The news that anti-poaching campaigner Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi died in a late-night road accident on Friday, May 23, has sent shock waves across the wildlife conservation community in India. It has been reported that Bishnoi, forest guard Surender Chaudhary, ex-army official Shyamlal Bishnoi and Kanwaraj Singh were on their way to foil a deer poaching attempt.
The 28-year-old from Dholiya village in Pokhran, Rajasthan, was a staunch protector of the critically endangered great Indian bustard, rescued injured birds and animals, and helped forest department officials thwart attempts at poaching.
Outlook Traveller looks back at Radheshyam Bishnoi’s unassailable legacy.
Born into the Bishnoi community, who are known for their centuries-old tradition of environmental stewardship and wildlife protection ethos, Radheshyam’s interest in wildlife conservation began at an early age when he began rescuing injured animals as a child. This passion led him to train at the Jodhpur Rescue Centre, where he learned basic veterinary care and rescue techniques.
When Bishnoi returned to his village, he sought to protect the indigenous avian wildlife of Pokhran after discovering their critically endangered status. The birds live in the dry grasslands and shrublands of India, but their population has plummeted due to hunting, habitat loss and the development of infrastructure such as roads and electric power transmission lines in the desert. It is estimated that there were only around 150 great Indian bustards in 2018.
Bishnoi regularly monitored the great Indian bustard's habitats, cleaned railway tracks to prevent vulture deaths and built a network of local volunteers to report poaching. He also worked closely with the Ecology, Rural Development and Sustainability Foundation (ERDS) under the mentorship of Dr Sumit Dookia, documenting threats such as power line collisions.
In fact, Bishnoi filed numerous first information reports (FIRs) which helped imprison more than 300 poachers during his lifetime. He was also known to be an avid photographer, documenting the region’s biodiversity through his lens while highlighting and spreading awareness on the threats and the critical need for conservation efforts.
Friends and colleagues described Bishnoi as a passionate talker and a fast learner who would spend his days driving around talking to local villagers in Rajasthan about the importance of conserving the great Indian bustard, or godawan as it is known in that region.
Bishnoi’s work was not limited to bustards—he rescued chinkaras, nilgais, vultures, spiny-tailed lizards and other local species, often using his own resources. He dreamed of establishing a full-fledged wildlife rescue centre in Jaisalmer and advocated for community-based conservation. His work brought him respect across Rajasthan and within the wildlife conservation community.
The dedication to wildlife conservation was so all-consuming that Bishnoi refused to take up a full-time job in case it hampered his efforts. He also received accolades for his determination when the Sanctuary Nature Foundation awarded him the “Young Naturalist” award in 2021.
In the last few weeks before his untimely death, and at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Bishnoi would travel to far-flung locations within Desert National Park and refill a dozen water holes he had created for wild animals. Despite a crowdfunding process to fund the initiative, Bishnoi bore the additional expenses without hesitation, said Sumer Singh, a fellow conservationist and friend of Bishnoi’s.
Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi’s death is not only personal tragedy for those who knew him, but also a significant blow to grassroots conservation in western India. Condolences flowed in from Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who said, “It is deeply painful to hear about the deaths of Radheshyam Pemani, Shyamlal Bishnoi, Kanwar Singh and forest department employee Surendra Choudhary in a tragic road accident in Jaisalmer’s Lathi area. They were committed to protecting the environment and wildlife.”
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that Bishnoi’s “dedication to nature and wildlife will remain unforgettable. May God give him peace. Om Shanti.”
Dookia also expressed profound grief over the loss. “Last night, we lost our flag bearer of the GIB Community Conservation Program in a fatal road accident. Even up to the last breath, he was with an anti-poaching patrolling team. Radhe Bishnoi, you're gone too early my boy. A true martyr,” he said.
Bishnoi is survived by his wife, two young children, parents and other members of his family.
