Dr C. Zupeni Tsanglai, a 2013-batch Indian Forest Service officer of the Nagaland cadre and Director of Nagaland Zoological Park, is working across wildlife conservation, forest restoration, species recovery and conservation breeding. A veterinarian with a Master’s degree in Veterinary Science and a former scientist with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), she believes conservation must go beyond protecting forests and keeping animals in captivity.
Her approach combines scientific methods with traditional knowledge and community participation, with the larger goal of restoring ecosystems and enabling wildlife to return to suitable natural habitats. At Nagaland Zoological Park, she advocates treating captive animals as living species whose physical health, psychological well-being and natural behaviour must be protected.
Conservation Beyond Captivity
For Dr Tsanglai, managing wildlife in captivity is a complex responsibility. “The challenge is not just keeping the animals alive in captivity; we also have to maintain their physical health, psychological well-being, and natural behaviour,” she told Indian Masterminds.
Her veterinary background and experience in animal science have shaped this approach. As Director and Officer-in-Charge of Nagaland Zoological Park, she oversees animal welfare, conservation-breeding programmes, rescue and rehabilitation, scientific studies and public-awareness initiatives.
She also sees the zoo as having a wider conservation role. Rather than functioning only as a recreational space, she wants Nagaland Zoological Park to develop as a regional conservation centre supporting scientific wildlife-management programmes across Northeast India.
Restoring Forests With Communities
Her experience in Tuensang reinforced her belief that forest restoration cannot succeed without local participation. In Nagaland, forests have traditionally supported communities, while jhum cultivation remains an important livelihood for many rural households.
“Restoration cannot simply be imposed as a departmental plantation programme. We need to approach the communities properly,” she said.
Her approach involves working with village institutions, creating awareness and exploring alternative livelihood opportunities through coordination with other government departments. She believes restoration should not be judged only by the number of saplings planted, but by whether forests can regenerate naturally and communities are willing to protect them over time.
Dr Tsanglai also emphasises traditional ecological knowledge. “They know their forest very well — every corner of it,” she said, arguing that scientific knowledge of afforestation should be combined with communities’ understanding of their landscapes.
This approach has relevance beyond forest restoration. In June 2026, a village in Nagaland’s Peren district declared a community-conserved area to protect habitat of the Asiatic golden cat. Such initiatives demonstrate how local stewardship can complement formal conservation efforts.
From Breeding Programmes To Wild Habitats
Dr Tsanglai believes conservation breeding must ultimately contribute to wildlife recovery in natural habitats. Breeding threatened species in captivity is only one stage of the process. Healthy and genetically diverse populations, suitable release sites, behavioural assessments and long-term monitoring are all essential before reintroduction can be considered.
The Central Zoo Authority’s inspection of Nagaland Zoological Park in 2022 also reviewed its conservation-breeding and rescue programmes and provided recommendations on improving facilities and future breeding efforts.
Her larger vision connects captive conservation with habitat protection. Wildlife cannot be sustainably recovered if the forests and landscapes they depend on remain degraded or fragmented.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Dr Tsanglai’s approach reminds us that conservation is ultimately about relationships: between people and forests, communities and wildlife, and scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom. Protecting biodiversity requires more than planting trees or maintaining animals in enclosures. It requires restoring habitats while ensuring that communities living alongside them have a meaningful role in protecting them.
A model built on science, empathy and community ownership could help make conservation a shared responsibility rather than a departmental exercise. Can stronger partnerships between communities, conservationists and governments help India build a more sustainable future for both people and wildlife?
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