BENGALURU: Kotrangada Medappa Chinnappa, 84, a passionate conservationist and retired Karnataka Forest Department officer, who worked mainly at the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, passed away on Monday in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu District.
Without any formal training in forestry or a college degree, Chinnappa fought hard to safeguard the flora and fauna of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, and transform it into one of the best-managed tiger reserves of India by initiating several conservational programmes.
Born in 1941 at Kumtoor village in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu in a soldier’s family, Chinnappa spent his childhood and youth amidst nature watching animals and plants species from close quarters in their own habitat. Captivated by the nature and its forms, Chinnappa sought a job in the forest department and was posted as a forester at Nagarahole way back in 1967. Noticing that the park was in ruins with poachers, smugglers and encroachers freely roaming across the forests, Chinnappa, with whatever resources he had, waged a war against the culprits.
His relentless efforts, spanning two decades, resulted in the expansion of the park from 250 sq kms to 640 sq kms and a complete crackdown on illegal activities resulting in a dramatic recovery of wildlife. The enactment of Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 was a shot in the arm for Chinnappa who effectively implemented the act in letter and spirit. Whenever there was a threat to forests, be it in Nagarahole or anywhere in Karnataka, Chinnappa used to be at the forefront, protesting the destruction of fragile ecosystem. Chinnappa has chronicled his experiences in several books that he authored in both Kannada and English.
His practical and field knowledge of forest ecology made him a walking encyclopedia of forestry and conservation. His incredible courage in the face of lurking danger helped him overcome several ploys hatched by the network of poachers and smugglers. Admired by his senior officers, honoured by conservation scientists and revered by wildlife enthusiasts, whom he mentored after his retirement from the service, Chinnappa was a recipient of several state, national and international awards and honours for his conservation efforts both as a forester and post-retirement through the trust Wildlife First. He donated his prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh for the purpose of conservation and welfare of frontline staffers, who toil hard day and night in the remote inhospitable terrain.
Family sources said that the last rites will be performed on Tuesday at his native Kumtoor, near Srimangala in Ponnampet taluk of South Kodagu.
Without any formal training in forestry or a college degree, Chinnappa fought hard to safeguard the flora and fauna of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, and transform it into one of the best-managed tiger reserves of India by initiating several conservational programmes.
Born in 1941 at Kumtoor village in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu in a soldier’s family, Chinnappa spent his childhood and youth amidst nature watching animals and plants species from close quarters in their own habitat. Captivated by the nature and its forms, Chinnappa sought a job in the forest department and was posted as a forester at Nagarahole way back in 1967. Noticing that the park was in ruins with poachers, smugglers and encroachers freely roaming across the forests, Chinnappa, with whatever resources he had, waged a war against the culprits.
His relentless efforts, spanning two decades, resulted in the expansion of the park from 250 sq kms to 640 sq kms and a complete crackdown on illegal activities resulting in a dramatic recovery of wildlife. The enactment of Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 was a shot in the arm for Chinnappa who effectively implemented the act in letter and spirit. Whenever there was a threat to forests, be it in Nagarahole or anywhere in Karnataka, Chinnappa used to be at the forefront, protesting the destruction of fragile ecosystem. Chinnappa has chronicled his experiences in several books that he authored in both Kannada and English.
His practical and field knowledge of forest ecology made him a walking encyclopedia of forestry and conservation. His incredible courage in the face of lurking danger helped him overcome several ploys hatched by the network of poachers and smugglers. Admired by his senior officers, honoured by conservation scientists and revered by wildlife enthusiasts, whom he mentored after his retirement from the service, Chinnappa was a recipient of several state, national and international awards and honours for his conservation efforts both as a forester and post-retirement through the trust Wildlife First. He donated his prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh for the purpose of conservation and welfare of frontline staffers, who toil hard day and night in the remote inhospitable terrain.
Family sources said that the last rites will be performed on Tuesday at his native Kumtoor, near Srimangala in Ponnampet taluk of South Kodagu.