Overview
Billy Arjan Singh (1917–2010) was an Indian hunter-turned-conservationist and author best known for his work in protecting the tiger and the leopard in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. A self-taught naturalist, he played a central role in the establishment of the Dudhwa National Park and became one of the most recognisable advocates for big cat conservation in independent India.
Key facts
| Full name | Kunwar Arjan Singh ("Billy") |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 August 1917 |
| Died | 1 January 2010 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Tiger and leopard conservation; founding Dudhwa National Park |
| Residence | Tiger Haven, near Dudhwa, Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh |
| Notable honours | Padma Shri (1976), Padma Bhushan (2006), WWF Gold Medal, J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize |
Background
Born into the royal family of Kapurthala, Arjan Singh spent much of his early life as a hunter in the forests of northern India, a pursuit common among the landed gentry of the period. After settling on a tract of farmland adjoining the Dudhwa forests in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, he gave up shooting in the 1960s and turned to wildlife protection. He named his farm and homestead Tiger Haven, which became both his residence for the rest of his life and a base for his conservation activities.
Conservation career
Arjan Singh campaigned persistently with the Uttar Pradesh and central governments for legal protection of the Dudhwa forests, which support sal woodland, tall grasslands and swamp habitat along the India–Nepal border. His advocacy contributed to Dudhwa being declared a wildlife sanctuary and, in 1977, a national park. In 1987–88, Dudhwa was brought under Project Tiger as a tiger reserve, in significant part due to his sustained lobbying.
He is particularly associated with experiments in rehabilitating hand-reared big cats into the wild. He raised and released a leopardess named Prince, and later a tigress named Tara, who had been brought from Twycross Zoo in the United Kingdom. The Tara experiment, conducted with the consent of the central government, later became controversial within Indian conservation circles owing to debates over the genetic origins of the animal and its descendants in the Dudhwa population.
Writings
Arjan Singh wrote extensively about his experiences with tigers, leopards and the Terai ecosystem. His books include:
- Tiger Haven
- Prince of Cats
- Tara, a Tigress
- Tiger! Tiger!
- The Legend of the Maneater
- A Tiger's Story
His writing combined field observation with strong advocacy for stricter habitat protection and against poaching.
Recognition
- Padma Shri (1976) – Government of India
- Padma Bhushan (2006) – Government of India
- WWF Gold Medal
- J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize
- Order of the Golden Ark (Netherlands)
Significance
Arjan Singh is regarded as one of the pioneers of post-Independence wildlife conservation in India, alongside figures such as Kailash Sankhala and M. Krishnan. His work helped bring the Terai's tiger and leopard populations to national and international attention, and Dudhwa remains one of the principal tiger reserves of northern India. Tiger Haven continues to be cited in conservation literature as an example of a private landholding actively used to support adjoining protected areas.
Related topics
- Dudhwa National Park
- Project Tiger
- Terai
- Wildlife conservation in India
- Bengal tiger
- Indian leopard
- Kapurthala
References
- Wikidata entry: Q862993
- Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs – Padma Awards announcements (1976, 2006)
- Project Tiger, National Tiger Conservation Authority – documentation on Dudhwa Tiger Reserve