Born on 27 July 1982 in Rajasthan, Dr. Ram Ratan Nala began his professional journey with a degree in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, in 2007.
After a few years of veterinary practice, he cleared the Indian Forest Service examination and joined the Gujarat cadre on 29 September 2011. His dual training in science and service, soon became the backbone of a career dedicated to protecting the state’s forests and wildlife.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, he shared details regarding the same.
EARLY FIELD EXPERIENCE
Starting as a Range Forest Officer in Jamwala, Gir West, Dr. Nala moved through key postings as Assistant Conservator of Forests in Gir East and Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in Gir West. Each position deepened his engagement with the Asiatic lion landscape.
Later assignments took him to Sakkarbaug Zoo, Gandhinagar’s Publicity & Liaison Division, Kevadia (Ektanagar) Forest Division, and Valsad’s Social Forestry Division, where he promoted community afforestation. Since February 2025, he serves as Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle, leading critical operations across Gir and surrounding sanctuaries.
OPERATION 2366
In April 2015, intelligence hinted at a plan to sell Asiatic lion nails worth ₹7 lakh near Visavadar. Dr. Nala designed an undercover operation that became known as Operation 2366, named after the car number used during the sting.
Two frontline staff members, posing as buyers, lured the suspects into a Swift car. Following Dr. Nala’s meticulous instructions, the accused was locked inside using a child lock, neutralizing the threat even as armed accomplices fled. “It was about speed and precision,” he recalls. “Every second mattered when a lion’s life could be at stake.” The bust disrupted a wildlife crime network and set a precedent for intelligence-led enforcement in Gir.
GUARDING GIR DURING THE 2018 DISEASE OUTBREAK
When a deadly disease spread through Gir in 2018, Dr. Nala coordinated a massive surveillance and rescue operation across more than 3,000 sq. km. Teams quarantined and treated affected lions, while scientists worked on-site to contain the crisis.
His hands-on leadership ensured continuous monitoring, rapid veterinary care, and transparent reporting to both state and central authorities, stabilizing the situation before it escalated.
INNOVATIONS IN WILDLIFE HEALTHCARE
Combining veterinary expertise with forest service experience, Dr. Nala conceptualized India’s first customized Lion Ambulance, an ICU on wheels with oxygen support, ventilators, and diagnostic equipment to treat injured or sick lions directly in the field.
He also drove the creation of a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital at Sasan, introducing advanced treatment protocols and disease management systems. “If we can bring the hospital to the lion instead of the other way around, we save time, and lives,” he told Indian Masterminds.
His initiatives extended beyond healthcare: more than 200 local women gained livelihoods through cloth bag production to reduce plastic in the Sasan-Gir area, and one-day Nature Education Camps engaged students, NGOs, professionals, and media in conservation learning.
WORLD LION DAY
Recognizing the need for public participation, Dr. Nala launched World Lion Day celebrations at Gir, transforming a single event into a mass movement. Over 20 lakh people have joined rallies, workshops, and cultural programs since its inception, earning recognition in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.
In August 2025, as Conservator of Forests, he led the first World Lion Day celebration at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Porbandar, and coordinated the inaugural International Big Cat Alliance Conference at Sasan Gir.
BUILDING MODERN ZOOS AND ECO-TOURISM
As founding Director of the Sardar Patel Zoological Park, Ekta Nagar, Dr. Nala built the facility in just one year, housing more than 2,000 animals and creating India’s first PET Zone. He developed the Cactus Garden to highlight desert biodiversity and established a cutting-edge veterinary hospital with X-ray, ultrasound, ventilators, and gas anesthesia facilities, setting national standards for zoo veterinary care.
At Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh, he strengthened vulture breeding programs and added specialized quarantine facilities for rescued lions, enhancing disease control and safe rehabilitation.
LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION
From night patrols to international conferences, Dr. Ram Ratan Nala’s work integrates technology, science, and community. His career shows how veterinary insight can elevate forest management, whether through rapid-response ambulances, large-scale disease containment, or eco-tourism projects that involve local people.
“Conservation isn’t only about protecting animals. It’s about creating systems, scientific, social, and operational, that let wildlife and people thrive together.”
Today, as Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle, Dr. Nala continues to guard the last natural home of the Asiatic lion, shaping policies and practices that influence wildlife protection far beyond Gujarat’s borders.
