Swiss Environmentalist and Photographer Markus Horlacher Passes Away in Switzerland
Markus Horlacher, a 75-year-old Swiss wildlife photographer and environmentalist, died in Switzerland on April 9. He was airlifted from Chennai to Switzerland on April 8, fulfilling his wish to pass away in his motherland. Horlacher had been residing and working in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, for many years. Although his death did not receive widespread media coverage, the community in Dharwad, Karnataka, is mourning deeply.
A Lifelong Connection to Dharwad and Environmental Conservation
Horlacher was a regular visitor to Dharwad since his arrival in Tiruvannamalai in 1987. Many friends from Dharwad remember him fondly for his frequent trips to local forests, where he advised residents on environmental conservation. His last visit to the region was just three months ago. He had been suffering from meningo-encephalitis and opted for euthanasia.
Dr. Sanjeev Kulkarni, a gynaecologist-turned-natural farming expert who developed Sumana Sangama Kaadu Thota, shared insights into Horlacher's family history. He noted that Markus' father, Kurt Horlacher, served as the first principal of NTTF Dharwad from 1964 to 1969. "An entrepreneur in Dharwad offered his house in Saraswatpur to Kurt. Markus often visited his parents, and we first met him in 1992," Kulkarni recalled.
Contributions to Agriculture and Community Activities
Horlacher was known for his extensive wanderings around Dharwad and the North Karnataka region. He formed a team with environmentalists such as Krishna Kumar Bhagwat, Gangadhar Kallur, Prakash Bhat, and PV Hiremath. He frequently brought seeds and saplings from various locations to plant in the area. In 1996, when Kulkarni ventured into agriculture on 17 acres of barren land, Horlacher provided numerous saplings and seeds. "He once arrived with 20 special saplings and insisted we plant them the same day. That night, we witnessed heavy rains, which he seemed to anticipate," Kulkarni added, emphasizing Horlacher's significant role in the development of Sumana Sangama Kaadu Thota.
Legacy as a Mentor and Nature Enthusiast
Harshavardhan Sheelavant, an environmental writer, highlighted Horlacher's impact on the local community. Horlacher developed a farm around his house in Dharwad city, which became a must-visit destination for farming enthusiasts. "He was a generous donor of seeds and saplings from rare varieties, doing similar work as a volunteer at Ramana Maharshi Ashram in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville in Tamil Nadu," Sheelavant noted.
An extraordinary wildlife photographer, Horlacher was fluent in Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, and English. He dedicated three decades to training children in Dharwad in activities such as:
- Trekking
- Rock climbing
- Cycling
- Rope climbing
These nature-oriented programs earned him the affectionate nickname 'Markus Mama' among Dharwad residents. "He just went on conserving nature," Sheelavant recalled. During his visits to Dharwad, Horlacher often stayed at the residence of Krishna Kumar Bhagwat, further cementing his ties to the community.
