Prashant Kumar Sen
| Prashant Kumar Sen | |
|---|---|
 PKSeninSariskaTigerReserve1.jpg P.K. Sen in Sariska Tiger Reserve | |
| Born | August 4, 1941 Kolkata, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| 💀Died | May 2, 2021 (aged 79) New Delhi, IndiaMay 2, 2021 (aged 79) |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Indian |
| 💼 Occupation | Wildlife conservationist |
| 📆 Years active | 1968–2021 |
| Known for | Director of Project Tiger; tiger conservation advocacy |
| 🏅 Awards | Padma Shri (2011) |
Prashant Kumar "P.K." Sen (4 August 1941 – 2 May 2021) was an Indian wildlife conservationist and a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer known for his work in tiger conservation. He served as the Director of Project Tiger in the 1990s. Renowned for his outspoken advocacy, Sen publicly highlighted the crisis of tiger poaching and habitat loss. In 2011, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to wildlife conservation.[1][2]
Early life
Sen was born on 4 August 1941 in Kolkata, Bengal Presidency (now in West Bengal), India.[1] He was raised in a Bengali family and spent much of his youth in the forests of present-day Jharkhand, where he developed a passion for wildlife.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Bihar in 1962 and trained at the Indian Forest College in Dehradun until 1965.[3] He joined the Bihar state forest service and entered the IFS in 1968.[3]
Career
Sen served in various capacities in the Bihar Forest Department. As Divisional Forest Officer in Porahat, he refused political pressure to grant illegal timber contracts, resulting in a transfer to Munger. There, he curbed poaching and secured the notification of the Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary.[4] Later, he acted against timber smuggling in Garhwa.
In 1991, he became Field Director of Palamau Tiger Reserve, revitalising protection measures despite insurgency in the area, and preventing the construction of the Kutku Dam, which would have submerged core tiger habitat.[4] In 1994, he was appointed Chief Wildlife Warden of Bihar, initiating management plans for protected areas.
Sen became Director of Project Tiger in 1996, reforming the programme, creating new reserves, and improving anti-poaching measures.[4] He pioneered funding for voluntary relocation of villages from core tiger habitats, including Karnataka’s Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
He gained international attention in 1998 by stating India was "losing a tiger a day" to poaching, challenging official narratives and spurring later reforms such as the creation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.[5]
After retiring in 2001,[6] Sen worked with WWF-India as Director of its Tiger and Wildlife Programme, warning about the extinction of tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve before it was confirmed in 2005. He later led the Ranthambhore Foundation and edited its quarterly journal TigerLink.
Awards and honours
- Padma Shri (2011) for environmental conservation.[2]
- Sanctuary Asia Lifetime Service Award (2002).[1]
- Namesake of the "Padmashri P.K. Sen Memorial Award", instituted in 2022 to honour frontline wildlife staff.[7]
Legacy
Sen is remembered as one of India’s most outspoken tiger conservationists. His tenure at Project Tiger refocused attention on the species’ plight, and his candid statements forced official acknowledgment of poaching crises.[4] His protégés and colleagues continue his conservation ethos. He died on 2 May 2021 in New Delhi from COVID-19 during India’s second wave.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kazmi, S.E.H. (June 2021). "In Memory of P.K. Sen Saheb (August 4, 1941 – May 2, 2021)". Sanctuary Asia.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Padma Awards 2011". Press Information Bureau. 25 January 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sahgal, Bittu (November 2002). "Meet P.K. Sen". Sanctuary Asia.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bindra, Prerna Singh (31 May 2021). "PK Sen: A Large-hearted Gentleman". Conservation India.
- ↑ Padel, Ruth (5 February 2006). "Honorary Tiger". The Independent.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Mr P.K. Sen – In Memoriam". WWF India. 2 May 2021.
- ↑ "Honour for green warriors". The Times of India. 17 July 2022.
External links
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