CM Fadnavis launches wildlife books on International Tiger Day in Nagpur
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched two wildlife books — 'Mammals of India' by A. J. T. Johnsingh and P. O. Namir, and 'Jan Jangal' by Kishor Rithe — at an International Tiger Day ceremony in Nagpur on 29 July 2026, underlining the state's engagement with tiger conservation science.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis presided over the book-launch event in Nagpur on 29 July 2026 , International Tiger Day.
Two books were released: 'Mammals of India' by A.
Namir , and 'Jan Jangal' by Kishor Rithe .
Johnsingh is a veteran Indian wildlife biologist with a long record of field research and conservation policy influence.
International Tiger Day has been observed every 29 July since 2010 , when it was established at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.
Maharashtra hosts key tiger reserves including Tadoba-Andhari and Melghat , making it a significant state within India's Project Tiger framework.
Two books on India's wildlife found a new home on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, when Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over a book-launch ceremony in Nagpur to mark International Tiger Day — turning a global conservation observance into a platform for homegrown scientific literature.
The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced that Fadnavis released two titles at the event: 'Mammals of India' (Mammals of India), authored by veteran wildlife biologists A. J. T. Johnsingh and P. O. Namir, and 'Jan Jangal' (People and Forest), written by Kishor Rithe. The ceremony was organised in the context of the state's broader engagement with tiger conservation.
Why Nagpur, and why these books
Nagpur is no accidental venue. Positioned at the heart of Maharashtra's wildlife corridor, the city sits close to several of the state's tiger reserves and has long served as a nerve centre for regional conservation administration. Releasing scientific literature here, on the one day the world's attention turns to tigers, signals the state's intent to anchor policy in field research. 'Mammals of India' carries particular weight. A. J. T. Johnsingh is among India's most respected wildlife biologists, with decades of field studies on large mammals and a record of influencing conservation policy at the national level. Co-authored with P. O. Namir, the volume represents the kind of ground-level scientific documentation that underpins reserve management decisions. 'Jan Jangal', by Kishor Rithe, brings a people-and-forest lens — a reminder that tiger conservation in India is inseparable from the communities that live alongside these landscapes.International Tiger Day and India's Project Tiger framework
International Tiger Day has been observed globally every 29 July since 2010, when it was first established at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit. India's response to that moment was to double down on Project Tiger, the country's flagship conservation programme, which today covers dozens of reserves across tiger-range states. Maharashtra, with reserves such as Tadoba-Andhari and Melghat, is a key player in that national count. State governments in tiger-range areas have increasingly used the occasion not just for symbolic gestures but for substantive outputs — scientific publications, policy announcements, and awareness drives that feed back into reserve management. Wednesday's book launch fits squarely in that tradition. The real test, as always, will come in the months that follow: whether the research in these volumes shapes budget allocations for reserve management, and whether the state backs its ceremonial enthusiasm with sustained funding for wildlife science.Point of View
The Nagpur setting is politically resonant — his home turf doubles as the gateway to Maharashtra's wildlife heartland, lending the event a local authenticity beyond ceremonial optics. The inclusion of both a rigorous mammal-science volume and a people-forest narrative title suggests the state is trying to hold two conversations at once: with the scientific community and with forest-fringe communities. Whether these releases translate into concrete budget commitments for tiger reserve management will determine their lasting significance.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is International Tiger Day celebrated?
International Tiger Day is celebrated every year on 29 July . It was first established at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010 to raise global awareness about tiger conservation.
What books did CM Devendra Fadnavis launch on International Tiger Day 2026?
CM Fadnavis launched two books: 'Mammals of India' authored by wildlife biologists A. J. T. Johnsingh and P. O. Namir , and 'Jan Jangal' written by Kishor Rithe .
Who is A. J. T. Johnsingh?
A. J. T. Johnsingh is a veteran Indian wildlife biologist renowned for decades of field research on large mammals and for influencing national conservation policy.
Which tiger reserves does Maharashtra have?
Maharashtra is home to several tiger reserves, including Tadoba-Andhari and Melghat , both of which are part of India's Project Tiger framework.
What is Project Tiger in India?
Project Tiger is India's flagship tiger conservation programme, which covers dozens of tiger reserves across the country and is credited with significantly increasing India's wild tiger population since its launch in 1973 .
