‘Tiger man' Valmik Thapar took train to Ranthambore in his 20s on a whim. It changed his life
Condolences poured in from all quarters for the 'Tiger Man'—a name he rightfully earned.
His fight to protect India's big cats continued till the end. Thapar breathed his last at the age of 73 early Saturday. He passed away at his house on Kautilya Marg in Delhi after a battle with cancer.
New Delhi: From tying a buffalo to a tree to observe the hunting behaviour of Ranthambore National Park's famous resident tigress Padmini and her cubs, to taking on his own colleague in the Tiger Task Force in the pursuit of prevention of poaching in Sariska, conservationist and author Valmik Thapar dedicated over four decades of his life to shaping India's tiger conservation programme.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Thapar's death was a 'great loss'.
'Today'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,' Ramesh wrote in an X post.
The former environment minister said that during his tenure as chairman of the standing committee, Thapar was a constant source of valuable suggestions and advice. 'We had arguments, but it was always an education to listen to him, full of passion and concern. He was truly an unforgettable one-of-a-kind,' he added.
Also Read: MR Srinivasan led India's nuclear energy programme, but wanted a world free of nuclear weapons
Thapar's life and work
In the early 1970s, hunting tigers was a popular sport at Ranthambore.
It was around then that Thapar, who was then in his 20s battling personal crises, decided to leave everything behind. He caught a train to Ranthambore, and this whim, he said, 'changed his life'.
'I didn't know anything about tigers then. But I fell in love with the beauty of the place,' Thapar said in the opening of a BBC documentary in 2024. He said that upon his arrival at Ranthambore, with the help of the park director and another pioneer in tiger conservation, Fateh Singh Rathore, he spotted his first tiger in the park. They named her Padmini. And that is how his journey began.
Apart from being an astute conservationist, Thapar was also a celebrated filmmaker and author, who penned around 32 books, including Land of the Tigers—A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent, Living with Tigers and The Secret Life of Tigers. He also served in over 150 committees for tiger conservation at both the Centre and state levels.
In 2005, Thapar was appointed as a member of the Tiger Task Force to look into the poaching of tigers at the Sariska Tiger Reserve. After the committee, led by environmentalist Sunita Narain, presented its report, Thapar wrote a dissent note, claiming that the task force was misrepresenting the ground realities. He asserted that tiger reserves needed dedicated zones, where human interference would not be allowed.
While he was known mainly for his work around tiger conservation, he also extensively worked on wildlife conservation at large. He was very vocally critical of the Narendra Modi government's Project Cheetah, stressing that India's weather, prey-base and terrain were not cheetah-friendly.
According to conservation biologist Neha Singh, Thapar was a 'fearless advocate for the tigers'. 'He was the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years,' she said.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: Indian astrophysics giant Jayant Vishnu Narlikar reshaped our relationship with the sky
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
35 minutes ago
- Hans India
Op Sindoor should not be used to derive political mileage
The political class will do better if it stops desisting from trying to derive electoral mileage from the highly successful Operation Sindoor that was executed recently. The military aspects of the operation have been largely praised (even by objective western experts), but the political aftermath has proven far more complex. The ruling party has come under scrutiny for allegedly using the operation's success to enhance its nationalistic image ostensibly for electoral gains. On its part, the Opposition has done little better. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called for a special parliamentary session to discuss the operation in detail. He raised concerns about inconsistencies in official narratives, particularly surrounding reports regarding the number of Indian aircraft lost during the strikes. He also accused the government of 'misleading the nation.' His statement came after the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan acknowledged the loss of some Indian aircraft but emphasised that the armed forces had adapted quickly to changing tactical scenarios, ultimately achieving the mission objectives. Chauhan categorically refuted Pakistan's assertions of shooting down multiple Indian jets, labelling them as propaganda meant to distort facts. His remarks highlighted the critical role of clear and truthful communication in sustaining public trust and countering misinformation. The political discourse triggered by Operation Sindoor reflects a broader tension between safeguarding national security and navigating partisan interests. While it is natural for political parties to discuss significant national developments, it is imperative that such dialogues remain constructive and rooted in the national interest. Exploiting military operations for electoral advantage not only undermines the integrity of the armed forces but also erodes public confidence in the nation's democratic institutions. As India continues to assess the long-term implications of Operation Sindoor, there is a pressing need for political maturity and a unified stance on issues of national security. Recognising and honouring the courage and competence of the armed forces should transcend political divides. National security must remain above the realm of party politics, treated with the seriousness and dignity it deserves. Also, our political leaders must come to terms with a sobering reality: Operation Sindoor, while tactically successful and symbolically significant, was not a war that we won—nor even a full-scale battle. At best, it was a well-executed skirmish, a calibrated military response to the horrifying Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. Its importance lies not in territorial gains or dramatic military victories, but in the message it has sent loud and clear-Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for supporting and harbouring terrorist outfits. Precision strikes on terrorist camps disrupted their operations and showcased India's strategic capabilities. However, this operation must not be mistaken for closure. The war on terror is a long and evolving struggle, requiring constant vigilance, strategic foresight, and, above all, national unity. True victory will come not with a single strike, but through sustained efforts to dismantle the networks of extremism to be assured of lasting peace and security. Operation Sindoor stands as a testament to India's strategic capability and resolve in the face of terrorism. However, its legacy will be defined not just by military precision but by the manner the nation's political leadership chooses to engage with it. By fostering transparency, encouraging responsible dialogue, and prioritising unity, India can ensure that such operations serve their true purpose—protection and security of all its citizens.
News18
40 minutes ago
- News18
Dalit Girl Dies After Rape, Knife Attack; Congress Alleges Hours-Long Wait Outside Patna Hospital
Last Updated: A nine-year-old Dalit girl from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, died after being raped and stabbed. She waited hours for treatment at Patna Medical College, as per Congress leader. A nine-year-old Dalit girl, who was raped and stabbed in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, died at a state-run hospital in Patna after she was left waiting for hours on Sunday. On May 26, a minor girl was raped in her village in Muzaffarpur. According to an official, the girl was brought to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in a critical condition. State Congress president Rajesh Ram alleged that the rape victim had to wait in an ambulance for several hours on Saturday because of the bed's unavailability in the hospital. The incident's purported video was shared on social media platforms, which Ram said exposed the 'insensitivity of the government and the hospital administration. Speaking about the case, a police officer said, 'The girl died this morning. Her throat and chest were brutally slashed by the accused. He had also attempted to kill her by slitting her throat. Her vocal cords were damaged, and she was unable to speak. The accused was arrested." Congress Slams NDA Government In Bihar Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X wrote, 'The brutality against a minor Dalit girl in Muzaffarpur and the subsequent negligence in her treatment is extremely shameful. If she had received timely treatment, her life could have been saved. But the double-engine government was negligent not only in providing security but also in saving her life. We will not sit quietly until the victim's family gets justice. Strict action should be taken against the culprits and negligent officers." On Sunday, the state Congress chief said, 'It is a heart-wrenching incident and an insult to our state, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar." 'The victim died as the law and order and the health system in the state have collapsed. The NDA government in the state and the PMCH administration are solely responsible for the death of the girl. The incident has exposed the insensitivity of the government, the CM and the PMCH," he said. Rathore claimed that the victim was referred to PMCH from Muzaffarpur and she was taken to the state-run hospital at 11 am on Saturday. 'It took the hospital administration more than four hours to provide her a bed, and she was finally admitted there after 3 pm. She was admitted after our intervention. The girl succumbed to her injuries on Sunday morning," the Congress leader said. Later in the day, Congress workers also took out protests across the state against the NDA government and the PMCH administration. The police said that the girl was raped by the accused who lured her on the pretext of offering chocolate and took her to a maize field. Reacting to the incident, Dr Abhijit Singh, Incharge Superintendent of PMCH Patna said, 'The girl was admitted at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur on 26th May. She had neck injuries and internal injuries… After she came here, the doctor examined her in the ambulance. She was taken to the ICU, and doctors from all departments treated her for the entire night. If such an incident takes place with anyone, the family will make allegations of negligence. We actively treated her right after we learned about this case. The doctor examined her in the ambulance, and then she was admitted too." First Published: June 02, 2025, 12:12 IST
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
42 minutes ago
- Business Standard
UK to build more submarines, boost warhead spend in message to Moscow
By Tom Rees and Ellen Milligan UK intends to send a 'message to Moscow' with plans to expand its fleet of attack submarines and invest in its nuclear deterrent as part of a new defence strategy to head off the threat posed by Russia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government will on Monday reveal plans to spend £15 billion ($20 billion) on its warhead programme and build up to 12 new submarines as part of the AUKUS programme it operates alongside the US and Australia, to bolster Britain's 'warfighting readiness,' the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. Defense Secretary John Healey told the BBC that Monday's strategic defence review — which will spell out the threats facing Britain and outline recommendations to tackle them — will send a 'message to Moscow' by strengthening the UK's military and defense industry's capabilities. 'We know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression,' Healey said in a statement. 'With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.' The UK will also build six new munitions factories to create an 'always on' industrial production, buy up to 7,000 long-range missiles and invest in its cybersecurity and stockpiles of support equipment. Healey told Sky News that new factories will be built 'very soon.' 'This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required,' he told the BBC separately on Sunday. However, he said a target to spend 3 per cent of gross domestic product on defence after the next election remains an 'ambition' and that he doesn't expect to make progress toward raising the number of soldiers in the British army until the next parliament. Opposition parties, including the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, said the government needs to reach the spending target sooner than 2034. Monday's review comes after a period of underinvestment in the country's defence industry that has seen the size of the UK army shrink to its smallest since the Napoleonic era. An end to the so-called 'peace dividend' will put more pressure on the country's stretched public finances, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves set to unveil departments' budget settlements at the multi-year spending review on June 11. Higher military spending comes at a time of multiple demands on the public purse, from healthcare to prisons. 'All of Labour's Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them,' the Conservative Party's Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said in a statement. The Sunday Times reported that the Labour government wants to buy American-made fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons. The review will also recommend new defensive shields to protect the country from enemy missiles as well as reestablishing a civilian home guard, according to the report. The shift in Britain's war footing comes as US President Donald Trump presses Nato members to increase their military spending. Just weeks after Trump took office in January, Starmer announced a commitment to boost defense spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 from 2.3 per cent currently. Moscow launched one of its longest drone and missile attacks against Kyiv this weekend, while Ukrainian drones hit several strategic airfields in Russia, escalating tensions ahead of crucial talks in Istanbul on Monday aimed at securing a ceasefire in the years-long conflict.
