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Pukazhenthi, Budhan

Pukazhenthi, Budhan

Research Physiologist (Ungulates)

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Pukazhenthi, Budhan

Research Physiologist (Ungulates)

Ungulate reproduction and conservation; gamete biology (sperm, eggs and embryos); cryobiology; assisted reproduction in endangered species, in situ conservation and training.

Background And Education

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Public Biography

  • The primary goal of Dr. Pukazhenthi's research program is the conservation of endangered species including ungulates, elephants and rhinos in captivity and in the wild. His research interests include understanding the fundamental reproductive biology of rare and endangered species, mitigating infertility, developing assisted reproductive technologies, gamete and embryo cryopreservation, genomics, and wildlife ecology. Dr. Pukazhenthi's team produced the world's first Persian onager and Przewalski's horse foals via artificial insemination. Dr. Pukazhenthi also studies the interactions between diet and health using multi-omics approaches to improve overall health and well-being of endangered species managed under human care. 

    In addition to the above, Dr. Pukazhenthi leads conservation research on the endangered mountain tapir in Ecuador. Working alongside collaborators from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Andean Bear Foundation, his team has been responsible for capture, collaring, and monitoring of several wild mountain tapirs in Ecuador. Ongoing studies hope to assist with developing a national conservation action plan for tapirs in Ecuador. 

    Pukazhenthi is a strong advocate for the development of collaborative research and actively participates in the activities of various species management organizations, including the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (of the IUCN-World Conservation Union), the Ungulate Taxon Advisory Group and various Species Survival Plans under the umbrella of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). He also serves as Chair of the AZA's Biobanking Scientific Advisory Group, Reproductive advisor of AZA's lion Species Survival Plan, Steering Committee Member of the Cervid TAG, and a member of the Ungulate Resource Group. Further, Pukazhenthi served on the Board of the Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2), a non-profit conservation organization.

    Pukazhenthi completed his bachelor's degree in veterinary sciences at the Madras Veterinary College in India in 1987. He also has a master's degree and a doctorate from the University of Maryland. He completed a post-doctoral training at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in 1998, where he trained with Drs. JoGayle Howard and David Wildt. Pukazhenthi was a recipient of the prestigious Special Emphasis Research Career Award from NIH, University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Early Career Award, and Outstanding Alumni Awards.

Smithsonian Conservation Commons Biography

  • The primary goal of Budhan Pukazhenthi's research is the conservation of critically endangered species including ungulates and elephants in captivity and in the wild. His research interests include understanding the fundamental reproductive biology of rare and endangered species, mitigating infertility, developing assisted reproductive technologies (artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer), and gamete and embryo cryopreservation. Recently his team produced the world's first Przewalski's horse foal via artificial insemination.  He is also studying the reproductive biology of African lions in an effort to enhance reproduction in zoological institutions and developing innovative technologies for preservation of male and female gametes and reproductive tissues (testes and ovarian tissue cryopreservation).

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