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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name                   = Saroj Raj Choudhury
| name               = Saroj Raj Choudhury
| image                   =  
| image             =  
| imagesize               =  
| imagesize         =  
| caption                 =  
| caption           =  
| birth_date             =  
| birth_date         =  
| birth_place             = Odisha, India
| birth_place       = Odisha, India
| death_date             =  
| death_date         =  
| death_place             =  
| death_place       =  
| restingplace           =  
| restingplace       =  
| restingplacecoordinates =  
| restingplacecoordinates =  
| othername               =  
| othername         =  
| occupation             = Wildlife conservationist
| occupation         = Wildlife conservationist
| yearsactive             =  
| yearsactive       =  
| known for               = [[Project Tiger]]
| known for         = [[Project Tiger]]
| spouse                 = Suklambari Choudhury
| spouse             = Nihar Nalini Swain
| domesticpartner         =  
| domesticpartner   =  
| children               =  
| children           =  
| parents                 =  
| parents           =  
| website                 =  
| website           =  
| awards                 = [[Padma Shri]]
| awards             = [[Padma Shri]]
}}
}}
'''Saroj Raj Choudhury''' was an Indian environmentalist, wildlife conservationist, writer<ref name="iScholar profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.i-scholar.in/index.php/indianforester/search/authors/view?firstName=Saroj%20Raj&middleName=&lastName=Choudhury&affiliation=&country= | title=iScholar profile | publisher=iScholar | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> and the first Forest Conservator under the [[Government of Odisha]].<ref name="Angle Books profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.anglebooks.com/khairi-the-beloved-tigress-saroj-raj-choudhury.html | title=Angle Books profile | publisher=Angle Books | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> He was also the founder director of the [[Simlipal National Park]], in the [[Mayurbhanj district]] in the Indian state of [[Odisha]].<ref name="Down to Earth">{{cite web | url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/17561 | title=Down to Earth | publisher=Down to Earth | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> Choudhury was known for the pugmark technique he employed for tiger census and for his comradeship with ''Khairi'', a domesticated tigress.<ref name="Simlipal Heroes">{{cite web | url=http://www.similipal.org/similipal-heros.php | title=Simlipal Heroes | publisher=Simlipal Tiger Reserve | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="Copy Cats">{{cite web | url=http://www.conservationindia.org/wp-content/files_mf/Killer-Cats-Final_Nov-4-2011.pdf | title=Copy Cats | publisher=Conservation India | date=2011 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> His experiences with the animal has been documented in a book, ''Khairi: The Beloved Tigress'', written by him and published in 1977.<ref name="Khairi: The Beloved Tigress">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ErzFAAAACAAJ | title=Khairi: The Beloved Tigress | publisher=Natraj Publishers | author=Saroj Raj Choudhury | year=2003 | pages=192 | isbn=9788185019710}}</ref> The [[Government of India]] awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] in 1983.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Shri | publisher=Padma Shri | date=2015 | access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref>
'''Saroj Raj Choudhury''' was an Indian environmentalist, wildlife conservationist, writer<ref name="iScholar profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.i-scholar.in/index.php/indianforester/search/authors/view?firstName=Saroj%20Raj&middleName=&lastName=Choudhury&affiliation=&country= | title=iScholar profile | publisher=iScholar | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> and the first Forest Conservator under the [[Government of Odisha]].<ref name="Angle Books profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.anglebooks.com/khairi-the-beloved-tigress-saroj-raj-choudhury.html | title=Angle Books profile | publisher=Angle Books | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> He was also the founder director of the [[Simlipal National Park]], in the [[Mayurbhanj district]] in the Indian state of [[Odisha]].<ref name="Down to Earth">{{cite web | url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/17561 | title=Down to Earth | publisher=Down to Earth | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> Choudhury was known for the pugmark technique he employed for tiger census and for his comradeship with ''Khairi'', a domesticated tigress.<ref name="Simlipal Heroes">{{cite web | url=http://www.similipal.org/similipal-heros.php | title=Simlipal Heroes | publisher=Simlipal Tiger Reserve | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="Copy Cats">{{cite web | url=http://www.conservationindia.org/wp-content/files_mf/Killer-Cats-Final_Nov-4-2011.pdf | title=Copy Cats | publisher=Conservation India | date=2011 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> His experiences with the animal has been documented in a book, ''Khairi: The Beloved Tigress'', written by him and published in 1977.<ref name="Khairi: The Beloved Tigress">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ErzFAAAACAAJ | title=Khairi: The Beloved Tigress | publisher=Natraj Publishers | author=Saroj Raj Choudhury | year=2003 | pages=192 | isbn=9788185019710}}</ref> The [[Government of India]] awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] in 1983.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Shri | publisher=Padma Shri | date=2015 | access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref>
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Saroj Raj Choudhury, born in [[Odisha]], started his career as a forest officer in [[Government of Odisha]] service and rose in ranks to become a wildlife conservation officer, the first person to occupy the post.<ref name="Abe Books profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.abebooks.co.uk/9788185019710/Khairi-Beloved-Tigress-Chowdhary-Saroj-8185019711/plp | title=Abe Books profile | publisher=Abe Books | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> Later, he was transferred as the head of the [[Forest Research Institute (India)|Forest Research Institute]], founded in 1878 by the German forester, [[Dietrich Brandis]].<ref name="The Indian Forest School">{{cite journal | url=https://archive.org/stream/transactionsofsc11scot#page/154/mode/2up | title=The Indian Forest School | author=Bailey, F. | journal=Transactions of the Scottish Arboricultural Society | year=1885 | volume=11 | issue=2 | pages=155–161}}</ref> When [[Simlipal Tiger Reserve]] was established in 1972, Choudhury was made its founder field director and the head of [[Project Tiger]]<ref name="An epic link">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110425/jsp/orissa/story_13898581.jsp | title=An epic link | publisher=The Telegraph | date=25 April 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> with his headquarters in [[Baripada]].<ref name="Simlipal">{{cite web | url=http://hyderabad.sancharnet.in/bid_simitig/net_similipal_status%20note%20May%202002.doc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710054707/http://hyderabad.sancharnet.in/bid_simitig/net_similipal_status%20note%20May%202002.doc | url-status=dead | archive-date=2015-07-10 | title=Simlipal | publisher=Sancharnet | date=2002 | access-date=7 July 2015 }}</ref>
Saroj Raj Choudhury, born in [[Odisha]], started his career as a forest officer in [[Government of Odisha]] service and rose in ranks to become a wildlife conservation officer, the first person to occupy the post.<ref name="Abe Books profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.abebooks.co.uk/9788185019710/Khairi-Beloved-Tigress-Chowdhary-Saroj-8185019711/plp | title=Abe Books profile | publisher=Abe Books | date=2015 | access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> Later, he was transferred as the head of the [[Forest Research Institute (India)|Forest Research Institute]], founded in 1878 by the German forester, [[Dietrich Brandis]].<ref name="The Indian Forest School">{{cite journal | url=https://archive.org/stream/transactionsofsc11scot#page/154/mode/2up | title=The Indian Forest School | author=Bailey, F. | journal=Transactions of the Scottish Arboricultural Society | year=1885 | volume=11 | issue=2 | pages=155–161}}</ref> When [[Simlipal Tiger Reserve]] was established in 1972, Choudhury was made its founder field director and the head of [[Project Tiger]]<ref name="An epic link">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110425/jsp/orissa/story_13898581.jsp | title=An epic link | publisher=The Telegraph | date=25 April 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> with his headquarters in [[Baripada]].<ref name="Simlipal">{{cite web | url=http://hyderabad.sancharnet.in/bid_simitig/net_similipal_status%20note%20May%202002.doc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710054707/http://hyderabad.sancharnet.in/bid_simitig/net_similipal_status%20note%20May%202002.doc | url-status=dead | archive-date=2015-07-10 | title=Simlipal | publisher=Sancharnet | date=2002 | access-date=7 July 2015 }}</ref>


1974 was a landmark year in Choudhury's life when the Kharia tribals brought a female tiger cub found near the [[Khairi]] river.<ref name="Legend behind a legend">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/legend-behind-a-legend/article3219308.ece | title=Legend behind a legend | publisher=The Hindu | date=22 January 2006 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Hariharan Balakrishnan}}</ref> He took the cub into his care and converted his quarters at Jashipur in such a way to accommodate the wild animal. The cub, named ''Khairi'' after the [[Khairi|river]] he was found from, remained with Choudhury for number of years even after it was full grown.<ref name="An epic link" /> He also reared several other wild animals at his residence such as a crocodile, a bear cub named ''Jumbu'', a blind hyena called ''Baina'' and a mongoose, all of them roamed free in his courtyard.<ref name="The Wildlife Memoirs: A Forester Recollects">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Chxpu5jU3VYC&q=Saroj+Raj+Choudhury+biography&pg=PA21 | title=The Wildlife Memoirs: A Forester Recollects | publisher=Concept Publications |author1=R. C. Sharma |author2=J. J. Dutta |author3=Suhas Kumar |author4=Ajoy Kumar Bhattacharya | year=2008 | pages=192 | isbn=9788180695179}}</ref>
1974 was a landmark year in Choudhury's life when the Kharia tribals brought a female tiger cub found near the [[Khairi]] river.<ref name="Legend behind a legend">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/legend-behind-a-legend/article3219308.ece | title=Legend behind a legend | publisher=The Hindu | date=22 January 2006 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Hariharan Balakrishnan}}</ref> He and his wife, Nihar Nalini Swain, took the cub into their care and converted their quarters at Jashipur in such a way to accommodate the wild animal. The cub, named ''Khairi'' after the [[Khairi|river]] she was found near, remained with the couple for number of years even after it was full grown.<ref name="An epic link" /> They also reared several other wild animals at their residence such as a crocodile, a bear cub named ''Jumbu'', a blind hyena called ''Baina'' and a mongoose, all of them roamed free in his courtyard.<ref name="The Wildlife Memoirs: A Forester Recollects">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Chxpu5jU3VYC&q=Saroj+Raj+Choudhury+biography&pg=PA21 | title=The Wildlife Memoirs: A Forester Recollects | publisher=Concept Publications |author1=R. C. Sharma |author2=J. J. Dutta |author3=Suhas Kumar |author4=Ajoy Kumar Bhattacharya | year=2008 | pages=192 | isbn=9788180695179}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Mohanty|first=Debabrata|date=December 30, 2021|title=Nihar Nalini Swain, foster mother of tigress Khairi in Odisha, dies at 88|work=The Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nihar-nalini-swain-foster-mother-of-tigress-khairi-in-odisha-dies-at-88-101640804306297.html|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref>


Choudhury was credited with several initiatives in the field of wildlife conservation. He was the first to introduce the ''pugmark methodology'' for the census of tigers in India, a technique he introduced while heading the first tiger census in India in 1972 which later became a popular method used all over India.<ref name="Abe Books profile" /> Based on his observations of Khairi and by maintaining a daily log of Khairi's movements,<ref name="Khairi">{{cite web | url=http://micheal-learns-to-paint.blogspot.ae/2011/12/khairi.html | title=Khairi | publisher=Adventure with Colours | date=22 December 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> he conducted research on the behaviour patterns of tigers, especially on the topic of [[pheromone]]s,<ref name="Down to Earth" /> which helped the later day research of R. L. Brahmachary on the subject.<ref name="Abe Books profile" /><ref name="The aroma of rice ... and tiger">{{cite journal | title=The aroma of rice ... and tiger |author1=R. L. Brahmachary |author2=Mousumi Poddar Sarkar |author3=J. Dutta | journal=Nature |date=March 1990  | volume=344 | issue=26 | pages=26 | doi=10.1038/344026b0 | pmid=18278014|s2cid=4236143 }}</ref> He also introduced the use of tranquilizers for capturing wild tuskers.<ref name="Angle Books profile" /> His studies have been documented by way of several papers published in journals<ref name="iScholar profile" /><ref name="Maintenance of Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks">{{cite journal | url=http://www.indianforester.co.in/index.php/indianforester/article/view/26871 | title=Maintenance of Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks | author=Saroj Raj Choudhury | journal=Indian Forester Journal |date=June 1974  | volume=100 | issue=6 | issn=0019-4816}}</ref> and his autobiographical book, ''Khairi, The Beloved Tigress''.<ref name="Khairi: The Beloved Tigress"/>
Choudhury was credited with several initiatives in the field of wildlife conservation. He was the first to introduce the ''pugmark methodology'' for the census of tigers in India, a technique he introduced while heading the first tiger census in India in 1972 which later became a popular method used all over India.<ref name="Abe Books profile" /> Based on his observations of Khairi and by maintaining a daily log of Khairi's movements,<ref name="Khairi">{{cite web | url=http://micheal-learns-to-paint.blogspot.ae/2011/12/khairi.html | title=Khairi | publisher=Adventure with Colours | date=22 December 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> he conducted research on the behaviour patterns of tigers, especially on the topic of [[pheromone]]s,<ref name="Down to Earth" /> which helped the later day research of R. L. Brahmachary on the subject.<ref name="Abe Books profile" /><ref name="The aroma of rice ... and tiger">{{cite journal | title=The aroma of rice ... and tiger |author1=R. L. Brahmachary |author2=Mousumi Poddar Sarkar |author3=J. Dutta | journal=Nature |date=March 1990  | volume=344 | issue=26 | pages=26 | doi=10.1038/344026b0 | pmid=18278014|s2cid=4236143 }}</ref> He also introduced the use of tranquilizers for capturing wild tuskers.<ref name="Angle Books profile" /> His studies have been documented by way of several papers published in journals<ref name="iScholar profile" /><ref name="Maintenance of Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks">{{cite journal | url=http://www.indianforester.co.in/index.php/indianforester/article/view/26871 | title=Maintenance of Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks | author=Saroj Raj Choudhury | journal=Indian Forester Journal |date=June 1974  | volume=100 | issue=6 | issn=0019-4816}}</ref> and his autobiographical book, ''Khairi, The Beloved Tigress''.<ref name="Khairi: The Beloved Tigress"/>

Revision as of 11:50, 30 December 2021

Saroj Raj Choudhury
Born
Odisha, India
OccupationWildlife conservationist
Known forProject Tiger
Spouse(s)Nihar Nalini Swain
AwardsPadma Shri

Saroj Raj Choudhury was an Indian environmentalist, wildlife conservationist, writer[1] and the first Forest Conservator under the Government of Odisha.[2] He was also the founder director of the Simlipal National Park, in the Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha.[3] Choudhury was known for the pugmark technique he employed for tiger census and for his comradeship with Khairi, a domesticated tigress.[4][5] His experiences with the animal has been documented in a book, Khairi: The Beloved Tigress, written by him and published in 1977.[6] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1983.[7]

Biography

Saroj Raj Choudhury, born in Odisha, started his career as a forest officer in Government of Odisha service and rose in ranks to become a wildlife conservation officer, the first person to occupy the post.[8] Later, he was transferred as the head of the Forest Research Institute, founded in 1878 by the German forester, Dietrich Brandis.[9] When Simlipal Tiger Reserve was established in 1972, Choudhury was made its founder field director and the head of Project Tiger[10] with his headquarters in Baripada.[11]

1974 was a landmark year in Choudhury's life when the Kharia tribals brought a female tiger cub found near the Khairi river.[12] He and his wife, Nihar Nalini Swain, took the cub into their care and converted their quarters at Jashipur in such a way to accommodate the wild animal. The cub, named Khairi after the river she was found near, remained with the couple for number of years even after it was full grown.[10] They also reared several other wild animals at their residence such as a crocodile, a bear cub named Jumbu, a blind hyena called Baina and a mongoose, all of them roamed free in his courtyard.[13][14]

Choudhury was credited with several initiatives in the field of wildlife conservation. He was the first to introduce the pugmark methodology for the census of tigers in India, a technique he introduced while heading the first tiger census in India in 1972 which later became a popular method used all over India.[8] Based on his observations of Khairi and by maintaining a daily log of Khairi's movements,[15] he conducted research on the behaviour patterns of tigers, especially on the topic of pheromones,[3] which helped the later day research of R. L. Brahmachary on the subject.[8][16] He also introduced the use of tranquilizers for capturing wild tuskers.[2] His studies have been documented by way of several papers published in journals[1][17] and his autobiographical book, Khairi, The Beloved Tigress.[6]

Choudhury had close ties with other conservationists such as Salim Ali, who supported the initiative to establish Khairi Wildlife Institute, which did not materialise, allegedly due to disinterestedness shown by the authorities.[18] The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1983.[7] Choudhury, did not survive Khairi for long,[10][12] after the tigress was euthanised by an overdose of tranquilizers when she contracted rabies from a dog bite.[13]

Bibliography

  • Saroj Raj Choudhury (2003). Khairi: The Beloved Tigress. Natraj Publishers. p. 192. ISBN 9788185019710.
  • Saroj Raj Choudhury (1974). "Maintenance of Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks". Indian Forester. 100 (6): 373–390.
  • Saroj Raj Choudhury (1975). "Forestry and Wildlife Conservation in the Tropics". Indian Forester. 101 (1): 45–46.
  • Saroj Raj Choudhury (1977). "Grass Tracer". Indian Forester. 103 (7): 454–457.
  • Saroj Raj Choudhury (1977). "Olfaction Ecology of Peak Cudding in Similipal Tigers". Indian Forester. 103 (9): 577–583.
  • Saroj Raj Choudhury (1980). "Olfaction, Marking and Oestrus in a Tiger". Indian Forester. 106 (4): 233–258.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "iScholar profile". iScholar. 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Angle Books profile". Angle Books. 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Down to Earth". Down to Earth. 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Simlipal Heroes". Simlipal Tiger Reserve. 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Copy Cats" (PDF). Conservation India. 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Saroj Raj Choudhury (2003). Khairi: The Beloved Tigress. Natraj Publishers. p. 192. ISBN 9788185019710.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Abe Books profile". Abe Books. 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Bailey, F. (1885). "The Indian Forest School". Transactions of the Scottish Arboricultural Society. 11 (2): 155–161.
  10. ↑ "Simlipal". Sancharnet. 2002. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  11. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hariharan Balakrishnan (22 January 2006). "Legend behind a legend". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  12. ↑ 13.0 13.1 R. C. Sharma; J. J. Dutta; Suhas Kumar; Ajoy Kumar Bhattacharya (2008). The Wildlife Memoirs: A Forester Recollects. Concept Publications. p. 192. ISBN 9788180695179.
  13. ↑ Mohanty, Debabrata (30 December 2021). "Nihar Nalini Swain, foster mother of tigress Khairi in Odisha, dies at 88". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Khairi". Adventure with Colours. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  15. ↑ R. L. Brahmachary; Mousumi Poddar Sarkar; J. Dutta (March 1990). "The aroma of rice ... and tiger". Nature. 344 (26): 26. doi:10.1038/344026b0. PMID 18278014. S2CID 4236143.
  16. ↑ Saroj Raj Choudhury (June 1974). "Maintenance of Wildlife Sanctuaries & Parks". Indian Forester Journal. 100 (6). ISSN 0019-4816.
  17. ↑ "Salim Ali and Birds of Odisha". Satyesh Naik. 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saroj_Raj_Choudhury&oldid=291172"
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