Valmik Thapar, a pioneering figure in Indian wildlife conservation and a prolific author, passed away on Saturday morning at his residence in New Delhi. He was 73.
Born in the capital in 1952, Thapar spent over 50 years dedicated to protecting and studying wild tigers, with a particular focus on those inhabiting Rajasthan&rsquo;s Ranthambore National Park. His efforts extended beyond fieldwork; in 1988, he co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation, a non-governmental organisation promoting conservation through community involvement.
A central figure in the country&rsquo;s conservation movement, Thapar served on more than 150 governmental panels and task forces, including the National Board for Wildlife, chaired by the Prime Minister. In 2005, he was appointed to the Tiger Task Force, formed by the UPA government after tigers vanished from Sariska Tiger Reserve.&nbsp;
The task force was led by environmentalist Sunita Narain. While the final report supported the concept of human-tiger coexistence, Thapar dissented. In his note, he criticised the report as overly optimistic and stressed the necessity of keeping certain forest areas free from human activity. &ldquo;A minimum area should be managed exclusively in its natural form for a tiger,&rdquo; he argued.
Over his career, Thapar remained a vocal advocate for stricter anti-poaching laws and the preservation of undisturbed tiger habitats. His stance was shaped by his long-standing mentorship under Fateh Singh Rathore, a prominent conservationist and original member of the Project Tiger initiative. This influence helped cement Thapar&rsquo;s position as a key voice in shaping India&rsquo;s conservation policies.
In addition to his policy work, Thapar was an accomplished writer and filmmaker. He authored or edited more than 30 books on wildlife, including Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent (1997) and Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tiger in India. His work in television brought Indian wildlife to global audiences through documentaries for the BBC, Discovery, and National Geographic.&nbsp;
Among these, the six-part series Land of the Tiger (1997) was particularly well-received. Most recently, in 2024, he appeared in My Tiger Family, a documentary chronicling five decades of his observations in Ranthambore, including his relationship with the iconic tigress &lsquo;Macchli&rsquo;.
Despite his deep connection with the animals he observed, Thapar maintained a clear-eyed approach to conservation. He was openly critical of Project Cheetah, the initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into Indian habitats. He expressed doubts about India&rsquo;s preparedness, stating that the country lacks the habitat, prey density, and expertise to support free-ranging cheetahs in the wild.
Thapar came from a family known for intellectual achievement. He was the son of journalist Romesh Thapar, the nephew of historian Romila Thapar, and cousin to journalist Karan Thapar. He attended The Doon School and later graduated from St Stephen&rsquo;s College, Delhi University, earning a gold medal in sociology. He married theatre actor Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of the late Shashi Kapoor, and they had a son together.
Leaders and conservationists paid tribute following his death. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the loss as profound. &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal. He was uncommonly knowledgeable on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity, and not a day passed during my Ministerial tenure without our talking to each other, with me almost always at the receiving end,&rdquo; Ramesh wrote on X.&nbsp;
He also noted Thapar&rsquo;s role as a frequent and invaluable advisor during his time as chairman of the Standing Committee.
Neha Sinha, a conservation biologist, remembered him as &ldquo;the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years,&rdquo; encouraging people to honour his memory by reading his influential works, including Tiger Fire and Living with Tigers.&nbsp;
Wildlife conservationist Nirmal Ghosh referred to him as &ldquo;a giant of tiger conservation&rdquo; and said he leaves behind &ldquo;a lasting legacy as a global spokesman for the tiger.&rdquo;
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Valmik Thapar, renowned for his work in tiger conservation and wildlife writing, passed away at his Delhi home at 73.

Valmik Thapar, Tiger Conservation Icon, Dies at 73

Valmik Thapar, renowned for his work in tiger conservation and wildlife writing, passed away at his Delhi home at 73.

May 31, 2025 | 20:09 IST