Event Details

Apex predators like lions, wolves, and leopards don’t mix well with humans. We compete for space, and food, and they threaten our lives and our livelihoods. While perpetually in conflict, we have remained fascinated by predators – from cave paintings in Chauvet and Bhimbetka, to mascots and emblems, we have chosen them to represent us and our societies. As a kid growing up in a rural society at the foothills of the Himalayas, Professor Chakrabarti understood quite early on that predators were dangerous yet awe-inspiring. Such a conundrum led him to ask questions about whether we can learn to better coexist with such dangerous animals in the Anthropocene. How do we reconcile predator conservation with human development in an age when the odds between predators and humans have intensified? In this conversation, Professor Chakrabarti will walk us through a journey: i) starting with his positionality in ecological research, ii) then will give a brief overview of where, how, and why his new (Conservation and Behavior) lab at Mac studies predators, iii) how carnivore-science can create opportunities to diversify outlooks in research and education, and iv) will finally end with some future ideas where he envisages multi-departmental collaborations at Mac. All faculty and staff are welcome. Lunch will be provided.