I was born and raised on Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep, where growing up in a coastal community naturally drew me to the ocean. From a young age, I spent a lot of time snorkeling and scuba diving in the island’s lagoon, which sparked a deep curiosity about coral reefs and seagrass ecosystems. Over the years, I began observing a decline in the density of seagrass. I realized that the increase in the sea turtle population was contributing to the overgrazing of seagrass, which in turn led to a reduction in the coastal line. These early observations fueled my interest in understanding the ecological balance between sea turtles and seagrass. I went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pondicherry University. For my thesis, I had the opportunity to study bats on Kalpeni Island, where I mapped roosts and documented their behavior, this led to the first live bat record ever documented in Lakshadweep. After that, I interned with the Bat Conservation India Trust, where I worked on a conservation project studying the critically endangered Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat. We used radio telemetry to track their foraging paths and patterns, which was a valuable experience in wildlife research and conservation techniques. Currently, I joined as a Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) Research Assistant with the. I'm fortunate to be involved in projects focusing on seagrass ecosystems and sea turtles, exactly the kind of work I’ve always hoped to do. It feels great to contribute to the conservation of the very ecosystems that first inspired me as a child.