Dr. Vijay Kumar

About

Dr. Vijay Kumar is a highly experienced wildlife veterinarian and zoo management professional with over 21 years of expertise in wildlife healthcare, conservation, and zoological operations. Currently serving as an Animal Health Manager at Al Ajban Wildlife Safari, Abu Dhabi, he oversees large-scale wildlife populations, biosecurity systems, and institutional management in one of the region’s prominent wildlife facilities.
Dr. Kumar has held key leadership roles including Wildlife Manager, Zoo Curator, Head Veterinarian, and Animal Health In-Charge across multiple zoological institutions in India and the Middle East. His professional work spans the clinical treatment, rehabilitation, and conservation of wild animals, along with strategic planning for zoo development and animal welfare.
He possesses extensive experience in chemical immobilization (darting), anesthesia, and advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures, having performed over 38,000 sterilization surgeries in free-ranging rhesus macaques. His expertise also includes managing large populations of ungulates and endangered species such as Arabian oryx, gazelles, addax, and big cats, with a strong focus on breeding programs and mortality reduction strategies.
A key contributor to wildlife conservation, Dr. Kumar has actively led rescue and rehabilitation operations, treating injured and illegally trapped animals and successfully reintroducing them into natural habitats. He has also played a pivotal role in reducing zoo animal mortality rates from 16% to 2% through systematic health surveillance and preventive care programs.
In addition to his clinical and managerial achievements, Dr. Kumar is an accomplished researcher with 40+ scientific publications in national and international journals. His research covers areas such as wildlife surgery, disease management, human-wildlife conflict, and conservation biology. He has presented his work at several national and international conferences and has been honored with a Gold Medal and multiple Best Paper Awards.
Dr. Kumar is deeply committed to education and capacity building. He has trained over 380 veterinary students and numerous zoo personnel, contributing significantly to the development of veterinary and wildlife management skills in the field.
His core competencies include:
• Wildlife medicine and surgery
• Zoo management and animal husbandry
• Biosecurity and disease surveillance
• Conservation breeding programs
• Research and scientific publication
• Staff training and institutional leadership
Dr. Kumar is a member of several professional organizations, including the IUCN Species Survival Commission, and has contributed to committees related to wildlife management and animal welfare.
With a career dedicated to animal welfare, conservation, and scientific advancement, Dr. Vijay Kumar continues to play a vital role in strengthening wildlife healthcare systems and sustainable zoo management practices at both national and international levels.

Employment

• AL AJBAN WILDLIFE
  2019 - Present

Education

• Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya BVSc & AH
  ? - 2004

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications

Publications are unavailable.