His efforts contributed significantly to Ranthambore’s transformation into one of India’s most successful tiger reserves, with a flourishing tiger population.

Valmik Thapar, fondly remembered as India’s “Tiger Man,” passed away on May 31, 2025, at the age of 73 in his New Delhi home after a courageous battle with cancer. For over five decades, Thapar dedicated his life to the protection of India’s wildlife, particularly its majestic tigers, leaving an indelible mark on conservation efforts and biodiversity preservation. His work, rooted in passion, persistence, and an unyielding commitment to the wild, reshaped India’s conservation landscape and inspired generations to rally for the cause of wildlife preservation.

 Born in 1952 in Mumbai to a prominent family of intellectuals—his parents, Romesh and Raj Thapar, were noted journalists and founders of the political journal Seminar, and his aunt was the esteemed historian Romila Thapar—Valmik Thapar could have pursued a path in politics or academia. Instead, a transformative encounter in 1976 with Fateh Singh Rathore, the legendary field director of Ranthambore National Park, set him on a lifelong mission to protect India’s tigers.

Without formal training in wildlife biology, Thapar developed a profound understanding of tiger behavior through decades of fieldwork in Ranthambore, Rajasthan, where he tracked and studied nearly 200 tigers, often giving them names like Machli, Padmini, and Genghis Khan. His intimate chronicles of these animals, documented in books and films, read like family histories, blending scientific observation with deep emotional connection.

 Thapar’s pioneering work extended beyond observation to actionable conservation. In 1987, he co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to integrating local communities into conservation efforts. Recognizing that tiger survival depended on human cooperation, the foundation worked across nearly 100 villages around the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, promoting healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihoods through partnerships with organizations like Dastkar.

This community-based approach became a model for balancing wildlife protection with human welfare, proving that conservation need not pit people against animals. His efforts contributed significantly to Ranthambore’s transformation into one of India’s most successful tiger reserves, with a flourishing tiger population.

 Thapar’s advocacy was not confined to the forests. He served on over 150 government panels, including the National Board for Wildlife and the 2005 Tiger Task Force, formed in response to the alarming disappearance of tigers from Rajasthan’s Sariska Tiger Reserve. A vocal critic of bureaucratic inefficiencies, Thapar famously remarked that “bureaucracy killed more tigers than bullets ever did.”

His dissent in the Tiger Task Force report highlighted his belief that tigers required inviolate, human-free zones to thrive, challenging the optimistic view of human-animal coexistence promoted by some.  While initially resistant to community-inclusive models, Thapar later acknowledged the necessity of local support, demonstrating his ability to evolve and adapt his approach.

 As a naturalist and storyteller, Thapar brought India’s wildlife to global audiences. He authored or edited over 30 books, including Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent (1997) and Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tiger in India, which explored the ecological and cultural significance of tigers.

His documentaries, such as the acclaimed BBC series Land of the Tiger (1997) and My Tiger Family (2024), showcased the biodiversity of the Indian subcontinent and his 50-year journey with Ranthambore’s tigers. Through evocative photography and riveting narration, Thapar made the tiger a symbol of India’s wild heritage, inspiring countless individuals to care for nature. His work extended beyond tigers to other species, with books like Winged Fire: A Celebration of Indian Birds highlighting his broader commitment to biodiversity.

 Thapar’s influence reached beyond Ranthambore. He played a pivotal role in reviving Maharashtra’s Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, now one of India’s best-managed reserves, and was a fierce advocate for stronger anti-poaching laws and habitat protection. His outspoken nature often put him at odds with authorities, as seen in his criticism of Project Cheetah, India’s initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs. Thapar argued that the lack of suitable habitat and expertise doomed the project, reflecting his unwavering commitment to ecological realism over political ambition. His dissent on mining in Kudremukh National Park, which he called “Nature’s Taj Mahal,” further underscored his dedication to preserving biodiversity hotspots.

 Even in his final days, Thapar remained active, guiding conservation projects and curating a photographic collection of Ranthambore. His energy and passion were undiminished, as noted by conservation biologist Dharmendra Khandal, who described field trips with Thapar as “masterclasses in the wild.” Tributes from peers, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and conservationist Ullas Karanth, praised his unmatched knowledge and fearless advocacy. Ramesh recalled daily conversations during his tenure as environment minister, noting Thapar’s ability to educate and challenge.

 Thapar’s legacy is multifaceted: a robust tiger population in Ranthambore, a model for community-based conservation, and a global awareness of India’s biodiversity. His work emphasized the tiger’s role as an umbrella species, whose protection safeguards entire ecosystems, from rivers to pollinators. By combining fieldwork, policy advocacy, and storytelling, Thapar transformed conservation from a niche concern into a national priority. As India mourns his loss, his “booming voice,” as described by wildlife filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu, continues to echo through the forests he fought to protect. Valmik Thapar’s life reminds us that one person’s passion can indeed secure a future for the wild.