Pushp Kumar

The innovative open zoo designer

Pushp Kumar (IFS, 1960 batch) was synonymous with zoo management in our country. He dedicated his entire service for wildlife by first working as Curator & Director of Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad for more than 25 years and also as Conservator of Forests and Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in the State of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Way back in the early 1980s, he would be training IFS probationers on “Carl Hagenback ‘s moated enclosures, bar-less displays, and zoos in natural settings “. His mastery over zoo science with years of field experience, abounding passion, and creativity made him a true architect to “design with nature”.

Pushp Kumar has contributed immensely to foster ex-situ conservation in our country. There are several milestones to his credit, viz. designing of modern Dr. Rajesh Gopal, IFS (retd) and inputs from the team at NZP, Hyderabad (Sri. A. Shankaran, OSD(Wildlife), Dr Naveen Kumar, Dy. Director (Vet) (Retd) & Sri. Sekhar Reddy, ACF (Retd)

zoos at Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, strengthening management of the Hyderabad zoo, providing planning inputs in several zoos (Chandigarh, Chennai, Pune), apart from handling the Project Crocodile breeding and training centre at Hyderabad, during its formative years.

He contributed immensely to in-situ conservation also. A majority of 27 Protected Areas in the State was created and notified during his period. He ensured that all types of habitats including wetlands were represented in the PA network. A man of impeccable integrity who never punished his subordinates he also had a keen sense of humour. He shall be remembered for institutionalizing the concept of modern zoos, designed in near-natural setting.