About Me

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I am Tushar Kulkarni, a wildlife specialist with a focus on giraffe care, research, and conservation. After earning a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Mumbai and spending over 12 years in the corporate sector, I transitioned to wildlife conservation to follow my passion.

My work focuses on enhancing giraffe welfare through improved management practices, neonatal care, hand-rearing, genetic studies, and behavior shaping using positive reinforcement. I have presented my research on giraffe behavior, management advancements, and genetics at international giraffe conferences and have published my findings.  I gained hands-on experience in giraffe care through a zookeeping internship and a Giraffe Care Workshop in the USA, both aligned with AZA standards. These experiences helped me develop advanced skills in giraffe welfare, including behavior training, hoof care, enrichment, and guest interactions. 

I have contributed to giraffe conservation efforts through fieldwork, collaborating with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), a leading NGO dedicated to giraffe conservation across 20 countries in Africa. Along with the GCF-led team, I co-authored and published the most up-to-date estimate of giraffe population numbers in Africa.

Passionate about education, I actively engage in raising awareness through interpretive zoo talks and speaking engagements at institutions and conservation forums, sharing insights on giraffe care in captivity and ongoing conservation efforts in the wild.