Administrative officers


Mr.A.Udhayan, I.F.S.,

Mr.A. Udhayan, I.F.S., has been the Director of the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Vandalur in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department since 14th June 2022. He belongs to 1991 batch of Indian Forest Service of Tamilnadu.

He holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from Jawarharlal University, New Delhi, and Post Graduate diploma in wildlife Management from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management, Indian Institute of India, Bangalore

He has several years of experience in the field of wildlife and biodiversity conservation, having worked in various positions in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

He had also served as Principal of the Eastern Forest Rangers College in Kurseong on deputation. As Deputy Director of the Forest Survey of India, as a Scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, and a Specialist at the SAARC Forestry Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan

Most recently, he served as Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.


Nihar Ranjan, I.F.S.,
Additional Director

Nihar Ranjan has joined as Additional Director of the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Vandalur on 18th June, 2022. He is an Indian Forest Service Officer (2001 Batch - Tamilnadu Cadre).

Nihar is an Engineer (B. Tech in Electrical Engineering). He graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, Varanasi. He also holds Master’s degree in Forest management from FRI Deemed University. Having worked in various positions in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, as DFO/CF/CCF, he has nearly two decades of experience in the field of Conservation of Forests & Wildlife. Also, he is experienced in management of Tiger Reserve (he was Field Director of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve) and captive wildlife management (he has served as Deputy Director of Arignar Anna Zoological Park for nearly 2 years) and also working in Corporations (he has served as General Manager and then as Managing Director of Arasu Rubber Corporation for nearly 2 years).


Thiru.M.G.Ganesan
Deputy Director

Thiru.M.G.Ganesan has been the Deputy Director of Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Vandalur in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department since 12th October 2022. He received his M.Sc Agri from Govind Ballabh Pant Agricultural University and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, Uttrakand and joined as Agriculture officer in 2009. Earlier he served as ACF in Squad and Vigilance unit at Virudhunagar circle where he had handled many marine offences. He has also served as Eco-development officer in KMTR and as DD at ATR and handled tribal issues, Man-animal conflict and tiger cub rewildling for the first time in Tamil Nadu.

Dr.A.Manimozhi,M.Sc.,M.Phile.,Phd.,B.ed.,
Scientict "C",AWIC, Vandalur.

Dr.A.Manimozhi

Co-ordinator of research unit


Dr. D. Vasantha kumari
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon

M.V.Sc. Veterinary and Animal husbandry extension, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai

Co-ordinator of research unit


Dr. Pradeep Anbazhagan
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon

B.V.Sc. and PGD ( Wildlife Disease Management), Madras Veterinary College, Chennai

Co-ordinator of research unit


R.K.Nivedhitha
JRF Morphometry Lab

PG in Environmental Sciences from PSG College of Arts and Sciences Coimbatore.


Evangeline D
Junior Research Fellow (Morphometric Lab)

M.Sc Wildlife Biology AVC College Mayiladuthurai

Ph.D Zoology (Board field Entomology) Queen Mary's College Chennai



Subhashree G
Junior Research Fellow (DNA Forensic Lab)

M.Sc Biomedical Genetics, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Taramani Chennai





M. Prema
Laboratory Assistant

B.Sc. Zoology

Assistant at Morphometry lab - Centre for Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Animal care lab – Centre for Animal Care Sciences


Dr. C. Bala Amarnath.,
Project Scientist

Dr. C. Bala Amarnath done his PhD in Biotechnology and Pathology from ICAR - Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, TamilNadu and the Doctoral degree awarded by the University of Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu. He was the Scientific Officer in Orbito Asia Diagnostics, Chennai, Tamilnadu and he has wide experience in the molecular diagnostic platform via Real-time PCR, Development of Monoclonal Antibodies, and RNAi technology. Currently, he is working as a Scientist (TANII Project); his research is devoted to the Development of a LAMP-ELISA detection system for Anthrax and Tuberculosis infection in Elephants, Deer, and Gaur. He has qualified for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) – 2016 -Biotechnology; awarded the Department of Biotechnology (Govt. Of India) fellowship for pursuing the Advance Post Graduate Diploma in Molecular Diagnostics. Also, he has secured 60th Rank in the All India Biotechnology talent search by Biotech Helpline Foundation. 


DR. Kalaiarasan
Project Scientist

Dr. Kalaiyarasan obtained his PhD from DRDO-Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh, J&K, India in the field of Nanobiotechnology. He was a Scientist at ICMR- Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh, Assam; Project Scientist (World Health Organization) at CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi and Project Scientist at Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Punjab. Currently, he is working as a Scientist (TANII Project); his research focuses on the Identification of modified or altered or degraded meat derivatives of deer species to the species level using high though put DNA high-resolution melt. He has been awarded DRDO-Fellowship-2015, GATE-2013, CSIR-NET-2015 and Building Bharat-Boston Biosciences (B4) Young Scientist by South Asia Institute, Harvard University and Department of Biotechnology, India.


Dr. A. MuhsinaThunnisa
Project Scientist

Dr. Muhsina obtained her PhD from the Molecular Biology Lab, Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, Government Arts College (GAC), Ooty affiliated with Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. At GAC, she described three new species and re-described two species of Springtails from India. At present, she works as a Scientist under APO projects; her work mainly focusing the STR-based genetic database of leopards for geographic assignment in wildlife forensics & determination of population genetic structure. She has been awarded Maulana Azard National Fellowship, University Grants Commission, New Delhi.


Dr. Nittu George
Project Scientist

Dr. Nittu George pursued her PhD in Zoology (Wildlife Biology) from Government Arts College (GAC), Ooty. At GAC, she worked on the ‘genetic study of Bengal Tigers of Western Ghats’. Keeping in view of 'establishing the molecular wildlife forensic techniques. Post PhD she also worked as an Associate Researcher, at GAC, Ooty. Presently, she is working as a Scientist under APO Project and her research emphasizes the use of molecular techniques for the identification of species and geographical origin of organisms from seized products in the wildlife trade.


Dr. T.T. Shameer
Project Scientist

Dr. T.T. Shameer completed his PhD in Wildlife biology from Government Arts College (GAC), Ooty affiliated with Bharathiar University. He has extensive expertise in areas of Landscape Ecology, Population Ecology, Community Ecology, Ecological Modelling, Climate Change etc. He was a researcher at the Wildlife Institute of India, United Nations Development Programme, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Kerala Forest Department and Andra Pradesh Forest Department. He studied various aspects (i.e. interspecific interaction, population estimation, species distribution) of carnivores i.e., Tiger (Panthera tigris) to small cats like a Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). Currently, he is working as a scientist at the centre for conservation education and his research focuses on Human-wildlife Conflict and Wet Land Bird Monitoring.


Dr M. Gabriel Paulraj
Project Scientist

Dr. Paulraj acquired his Ph.D. in Zoology from Bharathidasan University, Trichy in 2001; B.Sc. in Zoology and M.Sc.in Zoology from St Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. He was a Scientist at Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, from 2003 to 2021 and Scientist at G.S. Gill Research Institute, Guru Nanak College, Chennai, from 2021 to 2022. Currently, he is working as a Scientist under APO projects; his research work is primarily focusing on ‘Surveillance of Chronic kidney disease by analysis of serum symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA) in captive tigers of AAZP’ and ‘Hematological and biochemical assessment of health in camp elephants in Anamalai and Mudhumalai Elephant camps’.

A.Antony Jenitha
Junior Research Fellow (DNA Lab)

B.Tech and M.Tech in Biopharmaceutical Technology from Anna University, Chennai


Divya Bharathi
Junior Research Fellow (TANII project)

M.Sc in Biotechnology from Jaya Arts and Science College, Thiruninravur.

B.Sc in Biotechnology from Valliammal Arts and Science College, Chennai.


R. Karunyaa
Junior Research Fellow (TANII project)

M.Sc in Applied Genetics from Bangalore University

B.Sc in Spl.Zoology specialization in Biotechnology from Lady Doak College


M.Riaz Shetiff
Junior Research Fellow (APO Project)

B.Sc Geology from V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin

M.Sc Geology from V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin


T.Arvind Prabhu
Junior Research Fellow (TANII)

B.Tech in Biotechnology from Velsuniversity, Chennai.

M.Tech in Biotechnology from Sree Satha Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chennai.


D.Divinia Juanita
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc in Zoology from Madras Christian College, Chennai

B.Sc in Zoology from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore


Priyambada Routray
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc in Zoology from Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

B.Sc in Zoology from PN Autonomous College, Khordha, Odisha.


R. Madeswaran
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc in Zoology from University of Madras, Chennai.

B.Sc in Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology from Guru Nanak College, Chennai


Pavithra Rajkumar
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc in Zoology from University of Madras, Chennai.

B.Sc in Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology from Queen Mary's College, Chennai.


Rithvik Sri Datta Nirmal M
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc in Biotechnology from Pondichery University, Ponidcherry

B.Sc in Biotechnology from Achariya Arts and Science College, Pondicherry


P. Sandhya
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc and B.Sc in Zoology (Specialization in Biotechnology) from Lady Doak College, Madurai.


R.Uma Maheswari
Project Assistant (APO Project)

M.Sc in Biotechnology from Alagappa University, Karaikudi

B.Sc in Biotechnology from JJ College of Arts and Science, Pudukkottai


Ashoken Jagadeesh
Laboratory Assistant (DNA Lab)

B.Sc in Biotechnology from Vels’s University, Chennai.


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R.Krishnammal
Superintendent
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S.Selvanayagi
Assistant
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S.Vijayakumari
Junior Assistant
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M.Karthic
Junior Assistant
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Mariammal
Steno Typist
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M. Rajvel
Typist
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M.Dinesh
Office Assistant
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K.Banumathi
Office Assistant
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J.P. Devichitra
Multi Tasking Staff