Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Valmik Thapar, one of eminent India's wildlife conservationists and a leading figure of the tiger conservation movement, died this Saturday morning at the age of 73. He worked tirelessly to protect and advocate for the country’s biodiversity which earned him a legacy in Indian wildlife education and activism. He was well-known for his comprehensive understanding of Indian flora and fauna.
Thapar's death shocked many across the nation, but among the first to mourn him was Congress leader Jairam Ramesh who remembered Thapar’s constant advocacy and deep ecological perspective during his days as the Minister of Environment and Forests. Ramesh highlighted a personal and professional bond by stating on social media, “Today’s Ranthambore is a testimony to his commitment and zeal.”
Who Was Valmik Thapar?
Thapar was born in 1952 in an intellectually active family. He was the son of journalist Romesh Thapar and has a historian aunt Romila Thapar along with a journalist cousin, Karan Thapar. Valmik Thapar went to The Doon School for his primary education and later achieved a gold medal in Sociology from St. Stephen's College at the University of Delhi. He was married to Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of film star Shashi Kapoor, and they had one son together.
A Life Guided By Tiger Conservation
Inspite of his work, plus Sangh Rathore’s guidance, a big name in Indian caseconomist’s stitutions, Thapar spent roughly five decades of his life working on the problems related to wild tigers with special emphasis on their population in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan.
Together with Dr. Neelam Singh, he founded The Ranthambore Foundation in 1988 and started one of India’s first community based conservation non-governmental organizations (NGO). His actions shaped numerous national level policies and he worked with more than hundred and fifty government panels and task forces, including the National Board for Wildlife where he was a member, which is headed by the prime minister of the country.
Thapar was a member of the 2005 Sariska Tiger Reserve Tiger Task Force as a result of one of the forefront conservation crisis of the time tiger extinction issue from the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Legacy Through Books and Films
Thapar has authored and edited over 30 books concerning Indian wildlife some of the most famous include.
Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent from 1997
Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tiger in India
He, apart from these, has also produced and presented several documentaries border international television channels like BBC to promote wildlife conservation.
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