Govind Tekale
Valmik Thapar, who spent 50 years fighting for India’s tigers, died on May 31, 2025, after battling cancer. He was 73.
Thapar became a leading voice for tiger protection without any formal training in wildlife biology. His work centered on Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, where he studied nearly 200 tigers, observing their behavior up close and even giving them names like Machli and Padmini.
“It was like shedding one layer of skin and putting on another,” Thapar once wrote about his first tiger sighting in 1976. “The transformation was total.”
This life-changing moment came after meeting Fateh Singh Rathore, then director of Ranthambore tiger reserve. Their partnership shaped India’s conservation efforts for decades.
Thapar founded the Ranthambhore Foundation in 1987 to connect wildlife protection with community needs. The foundation worked with villages around the park on healthcare, education, and creating jobs.
“Conservation is impossible without community support,” Thapar eventually acknowledged, showing how his thinking evolved over time.
Beyond fieldwork, Thapar authored over 30 books and produced several documentaries, including the BBC series “Land of the Tiger” in 1997. He served on more than 150 government panels and wasn’t afraid to disagree with official policies.
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In 2005, when tigers disappeared from Sariska reserve, Thapar joined the Tiger Task Force but wrote a dissenting opinion. He argued that tigers needed some areas completely free from human activity to survive long-term.
“Bureaucracy killed more tigers than bullets ever did,” he once remarked, reflecting his distrust of government systems despite working within them throughout his career.
Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh called Thapar “a legendary figure” whose commitment transformed Ranthambore. “Not a day passed during my ministerial tenure without our talking to each other,” Ramesh said.
Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, a fellow conservationist, praised Thapar’s “incredible drive” and his role in strengthening wildlife laws and establishing the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Even while hospitalized during his final days, Thapar continued his conservation work, guiding projects and sharing his expertise.
He is survived by his wife Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of actor Shashi Kapoor, and their son Hamir.
Dharmendra Khandal, who worked closely with Thapar, remembered him saying: “With Valmik sir, it was not just a safari; it was a masterclass in the wild. His energy at 70 was unmatched.”
