Lala Aswini Kumar Singh
Dr. Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, PhD is an Indian zoologist and a life-long wildlife researcher. In a span of 49 years (from 1974) Dr. Singh has delivered volumes of research-based knowledge, technique and training materials, most of which are now available online, for improving conservation and management in projects for crocodiles, tiger and elephant. His studies on Aphid insects, Chameleon, the Kalakuta (Eublepharis) gecko and fauna in higher canopy of forest in Odisha are pathbreaking stimuli for field zoologists. Dr. Singh is a Member of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Planning Specialists Group. In 2013 he was honoured with the Odisha state award, the Biju Patnaik Prize for Wildlife Conservation.
Aswini Kumar did pioneer work on captive rearing, population studies and radio-tracking of gharial. His work in Chambal gave directions for long term ecological monitoring and multi-species approach to conservation of wetland, that included studies on Gangetic dolphin and large riverine birds. In 1986, Dr. L. A. K. Singh participated in the establishment of Wildlife Institute of India, and was convener of Technical Committee on Crocodile Conservation. During 1980s Dr. Singh was the Deputy-Vice Chair of IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group.
Dr. Singh has refined and simplified the technical interface in tiger tracking that is conducted with staff and local people at the grass root level in the state of Odisha. The 1999-book Born Black by Dr. Singh on colour possibilities in tiger worldwide has emerged from pursuing instances of melanistic tiger in Similipal, their conservation and biological implications, the necessity to maintain gene pools by expanding conservation landscapes linking tiger-elephant corridor, etc. The WWF-India Tiger Conservation Programme have felicitated Dr. Singh for his innovative and significant contributions in tiger conservation. WWF have published his works on Tiger Tracking and Tiger Colour variations.
At Similipal, Dr. Singh prepared the Project Elephant Scheme for Odisha in 1989. In order to address issues relating to human-elephant interface, the scheme conceptualized Elephant Reserves and corridors linking tiger landscapes. He has analysed the impact of elephant movement across interstate border. The project is an important viable national project for elephant conservation.
Aswini Kumar was born on 19 June 1953 in Puri, Odisha, joined as Research Scholar at Gharial Research and Conservation Unit at Tikarpada in 1975. Dr. Singh served the Union Government of India in various capacities for six and a half years.
At the wildlife headquarters in Odisha Dr. Singh helped coordination and planning of Critical Wildlife Habitat, Eco-sensitive zones around Sanctuaries, Conservation of Wildlife Outside Protected Areas, planning and training.
Dr. Singh was instrumental in preparation of plans for Tiger Reserves and Biosphere Reserve. His studies generated prescriptions for tourism in Similipal. Dr. Singh pleads for cascade approach in eco-tourism that would reduce conflict in wildlife conservation and provide round-the-year livelihood to local people.
Dr. Singh got research and training experience in USA, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Australia and Sri Lanka. He received FAO Fellowship in 1982 for studying wildlife management in southern USA. He studied Animal Management from National Extension College, Cambridge with fellowship from Conservation Treaty Support Fund-USA in 1991. He represented Government of India at conferences in Zimbabwe and Australia.
His books on Gharial and Elephant movement are presented in 8 global languages. At present, Dr. Lala Aswini Kumar Singh is living in Bhubaneswar, India, reviewing and editing journal articles online, and making available his own research outputs in digital shape for future researchers.
In October 2020 Dr. Singh received 'The Sally Walker Lifetime Award for Conservation in recognition for outstanding and dedicated service to Indian Wildlife'.
Aswini Kumar did pioneer work on captive rearing, population studies and radio-tracking of gharial. His work in Chambal gave directions for long term ecological monitoring and multi-species approach to conservation of wetland, that included studies on Gangetic dolphin and large riverine birds. In 1986, Dr. L. A. K. Singh participated in the establishment of Wildlife Institute of India, and was convener of Technical Committee on Crocodile Conservation. During 1980s Dr. Singh was the Deputy-Vice Chair of IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group.
Dr. Singh has refined and simplified the technical interface in tiger tracking that is conducted with staff and local people at the grass root level in the state of Odisha. The 1999-book Born Black by Dr. Singh on colour possibilities in tiger worldwide has emerged from pursuing instances of melanistic tiger in Similipal, their conservation and biological implications, the necessity to maintain gene pools by expanding conservation landscapes linking tiger-elephant corridor, etc. The WWF-India Tiger Conservation Programme have felicitated Dr. Singh for his innovative and significant contributions in tiger conservation. WWF have published his works on Tiger Tracking and Tiger Colour variations.
At Similipal, Dr. Singh prepared the Project Elephant Scheme for Odisha in 1989. In order to address issues relating to human-elephant interface, the scheme conceptualized Elephant Reserves and corridors linking tiger landscapes. He has analysed the impact of elephant movement across interstate border. The project is an important viable national project for elephant conservation.
Aswini Kumar was born on 19 June 1953 in Puri, Odisha, joined as Research Scholar at Gharial Research and Conservation Unit at Tikarpada in 1975. Dr. Singh served the Union Government of India in various capacities for six and a half years.
At the wildlife headquarters in Odisha Dr. Singh helped coordination and planning of Critical Wildlife Habitat, Eco-sensitive zones around Sanctuaries, Conservation of Wildlife Outside Protected Areas, planning and training.
Dr. Singh was instrumental in preparation of plans for Tiger Reserves and Biosphere Reserve. His studies generated prescriptions for tourism in Similipal. Dr. Singh pleads for cascade approach in eco-tourism that would reduce conflict in wildlife conservation and provide round-the-year livelihood to local people.
Dr. Singh got research and training experience in USA, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Australia and Sri Lanka. He received FAO Fellowship in 1982 for studying wildlife management in southern USA. He studied Animal Management from National Extension College, Cambridge with fellowship from Conservation Treaty Support Fund-USA in 1991. He represented Government of India at conferences in Zimbabwe and Australia.
His books on Gharial and Elephant movement are presented in 8 global languages. At present, Dr. Lala Aswini Kumar Singh is living in Bhubaneswar, India, reviewing and editing journal articles online, and making available his own research outputs in digital shape for future researchers.
In October 2020 Dr. Singh received 'The Sally Walker Lifetime Award for Conservation in recognition for outstanding and dedicated service to Indian Wildlife'.
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Research developed a 14-colour model for colour variation in tiger (Panthera tigris), and 1999-publication of book, 'Born Black' by Dr. L. A. K. Singh, through WWF-India. Downloadable at academia.edu. There is prediction that such aberrations occur in any population of tiger in nature. We don't see these because of rarity, and quick elimination as a natural process. In 2000 golden tiger photo from Kaziranga proved a point. After over two decades of Podagad, molecular studies (2021) have proved the presence and preponderance of melanistic tiger in Similipal. The study was ahead of time without modern techs.
Books by Lala Aswini Kumar Singh
Singh, L. A. K. (2019). 2.12. Captive Elephants for Similipal, pages 121-126, In: Palei, N. C., L. A. K. Singh and H. K. Sahu (2019). Elephant Movement and its Impacts: Conservation Management in Odisha, India: Case Study. Lambert Academic Publishing, ISBN 978-613-9-97302-6; 405 pages, 104 Tables, 69 Figures, 41 Photographs.
crocodilian, endemic to Indian subcontinent was of paramount concern
for Government of India in 1974. In 1975 India launched projects for
conservation of Indian crocodilians with support of FAO and UNDP.
Research to develop knowledge on biology and field techniques to help ex
situ and in situ management, as described in pages of this book, is a classic
example where research went hand in hand for success in conservation.
The book contains data on ecology, reproduction, food, feeding habits,
food conversion, behavior, disease and captive management of Gharial. It
describes the phenomenon of egg space economy and post-hatching
growth priority that endowed Gharial the morphometrics for life attached
to perennial rivers. The book is primarily based on author’s PhD dissertation
“Ecological Studies on the Indian Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus (Gmelin)
(Reptilia, Crocodilia)”, and Post-doc work on the species in Rivers Mahanadi and Chambal. There are nine Chapters: (1.) Introduction containing Systematic position in Animal Kingdom, Modern World Crocodilians, Key to Group Identification, Crocodiles of India; (2.) Antiquity, Distribution and Status; (3.) Habitat Features; (4.) Population Character; (5.) Growth Characters and Ecological Significance; (6.) Food, Feeding Habits and Food Conversion; (7.) Behaviour; (8.) Crocodile Management in India. Each Chapter ends in a Summary with Literature Consulted and Further Reading. Chapter-9 gives the details of citations.
A range of twelve types of body colouration from stripeless-white tiger, white tiger, golden tiger, normal light yellow tiger, normal deep yellow tiger, rufous tiger, brown tiger, melanistic tiger, blue tiger and black tiger have been discussed with a hypothetical normal distribution curve.
With increasing human pressure on tiger habitats and increased emergence of a phenomenon where tiger populations are getting restricted like insular fauna, the chances of inbreeding are certainly increasing. The natural conclusion which, therefore, emerges is that in future, wherever colour aberrations are appearing in a cat species, if chances of inbreeding are greater because of small or isolated populations, the aberrations will gradually get segregated and incidence of individuals with colour aberration shall be more frequent.
The concept of forest corridors, specially conceived for elephant management, could additionally ensure the exchange of genes from adjacent areas so that homozygous conditions of pure black, melanistic or white are reduced in nature and the majestic tiger in tawny and black continues to reign in the forest habitat. Conservation of tiger requires aiming at reducing the possibility of genetic erosion of normal colouration of the tiger in the wild through habitat improvement.
Pages 61-98. IN:
Singh, L. A. K. (2018). Gharial is a Fish-eating Crocodile: Its Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation. Lambert Academic Publishing, ISBN 978-613-8-38791-6, 268+pp, 29 figures, 82 images, 2 maps. Language: English; published on 19 April 2018. (In English and 8 other languages French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian).
Conservation with ‘wild’ elephants is easier said than done, particularly when the state of Odisha is required to harmonise developmental initiatives with the safety and wellbeing of elephants. Odisha without elephants is unthinkable. People have adopted various methods to avoid confrontations with elephants. These techniques till the year 2010 form lessons for those who experience elephant problems for the first time. The publication presents the scenario of depredation. It compiles most of the available methods known to be adopted for addressing issues relating to man-elephant interface.