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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‘for a successful career in field research with animals, it is the best approach to start from a wetland.’ If we start from water or the edge of water, we can diversify our work on biodiversity from water on to the land. In fact, “wetland conservation” is the key to success in conservation of other life-supporting ecosystems on land as well as in water.