Other States - Mumbai   

Billy Arjan Singh passes away

Wildlife enthusiast: Billy Arjan Singh

MUMBAI / LAKHIMPUR: Veteran wildlife conservationist and author Billy Arjan Singh died at his residence, ‘Tiger Haven’, in the vicinity of the famous Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh on New Year’s Day, according to his family sources. He was 94.

Billy had been ailing for some time, largely on account of the infirmities of old age, at his home, 250 km from Lucknow.

“Body-builder, reformed hunter, foster father to an infamous tiger or a thorn in the side of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department….. how would you like to be remembered?” Bittu Sahgal, Editor of Sanctuary magazine and a tiger conservationist himself, had asked Billy once while interviewing him.

To that the legendary tigers’ friend had replied: “I want simply to be remembered as Arjan Singh, a man who loved tigers and fought to keep them alive and safe from humans.”

Closely related to the Kapurthala royal family, Billy had settled down several decades ago in his farm almost in the middle of a thick forest in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh along the Indo-Nepal border. It was thanks entirely to his efforts that this forest was later declared as Dudhwa National Park, which eventually emerged as North India’s second largest tiger reserve after the world famous Corbett National Park.

Earlier, Billy shot to fame after he penned down the story of his pet tigress, Tara, whom he raised almost like a domestic animal.

Tara, who lived with him for several years in his Tiger Haven, remained a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts from across the globe.

Billy was honoured with a Padma Shri in 1975 for his efforts towards wildlife conservation, besides awards like World Wildlife Gold Medal, Lifetime Award for Tiger Conservation in 1999 and J. Paul Getty Award in 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the coveted Padma Bhushan and the Yash Bharti by the UP Government.

Apart from his active contribution to wildlife conservation, Billy authored many books on tigers and wildlife.

“Billy even in his last days was deeply concerned over the wildlife in Dudhwa and was keen to know the genetic status of the tigers in the park,” said Terai Nature Conservation Society convenor Vijay Prakash Singh on Saturday. - PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

“IPS officer marked absent but gets marks in law examination”
Mumbai to ban plastic bags
Noted sarod and sitar maker Sen dead
Billy Arjan Singh passes away

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu