Overview

• Valmik Thapar passed away on May 31 in New Delhi after more than five decades championing India’s wild tigers.
• He authored over 30 books and produced landmark documentaries, notably the BBC series Land of the Tiger, to boost public awareness.
• Thapar served on more than 150 government panels and was a founding voice of the National Board for Wildlife and the Tiger Task Force.
• His advocacy for inviolate tiger reserves in Ranthambhore drove significant population rebounds but clashed with proponents of community coexistence.
• Tributes underscore his lasting impact on wildlife policy and the ongoing challenge of balancing protected habitats with forest-dweller rights.