Udayan Borthakur, a noted conservation geneticist from Assam, has been elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS), one of the world’s oldest and most respected scientific societies devoted to natural history, established in 1788.
With more than two decades of experience in wildlife research, Borthakur founded the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory (WGL) at Aaranyak in 2008. The laboratory has been at the forefront of applying DNA technology to wildlife conservation and forensic investigations across Northeast India.
His research has focused on several endangered and threatened species, including the greater one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, Asian elephant, leopard, and the White-bellied Heron. One of his team’s landmark achievements has been the development of non-invasive genetic census techniques for rhino populations, demonstrating how DNA analysis can be used to monitor wildlife without the need to capture or physically handle animals. Previously, Borthakur conducted research at the Wildlife Institute of India and the University of Chicago.
Borthakur has also made significant contributions to DNA-based wildlife forensics in Northeast India. The Wildlife Genetics Laboratory is currently the region’s only facility notified by state governments under Section 329(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, for wildlife forensic analysis, providing scientific support for investigations into wildlife crimes.
Apart from his scientific work, Borthakur is an accomplished wildlife photographer and documentary filmmaker who uses visual storytelling to raise awareness about conservation challenges.
His election as a Fellow of the Linnean Society is a significant recognition of his lifelong commitment to biodiversity conservation and highlights the growing international recognition of conservation research emerging from Northeast India.
