Overview

• Thapar died on May 31, 2025, in New Delhi at age 73 after a year-long struggle with cancer.
• He co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation in 1988 to pioneer community-based tiger conservation in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park.
• He served on more than 150 government panels, including the National Board for Wildlife and the 2005 Tiger Task Force, and he was a vocal critic of India’s Project Cheetah reintroduction plan over habitat and expertise concerns.
• Thapar authored over 30 books and presented landmark documentaries such as the BBC’s Land of the Tiger, becoming a global spokesman for India’s wild cats.
• His passing prompted tributes from political leaders and conservationists who credited him with reshaping national wildlife policies and inspiring a new generation of advocates.