Indian Wildlife Conservationists Who Left a Lasting Legacy for the World

The rich diversity of India’s flora and fauna has always left people in awe! Many researchers and conservationists have gone the extra mile to protect and preserve the natural gifts of our country. In this article, we aim to shed light on those wildlife conservationists who left a legacy for future generations to witness, realise the efforts towards preserving wildlife, and draw inspiration from their work.

Fateh Singh Rathore: All about protecting tigers

One of the key figures in making Ranthambhore National Park a success story is Fateh Singh Rathore, known for his long moustache. As the field director of the park in 1971, he focused on three key areas: the natural regeneration of the habitat, constant engagement with local communities living nearby that went beyond consultations, and an abiding love for the creatures inhabiting the forest. These three core principles later became the foundation of the tiger conservation strategy. He is said to have helped relocate 16 villages from the core area of the National Park to ensure that the local economy thrived even after resettlement, alongside enforcing measures against poaching. It is also said that he nearly died due to his efforts.

Jamal Ara: Known as a 'Birdwoman'

It was none other than the legendary ornithologist Salim Ali who called Jamal Ara the first ‘Birdwoman’ of India! At a time when the field was dominated by men, Ara, who studied only up to class 10, was a prolific writer on the topic of birds. Between 1949 and 1988, she reportedly wrote more than 60 papers and published articles in journals, including the Bombay Natural History Society and the Bengal Natural History Society, as well as the Newsletter for Birdwatchers. Moreover, she was the only spokesperson for Bihar’s “imperilled wilderness,” according to another conservationist, and her work went beyond just advocating for birds. Later, her prescriptions and recommendations laid the foundation for modern conservation in India. To date, her work on the ornithology of the Chota Nagpur plateau remains the only comprehensive study of birds in the region of Jharkhand, according to historian Raza Kazmi.

SP Shahi: No woes with wolves!

Rinchen Wangchuk: With snow leopards

J Vijaya: Towards turtles

One of the most mysterious stories is that of J Vijaya, whose remains were found in Guindy National Park, Tamil Nadu, on April 18, 1987. The cause of death of this 28-year-old, India’s first female herpetologist and turtle field biologist, remains unknown. She began volunteering at Madras Snake Park in 1975 as a college student and quickly understood the exploitation caused by the turtle trade. She travelled across the country, from the ‘badlands’ of Chambal to the meat markets of Kolkata, to stop it. She took black-and-white photos of the brutal slaughter of Ridley sea turtles on Digha beach and in Calcutta's meat markets, which shocked the public when India Today magazine published them in the early 1980s. It was her efforts that forced the Government of India to immediately take action against the exploitation of sea turtles.

Saroj Raj Choudhury: The tiger-parent