Career & Professional Service

• Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.) from Madras Veterinary College, completing his veterinary education during 1984–1989.
• Dr. K. Asokan joined the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department as a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in 1990. He served as a Farm Manager and Extension Officer and contributed to Panchayat Union Rural Development, Tsunami rehabilitation, livelihood programmes, Mahalir Thittam, and Vazhndhu Kattuvom projects. His experience also includes marine sea turtle and wild animal conservation, combining veterinary expertise with rural development, community welfare, and wildlife protection..
• From 1996 to 2000, Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan served as a Wildlife Veterinarian at Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Theppakadu Elephant Camp, gaining extensive hands-on experience in elephant healthcare, treatment, management, and rehabilitation..
• From 2005 to 2010, Dr. K. Asokan served as a veterinarian in Nagapattinam District and worked as a Project Coordinator and Resource Person for NGO initiatives under Vazhndhu Kattuvom, Mahalir Thittam, and IFARD projects. He contributed to coastal livelihood development, disaster management, health and sanitation, environmental and marine pollution awareness, tree plantation, and grassland development at the rural level. He also supported sea turtle conservation and participated in post-mortem investigations of sea turtles, whales, and dolphins, contributing to marine wildlife conservation and environmental awareness.
• From 2011 to 2014, Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan served as the Zoo Director of V.O.C. Mini Zoological Park, Coimbatore Corporation, overseeing zoo management, animal care, welfare, and conservation activities.
• From 2016 to 2022, Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan served as a Forest Veterinary Officer at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, contributing to emergency wildlife rescue, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, wildlife disease investigation, rehabilitation, and field-based research. Continues as a wildlife researcher, environmental educator, professional speaker, trainer, and conservation advocate.

• From 1996 to 2000, Dr. Krishnamoorthy Asokan served as a Wildlife Veterinarian at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, providing dedicated veterinary care and contributing significantly to wildlife rescue, treatment, disease investigation, elephant management, and conservation. During this period, he was responsible for the veterinary care and management of 27 elephants at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp, including the successful rearing and rehabilitation of orphan elephant calves and the management of two captive elephant calves that were weaned from their mothers at about two years of age. His dedicated work in orphan calf rearing was appreciated through a letter of appreciation from Dr. V. Krishnamoorthy, recognizing his professional commitment and care in raising young elephants.
• He treated and rescued numerous wild animals from life-threatening conditions and conducted necropsies of wild animals to determine causes of death and identify diseases. His field investigations contributed to the identification of various diseases and internal worm infestations in captive and wild elephants, supporting improved wildlife healthcare and management. During necropsies of spotted deer and sambar deer, plastic carry bags were found in their digestive systems, demonstrating the harmful impact of plastic waste on wildlife. In 1998, he was involved in the capture and management of the wild tuskless male elephant “Makhna”, and he also participated in the rescue and treatment of a wild elephant affected by electric shock, regarded as an important wildlife rescue effort in Tamil Nadu. In recognition of his outstanding service, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department awarded him a Merit Certificate in 1998, and his name was recommended for the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Award. His service during this period represents a significant contribution to wildlife veterinary medicine, orphan elephant calf rearing, elephant healthcare, wildlife rescue, disease diagnosis, and wildlife conservation in Tamil Nadu.

• As Zoo Director of V.O.C. Park Mini Zoo, Coimbatore Corporation (2011–2014), Dr. Krish Asokan strengthened zoo management through improved animal healthcare, breeding, conservation, rescue and environmental education. When he assumed charge, the zoo housed approximately 445 animals. During his tenure, he introduced scientific animal management practices that supported animal welfare, improved captive breeding, enriched enclosures and strengthened veterinary care.
• He also expanded conservation education through wildlife awareness programmes, school outreach activities and public exhibitions, inspiring thousands of students and visitors to appreciate biodiversity and wildlife conservation. The later increase in the zoo’s animal population to approximately 890 animals by 2014 reflects the zoo’s subsequent development and should not be attributed directly to his 2011–2014 tenure.
• During his tenure, Dr. Asokan also strengthened the zoo’s role in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. In collaboration with the Forest Department and other agencies, the facility supported the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and release of injured wildlife, including more than 1,000 birds and over 3,000 snakes, as documented in his professional record. He also conducted the first State-Level Snake Rescue Volunteer Training Programme at V.O.C. Park Mini Zoo, Tamil Nadu, helping develop practical skills among snake rescue volunteers and promoting safe, scientific approaches to wildlife rescue.
• In recognition of his contributions to zoo management, wildlife conservation and veterinary service, Dr. Krishnamoorthy Asokan was nominated in 2014 for the RBS Earth Heroes Award by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. His initiatives helped strengthen V.O.C. Park Mini Zoo as a centre for animal healthcare, wildlife rescue, conservation education and public engagement, while his volunteer-training efforts contributed to greater community participation in wildlife conservation.

As Zoo Director of V.O.C. Mini Zoological Park, Coimbatore Corporation, from 2011 to 2014, Dr. Asokan strengthened animal healthcare, conservation, and public education. Under his leadership, the zoo’s animal population increased from 485 in 2011 to 980 in 2014 through improved breeding and management practices.

He performed numerous surgeries on birds and reptiles, enhanced preventive and clinical veterinary care, supported captive breeding programmes, and organized wildlife conservation and environmental awareness programmes for students and the public.

• From 2016 to 2022, Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan served as a Forest Veterinary Officer at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, providing multidisciplinary veterinary care to a wide range of wildlife. He treated and managed reptiles, birds, Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Hedgehogs, Chameleons, Indian Fruit Bats, Leopards, and snakes, in addition to responding to wildlife emergencies and human–wildlife conflict. His work also included wildlife disease investigation, snake research, rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation, demonstrating broad expertise in multispecies wildlife veterinary medicine.
• Ammu – The Elephant Calf Behind an Oscar-Winning Story
• Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan’s experience in elephant healthcare, orphaned calf care, rehabilitation, and human–elephant relationships contributed to the broader understanding of compassionate elephant conservation. The story of Raghu and Ammu, portrayed in the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers, brought international attention to the dedicated care of orphaned elephant calves and the importance of conservation-based rehabilitation.
• Snake Research and Surgery
• Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Asokan has developed extensive experience in snake research, rescue, treatment, and surgery, including the management of injured and medically compromised snakes. His work combines field-based research with practical veterinary surgery, contributing to improved understanding, treatment, rehabilitation, and conservation of snakes

Dr. Asokan has actively conducted training and awareness programmes for Forest Department personnel, snake rescue volunteers, veterinarians, students, and the general public. His programmes focus on wildlife rescue techniques, safe snake handling, emergency response, first aid for injured wildlife, human–wildlife coexistence, biodiversity conservation, and scientific wildlife management through lectures, practical demonstrations, and field-based training.

His dedicated efforts have enhanced the knowledge and skills of wildlife rescuers and promoted public awareness of the ecological importance of wildlife conservation, helping reduce human–wildlife conflict and encourage responsible environmental stewardship.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to environmental education and wildlife conservation awareness, Dr. Asokan received the Sudar Oli Viruthu from the Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests in 2021.

• Dr. Krishnamoorthy Asokan has actively contributed to scientific knowledge exchange, professional capacity building, and continuous learning throughout his career. His participation in training programmes, webinars, workshops, conferences, and knowledge-sharing initiatives has strengthened his expertise and enabled him to share scientific and professional knowledge with colleagues, students, field staff, and other stakeholders.
• His professional development reflects a commitment to updating scientific knowledge, adopting new approaches, strengthening institutional capacity, and promoting evidence-based practices in wildlife conservation, veterinary science, environmental management, disaster management, and community development.

• In 2019, Dr. Asokan received a Lead Speaker Certificate from Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Chennai, for a presentation titled “Threats for Snakes – An Overview” at an international conference addressing the role of veterinary science in farmers’ livelihood. The lecture highlighted the ecological importance of snakes, major conservation challenges, and the role of veterinary science in reptile rescue and management.

  In 2024, he was honoured with a Best Paper Presentation Award at the Livestock Health & Farmers’ Wealth International Conference for research on Indian Rock Python radio telemetry and its contribution to reptile ecology, wildlife veterinary science, and evidence-based conservation.

  In 2022, he served as a guest speaker at a Tamil Nadu Snake Rescuers Meet associated with the University of Reading, United Kingdom, providing technical guidance to more than 200 snake rescue volunteers on safe rescue, clinical management, conservation, and scientific handling of reptiles.

Mobile veterinary units patrolling forest fringes play a vital role in wildlife conservation by establishing an epidemiological barrier through routine livestock vaccination against diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Anthrax. Targeted prophylactic camps, together with systematic deworming programmes for domestic animals, help prevent pathogen and parasite spillover into vulnerable wild populations.

Equipped with rapid-response tools and emergency medical supplies, mobile units also provide on-site trauma care, disease surveillance, first response, and conflict-mitigation support directly at forest boundaries.