Hemendra Singh Panwar
Born 22 March 1939 · Uttar Pradesh
First director of the Wildlife Institute of India and director of Project Tiger.
🔔 Add birthday reminderHemendra Singh Panwar is an Indian conservationist and civil servant, known for his efforts in the fields of wildlife and conservation. He was the first director of the Wildlife Institute of India and was the director of Project Tiger. The Government of India honoured him, in 2013, with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award, for his services to the environment and conservation.
✨ A detail that surprised us
In 1976, Kanha National Park under Panwar's supervision relocated 22 interior villages to improve tiger and deer habitats, a rare example of large-scale human resettlement for wildlife conservation in India.
1. 🌿 In 1969, Hemendra Singh Panwar was posted to South Mandla, where Kanha National Park had only 30 tigers and 66 barasinghas, sparking his intensive conservation efforts.
2. By 1976, under Panwar's management, Kanha National Park was declared the best managed park in India, with tiger numbers rising to 150 and barasingha deer to over 400.
3. 🐅 In 1981, Panwar took charge as director of Project Tiger in Delhi, overseeing the addition of seven new tiger reserves and increasing the tiger population nationally from 1900 to 3000 by 1985.
4. In 1985, the Wildlife Institute of India was founded, with Panwar as its first director, where he established specialized research and training programs in wildlife biology and management.
5. 🌍 The Wildlife Institute of India gained international acclaim, earning recognition as one of the top six conservation research institutions globally and receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Conservation Award during Panwar’s tenure.
6. Panwar was honored with the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal by WWF International in 2002, marking global acknowledgment of his conservation leadership.
7. 🏅 In 2013, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his environmental and conservation services, underscoring his lasting influence on national wildlife policy.
8. ❓ What strategies did Hemendra Singh Panwar employ to expand Project Tiger reserves during a politically complex era, and how did his leadership shape India’s conservation institutions?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅
🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 1969, Kanha National Park had only 30 tigers and 66 barasinghas, but by 1976, Panwar’s conservation efforts boosted tiger numbers to 150 and barasingha deer to over 400.
🖼️ Through the Years
📷 No photos yet
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
🎥 Know a speech or documentary about Hemendra Singh Panwar?
📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Hemendra Singh Panwar transformed Kanha National Park into a well-managed sanctuary that significantly increased tiger and barasingha populations, setting new standards for park management in India. As the first director of the Wildlife Institute of India, he pioneered formal education and research in wildlife conservation, influencing generations of conservationists. His leadership of Project Tiger expanded protected areas, contributing to a crucial rebound in India’s wild tiger population during the 1980s.
💬 Social Buzz
🐦
What are people saying about Hemendra Singh Panwar?
Found a post from a historian, journalist or notable voice? Share it here and help tell their story. 🇮🇳