Born in 1952 in Delhi to a politically influential family, Thapar’s early years gave him access to power but not yet to purpose.
A life-altering encounter with a tiger in Ranthambhore during the 1970s shifted his path from politics to wildlife protection.
Mentored by Fateh Singh Rathore, Thapar joined ‘India’s Project Tiger’ and became a central figure in tiger conservation.
He authored over 30 books that raised public awareness of tigers and the threats they faced. Some of them are Land of the Tiger, The Secret Life of Tigers, and Tiger: The Ultimate Guide
He brought wild India into homes worldwide through acclaimed documentaries. His BBC documentary Land of the Tiger remains a landmark in nature storytelling.
His detailed studies of individual tigers in Ranthambhore helped reveal new behaviours and reshaped scientific understanding.
Thapar served on over 150 committees, helping shape wildlife policy. He was a founding voice behind The National Board for Wildlife and The Tiger Task Force.
He often called out the bureaucrats and weak policies and was vocal against the idea that tigers and humans can coexist.
Ranthambhore became a conservation success story, with growing tiger populations linked to individuals he documented.
He passed away on 31 May 2025 in New Delhi, aged 73, leaving behind five decades of tireless conservation work.
Valmik Thapar’s legacy lives in India’s forests, his life’s work helped guarantee tigers remain a living part of the landscape.