on a new book drawing on more than 30 years of research in Ladakh. Across both mountain and forest landscapes, his work has been driven by the belief that conservation must begin with close observation and reliable evidence. His experience spans field biology, conservation planning, writing and the communication of complex science to wider audiences.
As Expedition Leader on &Beyond’s limited edition Snow Leopard Expedition, Raghu accompanies guests for the entire experience, from Delhi to Ladakh and back again. He contributes talks and discussions, joins the tracking team in the field and interprets the signs encountered each day. A paw print, movement among prey animals or a route through difficult terrain becomes evidence.