Born in New Delhi in 1952, Thapar dedicated his life to the study and conservation of wild tigers, especially in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park. Text and photos courtesy: PTI/File pics
Thapar co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation in 1988, a non-governmental organisation focused on community-based conservation efforts
The tiger conservationist was mentored by Fateh Singh Rathore, a legendary figure in Indian conservation and a key member of the original Project Tiger team
Over his five-decade-long career, Thapar strongly lobbied for tougher anti-poaching rules and efforts to protect tiger habitats
Thapar was part of more than 150 government panels and task forces, including the National Board for Wildlife, which is led by the prime minister
In 2005, he was appointed a member of the Tiger Task Force, set up by the UPA government to review the management of tiger reserves following the disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve
Thapar wrote or edited more than 30 books on wildlife, including 'Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent (1997)', and 'Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tiger in India'
One of his more famous works was a six-part series "Land of the Tiger" (1997), which explored the nature and wildlife of the Indian subcontinent.
In 2024, he appeared in the documentary "My Tiger Family," which showcased his 50 years of observing wild tigers in Ranthambore National Park
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