Mr. K. J. Varughese’s journey in conservation began with his selection to the Indian Forest Service, leading to a distinguished 34-year career in the Kerala cadre. Over the decades, he emerged as a steadfast guardian of forests, culminating his service in 2017 as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Kerala.
Retirement, however, marked not an end but a renewed purpose. Entrusted by the Government of Kerala with an ambitious vision, he took on the challenge of creating a world-class Zoological Park in Thrissur and an Elephant Park in Thiruvananthapuram. What followed was eight years of tireless dedication—shaping landscapes, building institutions, and setting new benchmarks in conservation infrastructure aligned with international standards.
Today, his legacy stands not only in the forests he protected, but in the living ecosystems he helped create—spaces where wildlife, people, and conservation converge for generations to come.