We deeply mourn the untimely demise of Dr. Ajith Kumar, an extraordinary wildlife biologist and beloved mentor, leaving behind an indelible legacy in the field of wildlife conservation and education. As the first Director of the Master’s Program in Wildlife Biology and Conservation — founded by the Centre for Wildlife Studies and now established in the National Centre for Biological Sciences — he spent 16 years leading it, shaping the future of countless scientists and conservationists in India.
As Dr. Kumar said, “The program fostered a new generation of wildlife biologists with critical thinking skills, and a fundamental understanding of wildlife biology and ecology and the implications of that for conservation.”
Dr. Kumar’s passion for wildlife biology began early in his career, with his pioneering research on the endangered lion-tailed macaque. His deep curiosity and dedication to understanding species ecology led to groundbreaking insights into the behaviors and conservation needs of these rare primates. Over the years, his work expanded far beyond his research — it became his mission to nurture and inspire a new generation of wildlife biologists.
He joined us at CWS in 2003 at the invitation of Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, with whom he shared not only a professional vision but a deep and lasting friendship for over 40 years. Together, they built the Master’s program into one of the most respected and multidisciplinary in the country. Dr. Kumar’s leadership and commitment were instrumental in creating a space where students could learn from some of the finest minds in ecology, conservation, and social sciences. In addition to his role in the Master’s program, he served on the CWS research advisory council from 2018 to the present, offering his invaluable wisdom and guidance, particularly to our doctoral students.
Dr. K. Ullas Karanth expressed his sorrow, “I am saddened to hear about the sudden passing away of Dr. Ajith Kumar, my friend from 1983 when he was studying lion-tailed macaques in the Anamalais. He has been my colleague and collaborator between 2004 to the present day, after I recruited him into CWS to lead the Master’s Program in Wildlife Biology and Conservation at NCBS. Ajith was a passionate wildlifer, a deep scholar, and an incredibly affectionate and entertaining friend. Ajith inspired generations of young researchers and students, becoming their wise guru, funny uncle and even at times an agony aunt or a matchmaker. I will miss him dearly and convey my deepest condolences to his family and admirers.”
Dr. Krithi K. Karanth reflected on this profound loss, “Dr. Ajith Kumar was a rare messiah in the Indian wildlife community. He was an incredible mentor and wildlife uncle to me. His incredible field insights and boundless energy guided me through my graduate studies, teaching in the master’s program and rebuilding CWS over the past few years. I am deeply grateful for his gentle guidance and appreciate him for always being there for me. Over the years, we had many conversations on how to create opportunities for young scientists and conservationists in India. I will miss the fish curry-rice with whiskey meals we shared over much laughter. I deeply appreciate the frank discussions we had about the trials and tribulations in our field. His was a life well lived and we all have much to learn from him. He was an extraordinary human being who brought people together in ways that no one else can.”
Dr. Ajith Kumar’s passing is a tremendous loss to the wildlife science and conservation community, but his contributions will continue to shape the future of wildlife research and education in India. He will be deeply missed, remembered always for his wisdom, kindness, sense of humor and unwavering commitment to the natural world.
