A scion of a princely family, Billy Arjan Singh took to hunting at a very young age, but circumstances and his own character led him to a different path altogether. Widely recognized as one of India's most active conservationists, Billy has waged an unremitting battle against environmental destruction for several years. He has been based since 1959 in Tiger Haven, his farm in Uttar Pradesh, close to the border of Nepal. Surrounding his land on three sides is the Dudhwa National Park, the wildlife sanctuary he almost single-handedly established, and which is amongst the few remaining refuges for swamp-deer. It is here that he extensively studied the varied wildlife of the area, especially the tiger. Billy's experiments with re-introducing in the wild captive-bred carnivores, especially the zoo-born tigress Tara, have no parallel in Asia, and his degree of success with the leopard, most notably Prince and the twins Harriet and Juliette, is unique. Billy's extensive writings are an inspiring and reliable record of the large-scale changes in the north Indian countryside, and a tale of one man's efforts to stem the tide of destruction. This volume gathers together some of Billy Arjan Singh's most significant wildlife writing, giving an overview of a life spent in a uniquely single-minded championing of the cause of conservation. With fifteen colour photographs and a biographical introduction by Geoffrey and Diane Raines Ward, this is a collector's edition for wildlife enthusiasts.
