In the 1970s, studying wild tigers still involved more nerve than equipment. A biologist could not rely on camera traps, GPS collars, or satellite-linked data. To understand where a tiger went, what it killed, how far it ranged, and how its territory overlapped with others, someone had to follow it through forests and grasslands with a receiver, a notebook, and enough judgment to stay useful without getting in the way.
Radio collars began to change what was possible, allowing biologists to follow animals that had previously been known mostly through tracks, kills, and brief sightings. Among the scientists helping pioneer that work was Mel Sunquist, who died on May 9th at the age of 85.
Born in Minnesota in 1941, Sunquist became one of the world’s leading biologists of wild cats and large carnivores. His best-known work came in Nepal’s Royal Chitwan National Park, where he radio-tracked tigers when the practice was still considered risky and experimental. His research helped establish a scientific understanding of tiger movements, territories, habitat use, feeding ecology, and social behavior. At a time when tigers were often discussed as symbols, Sunquist helped reveal them as individual animals moving through real landscapes.
Former students say he never lost sight of the animals behind the data. One story that stayed with him involved a tiger that died after being darted for a demonstration requested by visiting officials and a journalist. Years later, recalling the incident, Sunquist described the animal as “a magnificent male tiger, the most perfect ambassador for his species.” The loss weighed heavily on him and shaped the care with which he approached research thereafter.
Much of his influence came through teaching. At the University of Florida, where he taught from 1987 until 2014, he trained generations of wildlife biologists. He taught through fieldwork, trust, and example rather than authority. Ullas Karanth, who later became one of the world’s leading tiger biologists, credited Sunquist with teaching him the techniques of capturing and radio-tracking tigers. Dr. Krithi K. Karanth remembered Sunquist patiently teaching her to use telemetry equipment when she was still a child.
His students spread across universities, conservation organizations, and field projects around the world. They carried with them lessons that extended beyond science: handle animals carefully, pay attention to details, trust good students, and let evidence guide conclusions.
Sunquist retired to Tallahassee with his wife & longtime collaborator, Fiona. Shortly before his death, a mountain lion was photographed in Minnesota with three young, the first such sighting in decades. One former student hoped he had heard the news. After a lifetime spent following wild cats, the animal’s return to his home state seemed a fitting final image.
