Sharan V
(Founder & Executive Director)
Sharan, an engineering graduate, worked at a U.S. MNC before turning his lifelong passion for nature into a career. Now, he serves as Assistant Manager and naturalist at a coffee estate collective in Coorg. His journey with nature began at age 10 with birdwatching in 2004, later shifting to insects post-graduation. Recognizing the need to spotlight smaller fauna, he co-founded ROAR in 2018, where he leads as the organization’s primary visionary. During the lockdown, he built a nationwide butterfly enthusiast community through webinars.He is passionate about traveling a lot to observe wildlife, attending biodiversity meets, engaging the public in nature education, and creating accessible educational materials on flora and fauna. A 2024 recipient of NAAEE’s "30 Under 30" award, Sharan also enjoys reading books,playing badminton, and brewing coffee.
Pranav T V
(Co-founder, Director of Finance)
Pranav is currently a QA/QC Inspector at ADNOC in the UAE. Deeply passionate about conservation, he makes the most of his time in India to engage with school and college students, as well as the general public, to foster awareness about ecosystems and the importance of environmental stewardship. As a co-founder of ROAR, Pranav has managed the organization’s finances since its inception, ensuring its initiatives are sustainable and impactful. His primary interests in nature are birds and butterflies, and he takes every opportunity to immerse himself in the wild. When he’s not working or involved with ROAR, Pranav is often on adventurous bike expeditions across India, exploring new places and enjoying the journey.
Ramakrishnan N
(Co-founder, Director of Operations)
Ramakrishnan (Santhosh), a trained mechanical engineer, currently works in the UAE alongside Pranav. Driven by a passion for wildlife exploration, protection, and understanding, Santhosh played a significant role in documenting butterflies, birds, and odonates in the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (now SMTR) during its initial studies. As a co-founder of ROAR, he oversees operational management, contributes his expertise in organizational ideology, and provides essential backend support. In his free time, Santhosh enjoys trekking in the Ghats, where he immerses himself in photographing wildlife.
Dr. Nikhil Rathinavel
(Program Director, NEST)
Dr. Nikhil is a pediatrician based at CARE AKPS Hospitals in Virudhunagar. Beyond his medical practice, he plays a crucial role in ROAR, acting as the organization’s liaison with government bodies and maintaining close communication with the district administration. Since joining ROAR in 2021, he manages eco-literacy programs for school and college students, fostering environmental awareness among young learners. Nikhil has been particularly interested in mammals, though he keenly observes all types of flora and fauna in everyday settings. Outside his professional and ROAR commitments, he enjoys short hikes, safari trips to tiger reserves, and creating biotope aquariums, as well as brewing coffee for a relaxing pastime.
Vivek Velladurai
(Program Manager, WildEarthlings)
Vivek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Rajapalayam Rajus College. He joined ROAR in 2022 when the eco-stewardship program began, quickly becoming one of the organization’s most diligent and dedicated members. Currently, he serves as the program manager for WildEarthlings, ROAR's award-winning eco-stewardship initiative, which has successfully conducted over 60 nature walks in Rajapalayam. Vivek oversees the annual program calendar, handling the planning and organization of each event from start to finish. An aspiring odonate expert, he also observes birds and butterflies. In his free time, Vivek shares content about nature and Tamil literature on his YouTube channel, inspiring a broader community with his knowledge.
Vishnusankar S
(Program Manager, Biodiversity Studies)
Vishnusankar, a non-teaching staff member at Rajapalayam Rajus College, is affectionately known as the "Bird Man" for his expertise in birds. His passion for birds began in 2009 during his time in Chennai, where he joined friends on numerous trips to local wetlands, learning extensively about bird species. He is an active participant on social media, frequently helping to identify birds from across the Indian subcontinent. A dedicated member of ROAR even before its official launch, Vishnusankar currently serves as Program Manager for Biodiversity Studies, overseeing teams focused on various faunal groups in Rajapalayam. While birds are his main area of expertise, the team is gradually encouraging him to explore insects - a transition that has proven challenging but enjoyable. In his free time, Vishnusankar can often be found reading books, playing chess, or enjoying a game of badminton.
Hari Harish
(Conservation Store Manager)
Hari Harish, a mechanical engineer with a background in the automobile industry, transitioned to entrepreneurship by establishing a manufacturing unit for printing press chemicals in Sivakasi. Passionate about nature, he enjoys bird watching, tracking big cats on Indian safaris, stargazing, astrophotography, and exploring marine life through diving. Since ROAR’s inception in 2018, Hari has been an integral part of ROAR since its inception in 2018, contributing significantly to the organization’s diverse initiatives, including educational programs that engage and inspire students. As the Conservation Store Manager, he oversees product management and inventory while fostering partnerships with other conservation organizations. In his free time, he enjoys hitting the gym and playing volleyball.
Chandru
(Social Media Manager)
Chandru (Rahul) is currently working as an Azure Data Engineer at Deloitte in Chennai. A passionate learner and photographer, Rahul is deeply interested in capturing the beauty of various taxa, particularly butterflies, odonates, and celestial objects. His journey into macro photography began during the lockdown, which he saw as a perfect opportunity to explore his newfound interest. What started as an experiment soon turned into a fascination, especially with butterflies, and this passion led him to join ROAR in 2020. As the driving force behind ROAR’s social media presence, Rahul manages all the stories, posts, and content you see across platforms. When not immersed in work or photography, Rahul enjoys reading books and watching sci-fi movies, further feeding his curiosity and creativity.
Muthumeenarupa
(Community Manager)
MuthuMeenaRupa works as an Assistant Consultant at Tata Consultancy Services in Chennai. Her interest in butterflies and wild plants was sparked by her son’s curiosity, as they spend time observing these wonders of nature together. Meena joined ROAR during the Big Butterfly Month in 2020, a national celebration in which ROAR played a significant role with numerous events. She enjoys going on walks, capturing photographs, and actively contributing to citizen science platforms like iNaturalist. Currently serving as a community manager, Meena works closely with Rahul to oversee and engage the broader ROAR community and manage social media. In her free time, she loves embarking on solo trips to temples, where she explores their architecture, learns the stories behind them, and immerses herself in the surrounding culture.
Vinoth Pranav
(Project Lead, Biodiversity Studies)
Vinoth Pranav is a Junior Assistant at Rajapalayam Raju’s College. He joined ROAR in 2023 during the WildEarthlings event and is now serving as the Project Lead for our tiger beetle studies. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of monitoring, data collection, and research related to the organization’s biodiversity efforts. Vinoth's primary interest lies in birds, though he is passionate about about expanding his knowledge of other taxa as well. His love for nature extends to trekking and nature photography, which he enjoys during his leisure time. Outside of his work with ROAR and his nature-focused pursuits, Vinoth can often be found playing cricket or watching movies, balancing his professional and personal interests with a love for the outdoors and relaxation.
Mahendran
(Flora Consultant and Mentor)
Mahendran works in the horticulture department for the Ramco Group and has been a valuable member of ROAR since 2022. Known as our go-to expert for trees, Mahendran has consistently shared his knowledge, helping teach members about different tree species and their importance. His role in ROAR has sparked a new interest in butterflies, particularly in studying their host plants, and he has even compiled checklists related to his findings. Mahendran’s passion for trees extends beyond his professional role. He enjoys planting trees and creating new patches of greenery even during free time. He serves as a mentor for all of ROAR’s tree-related projects in Rajapalayam.
Gowthama Pandian
(Research Analyst)
Gowthama Pandian is currently pursuing his master’s in Computer Science at Rajapalayam Raju’s College and works as a software development intern at a private firm. He became involved with ROAR in 2022 during an insect-focused event co-hosted with another NGO, sparking a deep interest in entomology, especially odonates. Fascinated by dragonflies, Gowthama spends time exploring wetlands, studying these species, and sharing his knowledge with friends and fellow ROAR members.members. As a research analyst specializing in odonates in Rajapalayam, he contributes actively to ROAR’s biodiversity studies efforts. In addition to his work in wildlife, Gowthama enjoys exploring new technologies and data analysis tools and freelances as an app and website developer, blending his tech skills with his passion for innovation.
Jayesh Patel
(Field Associate)
Jayesh is a businessman in Rajapalayam with a deep-rooted interest in nature, sparked during his school days through bird walks and visits to nearby streams. Upon joining ROAR in 2022, his early fascinations were enriched with knowledge, allowing him to turn his enthusiasm into a deeper understanding of the local biodiversity. He now dedicates his time to the organization, gaining experience in the flora and fauna of the area. Outside of work, Jayesh enjoys hiking, gardening, and watching anime. He has a particular passion for trees and butterflies.
Pandiyaraj
(Field Associate)
Pandiyaraj is a BBA graduate currently working as an event photographer at a studio in Rajapalayam. His connection to nature began one day when he simply found himself drawn to the beauty of the natural world around his home. Unconcerned with labels or classifications, he simply enjoyed the presence of nature and spent time appreciating it. Over time, this appreciation grew into a passion for photography, which further deepened his love for the natural world. He joined ROAR in early 2024 during the City Nature Challenge and quickly developed an interest in odonates. As a Research Assistant, he contributes to ROAR’s odonate studies. Outside of his work with ROAR, Pandiyaraj enjoys creating content, sharing his photos and videos on citizen science platforms and YouTube.
Suresh
(Field Associate)
Suresh is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Rajapalayam Raju’s College. He joined ROAR in 2023 and has since been an active participant in our various programs, developing a special interest in butterflies and odonates. As a member of our research team, Suresh contributes to the study of insects, helping document and understand the local fauna. Outside of his academic and research commitments, Suresh enjoys exploring creative pursuits. In his free time, he loves listening to audiobooks, writing lyrics, and experimenting with 2D animation and filmmaking.
