Guwahati, Aug 06: Renowned wildlife expert and environmentalist Robin Banerjee died at his Golaghat residence in upper Assam early today, family sources said. Banerjee, 85, was suffering from old age ailments. A bachelor, Banerjee had dedicated his entire life to the welfare of wildlife, particularly those of the Kaziranga National Park. Born in Bahrampur of West Bengal's Murhsidabad district in 1907 to Avinash Banerjee and Meghamala Devi, Banerjee spent his chilhood in Shantineketan.
He was sent by his father to London for learning medicine and became a doctor there. Later he joined the British Navy.

He first came to Assam in 1952 to serve in the Chabua tea estate and that was the beginning of his association with the state's wildlife as he made over 30 documentaries 20 of which won global fame.

Banerjee was conferred D.Llt by the Assam Agricultural University. He was also awarded the Padma Shree for his contribution as an environmentalist.
Banerjee's made his first foray into the Kaziranga National Park in 1962 with a hired camera with which he produced the first film on the park famous for its one-horned rhino.
His house in Golaghat was virtually tourist spot for wildlife lovers where he kept several snakes and other animals as pets.
The house, named Robin Uncle's Museum, was preserved as a centre of wildlife with collections from the world over.
Bureau Report