Veteran Naturalist and Renowned 'BirdMan' Sunjoy Monga Passes Away.

Obituary

In May 2025, renowned Indian naturalist, wildlife photographer, and conservationist Sunjoy Monga, popularly known as 'BirdMan', passed away at the age of 63 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. Born in 1961 in South Mumbai, Maharashtra, Monga made significant contributions to bird conservation and environmental awareness.


      - In 2005, he founded the Mumbai Bird Race called 'WINGS – Birds of India,' which became an annual event promoting citizen participation in birdwatching and conservation efforts.

      - Between 2006 and 2007, he raised early warnings about the alarming loss of 85% of wetlands in Uran, Maharashtra, emphasizing the threats posed by urbanization to flamingos and coastal biodiversity.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Monga served as a governing council member of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

      (ii) He was the honorary warden of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Maharashtra, a site he affectionately called the 'City Forest.'

(iii) As an author, he wrote several books including City Forest: Mumbai's National Park, Wildlife Reserves of India, Journeys Through India's Last Wild Places, and Birds of Mumbai, contributing greatly to wildlife literature and conservation awareness.

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