Kulesh Bhandari

“A field researcher standing in a rocky, scrub-covered upland landscape in Santhal Pargana. He is wearing a white shirt and binoculars around his neck, surrounded by dry-season vegetation, vines, and granite boulders in the background. Sunlight highlights the mixed sal–scrub habitat and the rugged terrain.”

Santhal Pargana’s granite uplands: stone, heat and quiet movement.
Ridges and scrub here shape every trail — langurs, civets, jackals, raptors, all crossing the same mosaic.
Biodiversity reveals itself only when you walk slow and watch closely.

#GraniteEcology #SanthalPargana #FieldEcology

Life on the Rocks — Granite Outcrop Ecology (Eastern India)

Transect-based microhabitat sampling across granite ridges in Santhal Pargana. Thin (~4–5 cm) dark veins observed, suggesting micro-scale thermal variation.

Baseline faunal data collection underway.

#GraniteEcology #FieldEcology

“News clipping from Jharkhand Uday covering the verified documentation of a large flying fox colony in Dumka, Jharkhand. The article states that researcher Kulesh Bhandari recorded mass flight behaviour, roost activity, and ecological indicators in the Santhal Pargana forests. The photograph shows multiple flying foxes circling above dense treetops during evening emergence. The report emphasizes biodiversity value, forest health, and the rarity of such colonies in Eastern India.”

“Hindi newspaper article announcing the discovery of a rare flying fox mega-colony in the forests of Dumka by young researcher Kulesh Bhandari. The photo shows numerous Indian Flying Fox bats in coordinated flight over natural forest canopy. The article notes that this is an important scientific documentation supported by The Pollination Project (USA), highlighting the species’ role in pollination, seed dispersal, and ecological restoration in tribal landscapes.”

“Hindi newspaper clipping reporting the discovery of a rare Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) mega-roost in the hill forests of Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand. The article describes field documentation by young biodiversity researcher Kulesh Bhandari, showing dozens of flying foxes in synchronized evening flight above tall forest trees. The report highlights ecological significance, seed dispersal role, and evidence of a healthy forest ecosystem in Dumka district.”

A rare mega-roost of Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) was documented in the hill forests of Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand—this is the first verified record from this region.
Supported by The Pollination Project (USA).
Dumka | 🦇 Large active colony | Seed dispersal

Documented a rare white decomposer fungus growing on a dry Sal log in the upland forests of Santhal Pargana, India.
These dry-stage wood rotters are often overlooked, yet they tell the clearest stories of forest health and decay cycles.
More observations coming soon.
#ecology #fungi #forestresearch