One of the eminent wildlife field biologists and pioneers of wildlife conservation in the Country, A.J.T.Johnsingh passed away in Bengaluru on Friday after a brief illness. He was 78. The family said that he will be buried at Donavur at the foothills of the Western Ghats.

A well known wildlife biologist, Johnsingh started his career as a Zoology lecturer at Sivakasi in the early 1970s. His frequent field trips to the forests made him pursue Ph.D in wildlife studies. His pioneering work in elephants in the early 1980s was instrumental for the Government of India to formulate Project Elephant. He also conducted an international conference bringing elephant experts across the world to Mudhumalai wildlife sanctuary. He was associated with the Bombay Natural History society , the Corbett foundation and the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru. He was also a member of the National wild life Board and Tiger Conservation Authority. He received numerous awards both national and international for his work. He has trained more than 300 wildlife managers and published scientific papers and articles.