India's tiger warrior dies at 73: Who was Valmik Thapar and what is the legacy of India's tiger conservation icon
Valmik Thapar
was a rare voice who spent his life listening to the wild. Passionate, persistent and deeply committed, he gave the tiger not just his time, but his voice, pen, and camera. On Saturday morning, India lost one of its fiercest
wildlife guardians
as Thapar passed away in Delhi at the age of 73.
Born in New Delhi, Thapar dedicated over five decades to studying and protecting wild tigers, especially those in Rajasthan's
Ranthambore National Park
. According to PTI, he was mentored by the legendary
Fateh Singh Rathore
, and Thapar became a prominent face of India's tiger conservation movement. He co-founded the
Ranthambhore Foundation
in 1988 and served on more than 150 government committees, including the
National Board for Wildlife
and the Tiger Task Force.
A prolific author and filmmaker, Thapar wrote or edited over 30 books, including Land of the Tiger and Tiger Fire. He also produced and narrated documentaries for BBC, Discovery and National Geographic, most recently My Tiger Family, which chronicled his 50-year journey with Ranthambore's big cats.
His relationship with the famous tigress 'Macchli' became symbolic of his deep, emotional connection with wildlife. Yet, he was far from sentimental in his advocacy. Thapar consistently pushed for stricter
anti-poaching laws
and believed that certain habitats must remain untouched by humans for tigers to thrive. His dissenting note in the 2005 Tiger Task Force report, warning against the overestimation of human-tiger coexistence, remains a testament to his firm convictions.
Family background and educational qualifications
Thapar came from a family of intellectuals, son of journalist Romesh Thapar, nephew of historian Romila Thapar, and cousin to journalist Karan Thapar. He studied at The Doon School and St. Stephen's College, graduating with a gold medal in sociology. He was married to theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of Shashi Kapoor.
Remembering him, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called him 'truly unforgettable' and 'a legendary figure in the world of conservation.'
— Jairam_Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh)
The leader further called Valmiki "uncommonly knowledgeable" on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity.
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