Chirantana Mathkari

Dr. Chirantana Mathkari is a veterinarian-turned-anthrozoologist whose academic interests lie in examining human-animal interactions through the interdisciplinary lens of One Wellbeing. A certified University of Maryland Teaching and Learning Program practitioner, she enjoys utilizing her pedagogical skills to teach fundamental and advanced courses in anthrozoology and animal behavior. Throughout her career, Dr. Mathkari has worked with an array of animals, including red-footed tortoises, white tigers, Asian elephants, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, Japanese quail, cows, sheep, pigs, and humans! Human treatment of an animal impacts not only the human’s wellbeing, but also that of the animal and the environment. Dr. Mathkari researches the human, animal, and environmental aspects of conventional and non-conventional human-animal interactions. Using interdisciplinary approaches, she studies the socio-cultural impact of the contemporary Hindu beliefs that regard the cow as holy, that bestow upon her the status of a life-nourishing mother, and that are responsible for the widespread cow slaughter ban in India. Dr. Mathkari uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze how these religious beliefs influence the wellbeing of Indian cows, humans, and society. 

An ecofeminist at heart, Dr. Mathkari is a published writer of animal-centric short fiction. She enjoys swimming, biking, cooking healthy food, and helping with community food outreach. Dr. Mathkari lives in Tonawanda, NY, with her husband, their many plants, and (believe it or not) zero pets.

Awards

• Dean’s Research Travel Fellowship 2024-25, Canisius University, Buffalo, NY.
• Dean’s Research Travel Fellowship 2023-24, Canisius University, Buffalo, NY.
• Shaffner Award for Research in Poultry 2021-22, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
• 3-Minute-Thesis Competition Winner (Agriculture and Natural Resources) 2021-22, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
• Certificate of Excellence Award for Oral Presentation 2020-21, Poultry Science Association, Champaign, IL.
• Shaffner Award for Research in Poultry 2020-21, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
• Outstanding Graduate Student (Animal Sciences) 2019-20, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
• Academic Excellence Scholarship (Natural Sciences) 2017-18, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK.

Publications

Mathkari, C. (2026). The ‘Cultured’ Cow: Analyzing the Role of the Cow’s Acclaimed Holiness in Indians’ Dairy Consumption Intentions. Animals, 16(5), 769.

Mathkari, C. (2025). The Cow Paradox—A Scoping Review of Dairy Bovine Welfare in India using the Five Freedoms. Animals, 15(3), 454.

Mathkari, C. and Dennis R. (2022) Two are Better than One?: Effects of Environmental Enrichment Combinations on Well-being Measures in Colony-caged Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica). In the PSA Annual meeting, San Antonio, Texas, USA (July 11–14 2022).

Mathkari, C. (2022) The Mustard Fields. In Of Dry Tongues and Brave Hearts, Red River Publications, ISBN: 9788195305681.

Mathkari, C. and Dennis R. (2021) What are the Birds Playing with?: Effects of Environmental Enrichments on Well-being Measures in Colony-caged Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica). Poultry Science, 101(E-Suppl. 1), 9.

Mills, D. S., Demontigny-Bédard, I., Gruen, M., Klinck, M. P., McPeake, K. J., Barcelos, A. M., ... & Mathkari, C. (2020) Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals, 10(2), 318.

Nighot, N. K., Mote, C. S., Jadhav, R. V., More, B. K., Bansal, N., & Mathkari, C. (2012) Clinico-therapeutic Aspects of Babesiosis in a White Tigress (Panthera tigris tigris). Zoos Print J, 27, 19-20.