Noted wildlife photographer and conservationist Adiya ‘Dicky’ Singh, known for developing a forest reserve on the outskirts of the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district, died of a heart attack at his home on Wednesday. He was 57. He is survived by his wife, Poonam, and 11-year-old daughter, Nyra.
Mr. Singh left the Indian Administrative Service in 1998 and shifted to Ranthambore to pursue his passion for wildlife photography and work on documentaries and conservation projects. He worked as a field assistant for wildlife documentaries produced for BBC, National Geographic, NHK Broadcasting Service and several other institutions.
Mr. Singh leased a government property and purchased about 40 acres of the adjacent farmland, where he created a forest reserve. His initiative to cultivate the forest on the boundary of Ranthambore National Park stopped woodcutting and illegal mining in the area. The reserve continues to be a non-commercial property.
