As a child, I found solace in academics, art, and observing the animals around me—wondering what it might be like to experience life as them. Belonging to Mumbai’s coastal Koli community of native fishermen, I developed a deep, intrinsic connection to marine life - thus choosing a career path that fuels my desire to contribute to its conservation. With a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and an M.Sc. in Animal Behaviour from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, I discovered research as a way to answer the questions that sparked my curiosity as a child. My Master’s dissertation focused on the somatosensory tactile system - the whiskers- of pinnipeds, and how they use whisker movements to differentiate between textures. This established my reconnect to the vast world of animal senses and my childhood obsession of wanting to understand how they perceive their environment. Currently, as part of my work with NCF, I study the bioacoustics of dugongs and investigate how human activities influence their habitat use in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I aim to further explore animal sensory systems, and apply this to inform conservation strategies and protect their ecosystems.