Valmik Thapar, iconic tiger conservationist and author, passes away at 73

Prominent wildlife conservationist and author Valmik Thapar passed away at 73 in his Delhi residence last morning Thapar was battling cancer after his diagnosis last yearThapar was best known for his lifelong dedication to the conservation of wild tigers especially in Rajasthanrsquos Ranthambore National Park The author and documentarian Thapar lobbied vociferously for tougher antipoaching laws and pushed harder for efforts to protect tiger habitats during his fivedecadelong careerThapar was the son of noted journalist Romesh Thapar nephew of renowned historian Romila Thapar and cousin of journalist Karan Thapar He later married theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor daughter of legendary actor Shashi Kapoor and is survived by their son HamirHe was mentored by Fateh Singh Rathore a legendary figure in Indian conservation and a key member of the original Project Tiger teamThapar was part of more than 150 government panels and task forces including the National Board for Wildlife which is led by the Prime Minister In 2005 Thapar was appointed a member of the Tiger Task Force set up by the UPA government to review the management of tiger reserves following the disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve When the task force concluded its report Thapar submitted a dissent note expressing concern that the report was overly optimistic about the coexistence of tigers and humansHe was also known for being one of the few who took a critical stance on Project Cheetah stating that ldquoIndia lacks the habitat prey and expertiserdquo required to sustain African cheetahs in the wildThapar authored or edited over 30 books on Indian wildlife such as Land of the Tiger A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent 1997 and Tiger Fire 500 Years of the Tiger in India He also coproduced and presented several documentaries Most recently he was featured in the documentary My Tiger Family last yearlsquoOne of the few who called a spade a spadersquoKedar Gore Wildlife Conservationist from the Corbett FoundationValmik Thapar one of the most powerful voices that roared for the tiger is silenced forever His books articles photographs and speeches echoed his deep understanding of the natural world which he fiercely defended till his last He was a great inspiration for two generations of wildlife conservationists who would now carry on this battle for the longterm existence of our national animal He was among the few in India who could fearlessly call a spade a spade His passing on is the end of an era Valmik Thapar will live forever in our hearts and in the forest of RanthambhorelsquoReflected the very animal he so deeply respectedrsquoDr Anish Andheria President amp CEO of Wildlife Conservation TrustWildlife Conservation Trust said ldquoValmik Thapar was truly synonymous with tigers His remarkable persona reflected the very animal he so deeply respected While he could come across as stern it often gave way to a wonderful childlike enthusiasm revealing his profound affection for all things wild and beautifulHe was known for his unwavering honesty when it came to his views on the governance of Indiarsquos forests and forest service A compulsive writer and documenter of wildlife his contribution as an author of natural history writings is immense and has been pivotal in inspiring countless people to love wildlife Direct infectious forceful charismatic a true defender of wildlife ndash these words truly capture his essenceHis connection with Ranthambhore was as deep and abiding as that of Fateh Singh Rathore who served as both his mentor and friend In recent times he and his family were spending precious moments observing videographing and enjoying tiger behavior at Ranthambhore their cherished second homeI will deeply miss his forthright and honest conversations The fact that his baritone often filled with urgency will no longer be heard has brought home the profound realisation mdash the tiger has lost one of its strongest supporters Knowing that he is no longer with us Ranthambhore will never be quite the same for melsquoEven a few days earlier hersquod sent bold and fearless voice notesrsquoDharmendra Khandal Biologist and Tiger Expert from NGO Tiger Watch on Valmik ThaparI have had the privilege of observing and learning from Valmik Sir Since 2011 after Fateh Jirsquos Fateh Singh Rathore passing there hasnrsquot been a single week when we didnrsquot speak at least four times Our conversations always revolved around Ranthambhore and its tigers He was constantly concerned about the conservation of Ranthambhore especially its tigers Whenever he visited hersquod go on both the morning and afternoon safaris and I would sometimes accompany him on those afternoon safaris which were truly remarkable especially considering that he was 70 years oldBetween safaris Valmik Sir never took a break He would often call me over to his home in Ranthambhore not to rest but to engage in deep discussions about Ranthambhore its tigers and everything related to wildlife conservation in India His passion never waned and even in those moments his eye was always on the future of Ranthambhore and seeking solutionsWith Valmik Sir it was not just a safari It was like attending a masterclass in the wildlsquoHis pioneering work significantly contributed to revitalising tiger reservesrsquoSunil Limaye Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Maharashtra member of the Supreme Courtappointed Central Empowered Committee CECI had the privilege of associating with the legendary Valmik Thapar since 2007ndash2008 Our first meeting occurred in 2011 during a visit to Rajasthan for the State Wildlife Board meeting From that moment our discussions spanned various topics related to wildlife conservation particularly focusing on tigers and leopardsIn 2015 I had the opportunity to meet him again He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Maharashtra Forest Department and Sanjay Gandhi National Park in involving local stakeholders and fostering awareness about humanleopard coexistence in urban landscapesA few years ago Valmik reached out to me regarding the controversial decision to capture the famous tiger T24 also known as Ustaad from Ranthambore due to humantiger conflict incidents After a long discussion we concurred that in the larger interest of both tiger and human safety the decision to relocate the tiger was the most prudent course of actionValmik was a vocal advocate for tiger conservation and his pioneering work significantly contributed to revitalising tiger reserves across the country His authored books and wildlife documentaries will continue to perpetuate his legacyI extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time of loss