P. Pugazhendi assumes charge as Kerala’s chief wildlife warden

P. Pugazhendi, a 1996 batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, has officially assumed charge as the chief wildlife warden (CWW) of Kerala. 

Dr. Pugazhendi, who is also principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), holds a postgraduate degree in Forestry from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and a PhD in Forest Biodiversity Conservation from the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun. He is an expert in the field of scientific management of teak plantations across Malabar and Travancore regions. 

Dr. Pugazhendi has served as conservator of forests (human resource development) in Thiruvananthapuram and as chief conservator of forests (southern sircle, Kollam), overseeing four districts Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthittta and Alappuzha.

Beyond forestry, he has held several key administrative roles such as director of Sports and Youth Affairs, managing director of MILMA, and director of Scheduled Tribes Development.