L. Krishnamoorthy
Wildlife Service Awards 2024
L. Krishnamoorthy
Indian Forest Service officer, leader, conservationist
Wildlife conservation is like crafting a mosaic – each seemingly broken piece contributes to a greater, vibrant whole. In Madhya Pradesh, Indian Forest Services officer L. Krishnamoorthy has been the artist, shaping the now-thriving forests of the Satpura Tiger Reserve that has turned into a national beacon for conservation. Krishnamoorthy’s journey began in the forests of Krishanagiri, Tamil Nadu, where a childhood fascination with nature led him to pursue a B.Sc. in Forestry and to later join the Indian Forest Service in 1997.
Today, as the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Madhya Pradesh, his leadership has left a lasting impact on wildlife and local communities alike.
Under his stewardship, the Satpura Tiger Reserve ranked second in the 2022 Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves, and Krishnamoorthy’s success with voluntary village relocation has expanded the inviolate spaces essential for the survival of wildlife. He has strengthened ecotourism activities in Satpura, and has institutionalised habitat management practices.
Working with village elders, he successfully oversaw the relocation of nine villages, thus ensuring that endangered species like the tiger, barasingha and their coinhabitants were given undisturbed habitats. He followed this up with development work in the relocated sites resulting in the resettled communities becoming ambassadors for others who were considering whether or not to opt for relocation. Meanwhile, all the 18 villages, formally categorised as Revenue Villages inside the tiger reserve, were notified as Reserved Forests under the India Forest Act 1927. These efforts have paid off: Satpura’s tiger population has increased from 41 in 2018 to 61 in 2023. Krishnamoorthy’s work in wildlife protection earned Satpura the 2022 TX2 Award (WWF’s ambitious global tiger recovery effort award ). The population of sambar, gaur, chital and wild pigs has also increased many fold. The team was able to successfully establish a second home for barasingha in Satpura by following barasingha-specific habitat management.
Krishnamoorthy also works closely with local communities, fostering conservation awareness and creating livelihood opportunities. Under his leadership, the first-ever batch of women safari guides was inducted, and ecotourism was streamlined to support local economies. By addressing human-wildlife conflict and cultivating a culture of conservation, he has ensured the interests of both people and wildlife are safeguarded.
Krishnamoorthy implemented the Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES) programme, turning Satpura into one of the best-patrolled parks in India. His proactive use of digitisation – mapping forest blocks and reducing land disputes – has greatly bolstered conservation efforts and his dedication and visionary leadership continues to inspire future generations of conservationists.
L. Krishnamoorthy’s passion for wildlife conservation and community involvement, has set high standards for other states and Protected Areas that are jewels in the crown of India’s rich natural heritage. For being an astute forester, an empathetic leader, and a driver of change in the service of the wild, Sanctuary honours him!