How Genetics Explain Tigers and Secure Their Future | Uma Ramakrishnan

Humans have impacted and modified most of the planet, and caused unprecedented landuse landcover change, global change and loss of biodiversity. India is a hotspot for natural habitat loss, yet many species seem to be surviving here, alongside over a billion people.

Since 1972, wildlife in India have been protected through the wildlife protection act. Indeed, some species like tigers seem to have recovered. India now houses 75% of global tiger populations. But are numbers the only indicators of conservation success?

Over the last two decades, Dr Uma Ramakrishnan has investigated another axis of endangerment - genetic variation. In this talk, she will show you how we can understand more about tiger ecology, genetics, evolution and conservation using genomic data from wild tigers. She will show results on connectivity, isolated populations, and ongoing inbreeding.

Further, she will discuss how we can use such insights to inform conservation and management. Come and hear about how cutting edge genomics is being applied to one of the most charismatic carnivores on earth, and judge for yourself whether the future of tigers should include evidence-based approaches and science, or whether protection alone is enough.

Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan is a molecular ecologist and conservation geneticist and professor at NCBS since 2005. Uma has worked on standardizing methods to work with non-invasive samples in wildlife and conservation, and pioneered the use of genomic data for endangered species. Her work has contributed to our understanding of connectivity and its landscape correlates, and in identifying isolated populations. She is a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

She won in Molecular Ecology Prize in 2023, the SASTRA Biosciences award in 2024, and has been a Fulbright fellow, a DAE outstanding investigator and a Ramanujan fellow. Uma is also passionate about mentoring, outreach and communication.

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