Dr. MK Ranjitsinh Jhala (born 19 February 1939) is an author and authority on wildlife and nature conservation from India. He comes from the royal family of

Wankaner Wankaner is a city and a municipality in Morbi district in the State of Gujarat. Until 2013, Wankaner was part of the Rajkot district. Etymology The city was named after its location on the Machhu River, "Wankaner" translating to "riverbend" ...

Saurashtra Saurashtra, Sourashtra, or variants may refer to: ** Kathiawar, also called Saurashtra Peninsula, a peninsula in western India ** Saurashtra (state), alias United State of Kathiawar, a former Indian state, merged into Bombay State and since its d ...

.He is a scion of the

Jhala Jhala (Hindi: झाला, ) is a term in Hindustani classical music which denotes the fast-paced conclusions of classical compositions or raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a mus ...

dynasty from the former princely state of Wankaner and younger brother of Digvijaysinh Jhala. He was born at Ranjit Vilas Palace at

on 19 February 1939 and is the second son of erstwhile titular Maharaja of

, Captain H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Pratapsinhji Sahib, by his wife, H.H. Sisodiji Maharani Sri Rama Kanwar Sahiba and is grandson of HH Sir Amarsinhji Banesinhji, the last ruler of

Wankaner State Wankaner State was one of the princely states of India in the historical Halar region of Kathiawar during the period of the British Raj. It was an eleven gun salute state belonging to the Kathiawar Agency of the Bombay Presidency. Its capital ...

. He served also as Chairman of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI); Dir-Gen CAPART; Dir. and Regional Co-ordinator WWF Tiger Conservation Programme (TCP). Regional Adviser in Nature Conservation (Asia & Pacific) for UNEP. Trustee The Corbett Foundation, member National Forest Commission, Indian Institute of Forest Management Society, International Tropical Timber Organization, Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Board until 2006 He joined Indian Administrative Services in 1961 and served in various important posts like Secretary for Forests & Tourism in Madhaya Pradesh 1970-1973, Director Wildlife Preservation 1973-1975. He is author of several books on Indian wildlife and conservation like - "The Indian Blackbuck" (1989), "Indian Wildlife" (1995), "Beyond the Tiger: Portraits of Asian Wildlife" (1997) and others. His most noted works are drafting of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India and demarcating many forest as wildlife sanctuaries. Further, reintroduction of the cheetah in India as a policy was implemented upon advisory papers submitted by MK Ranjitsinh Jhala and Divyabhanusinh Chavda. They presented their papers after through research on how to go about bringing

cheetah The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large Felidae, cat and the Fastest animals, fastest land animal. It has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots. The head is small and rounded, wit ...

s back to India. He was awarded lifetime achievement award in 2014 for his works in conservation of wildlife.Window to my world
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jhala, MK Ranjitsinh 1939 births Indian conservationists Indian Administrative Service officers Gujarati people People from Rajkot district Living people Indian royalty