Happy Birthday, Romulus Whitaker!
As India’s most celebrated herpetologist enters his 74th year, we asked his friends and colleagues to write a few words about him
Nirmal Kulkarni
Herpetologist, conservationist and wildlife photographer
“In my mind, Romulus Whitaker’s calling card would read something like this: herpetologist and wildlife presenter, herpetology icon for Asia, my mentor, founder of Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, serious fishing enthusiast, amazing pancake chef and a sounding board for a cross-section of field ecologists, conservationists, wildlife filmmakers, photographers, and students across continents.
A focused, affable eco-warrior whom I have had the pleasure to walk some of South India’s wilds and share space with, Rom is both passionate herpetologist and awe-inspiring narrator, something that is very rare to come across in today’s times. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s exhibited unquantifiable eagerness to push the boundaries in his serpentine line of work. Every interaction between us ends with possibilities for new research projects in herpetology – projects that combine serious conservation science with human welfare.
Some of my most cherished memories with Rom are the field surveys in the Agumbe, Wayanad and Mhadei forests, a crocodile conference trip to Sri Lanka (where over 300 participants sang ‘Happy Birthday to Rom' at midnight), long discussion sessions with Rom, Janaki [Lenin] and Jack Fraizer at Wildernest nature resort, multiple brainstorming Innova journeys with Gerry [Martin] and Rom… there are too many to count. I’m privileged to have been guided and supported by him for over two decades now. Happy birthday Rom, and have a great year ahead!”
Nirmal Kulkarni with Rom during a venom expedition in Wayanad. Photograph courtesy Nirmal Kulkarni
Rom and Jack Fraizer with Nirmal Kulkarni. Photograph by Tasneem Khan
Jeffrey Lang
Conservation biologist; Scientific advisor, Gharial Conservation Alliance
“Here are some images of Rom Whitaker when he joined us on the Gharial Ecology Project in November, 2013 and helped us equip Chambal River gharial with radio tags. Rom's inputs on gharial conservation have been enormous. Ever since he joined Dhruvajyoti Basu in the early 1970s, surveying the Ramganga in Corbett before the river was converted into a complex of reservoirs, Rom has been ever-vigilant in his push for the National Chambal Sanctuary, and in tracking the iconic species’ inevitable decline to levels that demanded relisting it as a "critically endangered" top aquatic predator. Rom's role in helping us organize and initiate the Gharial Ecology Project, and his persistent, strong and dedicated support for this venture has simply been pivotal to our ability to carry out studies of the basic natural history and relevant conservation needs of the gharial on the Chambal. He has kept a strong focus on the plight of the gharial since the 1970s, and is recognized worldwide as the champion of this rare, unique crocodilian. Thanks, Rom, and wishing you many happy days ahead on your birthday in 2017. All the best.”
Photograph courtesy Gharial Ecology Project
Photograph courtesy Gharial Ecology Project
Rajeev Chauhan
Secretary-General and CEO, Society for Conservation of Nature (ScoN)
“When I was starting my Ph.D work in herpetofauna, Rom was my idol and I would have loved to work with him. That dream came true in 2002, when he visited Etawah in Uttar Pradesh to make a film on Sarus Cranes with Dr. George Archibald. We met again in Gwalior for the river watch workshop - a really nice guy, with a lot of knowledge and dedication to herpetofauna.”
Photograph courtesy Rajeev Chauhan
Kartik Shanker
Researcher, conservationist and director of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
“The Snake Park and the Croc Bank, both Rom's babies, played a crucial role in inspiring the careers of many herpetologists and conservationists in the 1970s - Satish Bhaskar, Harry Andrews, Shekar Dattatri, Indraneil Das, Preston and Anne Ahimaz, and J. Vijaya to name just a few. Many of them tell stories of bunking school or college and hanging around the Snake Park, until Rom said: ‘Hey man, how do you feel about cleaning out a snake pit?’
I met him when I was in Madras Christian College, conducting turtle walks on the Chennai coast for student groups in the late 1980s, for a program he had initiated more than a decade ago. Rom hassled us about the science of maintaining hatcheries, but made sure we were infected by his passion.
Delouche Hatchery, 1973. Photograph courtesy Kartik Shanker
For me and many others, Rom has been an inspiration not just for his body of work, but for his love of natural history and his spirit of adventure. From crocodiles in Papau to king cobras in the Andamans, to pythons in the Everglades, Rom has not hesitated to go, so to speak, where no herpetologist has gone before.
He is a legend and a cool guy all at once – a tough act to follow. Happy Birthday, Rom. May the herps be with you!”
The lobster hunters, 1980. Photograph courtesy Kartik Shanker
P. Gowri Shankar
Herpetologist, Founder Director - Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology (KCRE)
"Ever since I met Rom, every moment with him has been about great learning - not just herp lessons, but lessons for life. He let that spark of discovery stay in my eyes, however silly it may have been! My interest in king cobras could have taken me astray or I could have settled for less - but for the vision he shared with me. I will always remain indebted to him and I wish him a very happy birthday this year and for more to come."
Gowri Shankar and Rom chat with school students from Agumbe about conservation. Photograph courtesy Vipul
Rom and Gowri Shankar track a radio-tagged King Cobra that swam across the backwaters. Photograph courtesy Felis
PS: We asked Rom’s wife, environmental journalist Janaki Lenin to share an anecdote with us for this piece, but she was busy juggling a deadline and trying to bake him a cake.