English edition01 / 03
2026 · Conservation series
Enriching Lives
Brij Kishor GuptaBKG
2026PDF
Enriching Lives
A digital book by Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta, available to read and download from Google Drive.
M.Sc., Ph.D · Wildlife conservation · Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
Science for
wildlife.
Brij Kishor Gupta is a conservation scientist and zoo planner whose work spans animal welfare, environmental enrichment, rescue and rehabilitation, conservation breeding, and the design of institutions that help species thrive.
Currently
Director, Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre
Since August 2019
Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar
Research & publications
Profiles and publication record
A life in conservation
The journey.
Field conservation
A career shaped by close attention to wildlife.
Books & guides
Practical tools for better zoos.
Selected books and planning resources authored or co-authored by Dr. Gupta. Open a title to read it online or download the complete PDF.
Books open in Google Drive for online reading and download.
Russian edition02 / 03
2008 · Conservation series
Barrier Design in Zoos
Brij Kishor GuptaBKG
2008PDF
Barrier Design in Zoos
Recommendations for designing safe, naturalistic barriers that support animal welfare and meaningful visitor experiences.
English edition03 / 03
2006 · Conservation series
Zoo Master Planning: Definitions and Process
Brij Kishor GuptaBKG
2006PDF
Zoo Master Planning: Definitions and Process
Co-authored training proceedings on master planning, exhibit design, management, and conservation planning.
35+
years in wildlife conservation
11
books and proceedings
100+
research articles
106+
popular articles and notes
Research focus
Designing for life.
A career connecting field biology, zoo planning, conservation policy, and the lived experience of animals in human care.
Zoo design & master planning
Authored India’s national barrier-design and enclosure standards and taught zoo planning to architects and forest officers for two decades.
Environmental enrichment & welfare
Doctoral work on rescued sloth bears in Agra became a model for enriching the lives of animals in human care.
Rescue, rehabilitation & reintroduction
From India’s dancing-bear rehabilitation to red panda releases and the animals of the circus.
Ex situ conservation breeding
Two decades at the Central Zoo Authority evaluating zoos and shaping India’s conservation breeding initiative.
Herpetology & amphibian conservation
Captive breeding of Indian frogs, geckos, and monitors, and ex situ management plans for amphibians in Indian zoos.
Wildlife trade & biodiversity surveys
Field surveys of monitor lizard, turtle, bird, and bear trade, and raptor and herpetofauna surveys across India.
Research & publications
Profiles and publication record
Career & formation
A life in conservation.
From the Bombay Natural History Society and WWF India to the Central Zoo Authority and Greens Centre.
2019 – present
Director
Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat
2003 – 2019
Evaluation & Monitoring Officer
Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi
2001 – 2003
Rescue Facility Manager
Agra Bear Rescue Facility, Wildlife S.O.S
1999 – 2001
Scientist
Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi
1993 – 1998
Development Officer
Coimbatore Zoological Park & Conservation Centre, Tamil Nadu
1992
Assistant Project Officer
WWF India, New Delhi
1991
Research Fellow
Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai
Selected publications
A record of practice.
Books, standards, research papers, and field notes from a career shaping conservation in India.
Open Google Scholar2022
Books & proceedings
Ex situ Management of Amphibians in Indian Zoos
Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. 102 pp. With K. Vasudevan, S. Barkha, G. Venu, M. Gowri, and L. Gonsalves
2017
Books & proceedings
Enriching Lives: Improving the Wellbeing of Captive Animals
196 pp.
2015
Books & proceedings
Ex situ Management of Amphibians
Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, Guwahati. 71 pp. With B. Tapley, K. Vasudevan, and M. Goetz
2014
Books & proceedings
Zoos in India
Central Zoo Authority. 271 pp. Edited with I. Dhamija and D. Kumar
2012
Books & proceedings
Guidelines on Minimum Dimensions of Enclosures Housing Exotic Animals of Different Species
Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi
2010
Books & proceedings
Ex-situ Wildlife Conservation, Marketing, Fund-Raising and Resource Management
Central Zoo Authority and Zoological Garden, Alipore
2010
Books & proceedings
Barrier Designs for Zoos (Russian edition)
Translated edition
2008
Books & proceedings
Barrier Designs for Zoos
Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi. 100 pp.
2008
Books & proceedings
Proceedings of the International Conference on India’s Conservation Breeding Initiative
Central Zoo Authority. 494 pp.
2007
Books & proceedings
Master Planning of Zoos
Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar. 320 pp.
1998
Books & proceedings
Captive Care of Common Indian Frogs and Toads
Coimbatore Zoological Park and Conservation Centre. 27 pp.
2012
Zoo design & planning
Tigers of Ranthambore
Zoolex Newsletter
2010
Zoo design & planning
Planning and Management of Zoos in India
Indian Zoo Yearbook, Vol. VI, pp. 1–31
2008
Zoo design & planning
Zoo Master Planning
Journal of Landscape Architecture, Vol. 5(4), pp. 24–32
2007
Zoo design & planning
Zoo Master Planning Processes
In Master Planning of Zoos, Central Zoo Authority, pp. 299–308
2005
Zoo design & planning
Creating Wildlife Habitats
A+D Architectural Design, Vol. XXII(2), pp. 24–31
Education
2007
Doctor of Philosophy
Behavioural studies on the bear population at the Bear Rehabilitation Centre, Agra, to develop a model for environmental enrichment
2000
Short-term course, Zoo Planning, Design & Landscape Architecture
School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi
1990
M.Sc. Zoology (Environmental Zoology)
Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed University), Agra
1987
Post Graduate Diploma in Ecology and Environment
Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Patna
1986
Bachelor of Science
Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed University), Agra
Honors
2025
AJ Higginbottom Scholarship
Zoological Association of America
2019
Felicitation for contribution to zoo design and exhibit enrichment
Central Zoo Authority & Nandankanan Zoological Park
2016
Animal Protection Hero
Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations
2010
International Conservation Award
Association of Zoos & Aquariums, USA
2009
International Animal Rights Leadership Award
PETA
2008
Fellow, National Academy of Biological Sciences
Elected Fellow
2007
Proggy Award for Animal Welfare Scientist
PETA
1996
Gerald Durrell Memorial Fund
United Kingdom
1991
Smithsonian Institution Fellowship
USA
Teaching
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
M.Sc. Wildlife, diploma and certificate courses, and the compulsory course for Indian Forest Service officers (2005–2018)
Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
M.Arch (Recreational Architecture) students (2009–2018)
Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi
Zoo managers and supervisors (2000–2019)
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, UK
Guest faculty
School of Herpetology, Wildlife Institute of India
Guest faculty
Connect & collaborate
Good conservation begins with a better question.
For research, teaching, conservation planning, or professional enquiries.