Prominent wildlife conservationist and photographer Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh died at his home on the outskirts of Ranthambore tiger reserve in Rajasthan Wednesday morning. He was 57.
Family friend Dharmendra Khandal shared, “Aditya had a surgery after a minor heart attack a few weeks ago, after which he had come back and was recuperating well. It was a normal day yesterday; he was talking to everyone and was very jovial in his usual way. It appears that he died in his sleep early morning today.”
Before dedicating his life to wildlife conservation and photography, Aditya Singh served in the Indian Civil Services. In 1998, he made a life-altering decision to leave his bureaucratic career behind and moved to Ranthambore. There, he leased government property and steadily acquired nearly 40 acres of adjacent farmland, which he transformed into a reserve on the fringes of the Ranthambore tiger reserve.
Khandal, a conservation biologist, praised Singh’s dedication, saying, “Singh took up the rewilding project with great passion and, by eradicating invasive foreign plants and planting native trees, transformed it into a small forest. Through his conservation work, he motivated countless individuals, inspiring a culture of closely monitoring individual tigers among conservationists.”
In addition to his conservation efforts, which included guiding safaris through Ranthambore National Park, Singh co-authored the book “Noor: Queen of Ranthambore.” This book delved into various aspects of tigress Noor’s life through a captivating collection of photographs and stories.
Aditya Singh is survived by his wife, Poonam, and their 11-year-old daughter, Nyra.
Renowned conservationist and close friend Valmik Thapar remembered Singh as a “great fighter” for Ranthambore who never compromised on the truth. Thapar shared, “Who can believe that the larger-than-life Aditya Dicky Singh is no more? Ranthambore will miss him like no other… he loved every inch of Ranthambore and was a great fighter for it. He said what he felt and never compromised with the truth. He was one of the finest wildlife photographers I have ever known, and all my books of the last two decades were strengthened by his brilliant photographs.”
Thapar went on to describe Singh’s deep connection with the local community, highlighting his sense of humor and laughter that made him a pillar of conservation in Ranthambore.
In a heartfelt tribute, Thapar added that Singh’s absence would be felt not only by humans but also by the tigers and wildlife of Ranthambore.
Conservation biologist Neha Sinha shared the sad news on social media and referred to Singh as a “true friend of wildlife and tigers.” She recalled his generosity in sharing photography advice and described him as a wonderful person.
Speaking to the press, Sinha credited Singh’s efforts in rewilding a patch of land for attracting tigers to the area, emphasizing his commitment as a naturalist, conservationist, and wildlife photographer. She expressed how Singh helped bring India’s wildlife to the forefront and closely monitored the tigers in the Ranthambore and Mukundara tiger reserves.
IFS Parveen Kaswan remembered Singh as a friend who was always available for “discussions and chats,” highlighting his transition from government service to dedicating his life to wildlife conservation.
Historian S Irfan Habib expressed his shock over the loss, calling it a “tremendous loss to wildlife conservation” and expressing regret over their unfulfilled plans to meet in Ranthambore.
British photographer Chris Rodgers paid tribute to Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh’s exceptional contributions to wildlife photography and conservation, recalling his kindness and support during his early years in Ranthambore.
Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh leaves behind a legacy of unwavering dedication to wildlife conservation and a profound impact on the lives of countless animals and conservationists. His passing has left a void that will be challenging to fill in the world of wildlife conservation.
