Kanwar Arjan Singh Of Kapurthala [also known as Billy] was born at Gorakhpur, Punjab in 15th August 1917,He was done there education from Philander Smith College, Naini Tal, Christain College, Lucknow, and Allahabad University (BA). Commissioned as 2nd-Lieutenant (W.S.) IA 28/12/1940, attached RIA, promote Lieutenant 30/6/1942, served in WW2 1940-1945 in India and Southern Iraq, resig 1946. Conservationist and expert on the Asian tiger. President Tiger Haven Soc 1992-2010. Author of “Tiger Haven” (1971), “Prince of Cats” (1982), “Tiger Tiger” (1985), “Eelie and the Big Cats” (2001), “Watching India’s Wildlife: The Anthology of A Lifetime” (2004) etc.
He was received many medals like 39/45 Star, British War and India Service medals (1945), Padma Shri in 26.1.1995, and Padma Bushan in 26.1.2006, Officer of the Order of the Golden Ark of the Netherlands in 1977, World Wildlife Gold Medal in 1976etc. He died at Jasbir Nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, UP, 1st January 2010.