New leadership appointed across tiger reserves, biosphere and national parks

Chhattisgarh’s Forest and Climate Change Department has announced a comprehensive re‑allocation of senior Indian Forest Service officers on 21 August 2026. The order affects nine officers, moving them between tiger reserves, a biosphere reserve, and national parks.

Saurabh Singh Thakur (2017 batch) leaves his deputy director post at Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve, Baikunthpur, to become deputy director of the Elephant Reserve in Sarga‑Ambikapur. Dinesh Kumar Patel (2018 batch) is transferred from Mohla to serve as deputy director of Anchanakmar Tiger Reserve, Lorami.

Ganesha U.R. (2019 batch) is relieved from his Anchanakmar deputy director duties and appointed officer of the Bilaspur Research and Extension Forest Division, with the added responsibility of directing the Anchanakmar‑Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. Abhinav Kumar (2021 batch) moves from Mungeli to the regional forest sub‑conservator position at Mohla.

S. Naveen Kumar (2022 batch) takes over as director of Kanger Valley National Park, Jagdalpur. Additional assignments include Gautam Padiabhar as sub‑conservator of West Bhanupurap, Shweta Kamboj as deputy director of Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve, and Sumeet Sanjay Surwane as deputy director of Indravati Tiger Reserve, Bijapur. Tanmay Kaushik is shifted from Raigarh to become regional sub‑conservator for Mungeli.

These changes follow an earlier August order that reshuffled 24 IFS officers, underscoring the state’s intent to refresh its wildlife and forest management leadership across critical conservation zones.