Known for efforts to save Great Indian Bustard, wildlife conservationist dead in Jaisalmer accident
Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi, a wildlife conservationist and animal rescuer from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, died in a road accident Friday along with three others. Bishnoi, about 28 — celebrated for his efforts to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) — had reportedly been tipped off about deer poaching when he and three others met with an accident.
Rajendra Kumar, Station House Officer of Jaisalmer's Lathi police station, said that the accident took place around 9:30 pm Friday when the camper Bishnoi and three others were in had a head-on collision with a truck on National Highway 11.
The SHO said that how the accident took place is part of the investigation. Apart from Radheshyam, Forest Guard Surendra Choudhary, ex-armyman Shyamlal Bishnoi who was also a conservationist, and one Kanwaraj Singh who runs a gaushala, also died in the accident, the SHO said. He, however, added that he has no information on alleged poachers or whether Bishnoi and others had been tipped off.
Born in the village of Dholiya, Bishnoi was deeply influenced by the Bishnoi community's centuries-old tradition of environmental stewardship. His journey into wildlife conservation began at a young age when he started rescuing injured animals. However, as some of them died despite his best efforts, he trained as a veterinary assistant at the Jodhpur Rescue Centre.
Bishnoi's conservation efforts were multifaceted. He was instrumental in patrolling GIB habitats, monitoring threats like high-tension power lines and railway tracks, and coordinating a network of local volunteers under the guidance of the Ecology, Rural Development and Sustainability (ERDS) Foundation. His advocacy extended to campaigning for underground power lines to prevent bird collisions, a leading cause of GIB mortality.
In response to the Thar desert's harsh conditions, Bishnoi also initiated the construction of over 100 water reservoirs to provide drinking water for wildlife. These reservoirs, filled using water tankers, helped reduce wildlife mortality due to dehydration. He was also known to be an avid photographer, documenting the region's biodiversity through his lens while highlighting and spreading awareness on the threats and the critical need for conservation efforts.
Bishnoi also personally rescued and rehabilitated numerous animals and birds, including Himalayan Griffon vultures and Cinereous vultures. He also played a pivotal role in anti-poaching initiatives, providing information that led to the arrest of poaching gangs, apart from being instrumental in registration of several FIRs. His efforts also earned him national recognition, including Sanctuary Nature Foundation's Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award in 2021 under the Young Naturalist category.
Sumit Dookia, a wildlife biologist and mentor to Bishnoi, expressed profound grief over the loss. 'Last night, we lost our flag bearer of the GIB Community Conservation Program in a fatal road accident. Even up to the last breath, he was with an anti-poaching patrolling team. Radhe Bishnoi, you gone too early my boy. A true martyr,' he said.
Condolences poured in from across and beyond the state too, with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma saying: 'It is extremely painful to hear about the death of Jaisalmer's Radheshyam Pemani, Shyamlal Bishnoi, Kanwar Singh and forest department employee Surendra Choudhary, who were dedicated to the conservation of environment and wildlife, in a horrific road accident in the Lathi area of Jaisalmer'.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: 'His dedication to nature and wildlife will remain unforgettable. May God give him peace. Om Shanti'.
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