Billy Arjan Singh

A former hunter turned avid conservationist and author 'Billy' Arjan Singh is a conservationist recognised by most tiger lovers. Born in Gorakhpur in 1917, he joined the British army in 1940 and fought in World War II. Upon his return to India he purchased a farm on the edge of Dudhwa National Park in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of India. He still lives here in a residence he designed and calls 'Tiger Haven'. Singh was honoured for his conservation efforts with Padma Shri in 1995.

One of India's highest national awards it is conferred on people who distinguish themselves in different fields. This was closely followed by the world wildlife gold medal in 1976, then the Order of the Golden Ark only a year later and the lifetime award for tiger conservation in March 1999.

In 2004, when in his eighties, Billy Arjan Singh received the J.Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation award - a global honor administered by the World Wildlife fund - in recognition of his outstanding contribution to international conservation. He has been honored by several awards including the Padma Bhushan in 2006.He is an author and has several popular wildlife books to his credit.