Tiger Memories

As a teenager, Ullas Karanth explored the rich jungles of Malenad in Karnataka, driven by his innate passion for nature. Shocked by how people around him were slaughtering wildlife and his deep interest in tigers, he made their scientific study his life’s mission. After two decades of tireless effort and being inspired and mentored by American biologists, Karanth became a professional wildlife biologist. Karanth pioneered the application of radiotelemetry and camera trap surveys to study big cats, line transects to count herbivores and advanced statistical models to accurately track wildlife populations. Simultaneously, he confronted real problems of wildlife and habitat protection by collaborating with colleagues, local communities and government agencies. Overcoming serious hurdles in his conservation journey, Karanth won national and international acclaim during a six-decade long career.