Renowned conservation biologist Bibhab Kumar Talukdar has been elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS), receiving one of the highest international honours in the fields of natural history and biological sciences.
Talukdar, the founder Secretary General and Executive Director of Assam-based biodiversity organisation Aaranyak, was elected to the Fellowship of the world’s oldest active biological society, according to a statement issued on Monday.
Established in 1788, the Linnean Society of London promotes the study of natural history, evolution and taxonomy. Fellowship of the society is conferred on individuals who have made significant contributions to these disciplines and is regarded as a prestigious international scientific recognition. Among its distinguished past Fellows are eminent naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.
An Ashoka Fellow since 2007 and recipient of the IUCN SSC Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership in 2024, Talukdar has spent more than three decades working in biodiversity conservation, with a particular focus on the protection of Asian rhinoceroses.
He served as Chair of the IUCN SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group from 2007 until the conclusion of the 2021–2025 IUCN quadrennium. During his tenure, he played a leading role in strengthening rhino conservation, protecting critical habitats, combating wildlife crime and promoting community-based conservation across biodiversity-rich landscapes in Northeast India.
Talukdar’s election as a Fellow is being viewed as significant international recognition of his sustained contribution to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection in India, particularly across the Northeast.
