Renowned Botanist Dr. Suryaprakash Shenoy Passes Away

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 11, 2025: Dr. Suryaprakash Shenoy, a distinguished botanist and Chief Scientist at Dr. Shivaram Karanth Nisargadhama, passed away on Sunday morning at his residence in Hosamatha, Kadaba, following health complications.

Dr. Shenoy was instrumental in establishing the renowned botanical garden ‘Sasyakashi,’ spanning 85 acres in Pilikula. The garden has been a sanctuary for the flora of the Western Ghats, preserving biodiversity and promoting environmental conservation. His efforts included extensive fieldwork in the forests of the Western Ghats, where he collected seeds and cultivated rare and endangered plant species.

An alumnus of Mangalore University, Dr. Shenoy belonged to the first MSc batch (1988–90) of the Applied Botany Department. He later pursued his MPhil and PhD from the same institution. His groundbreaking research on endangered and indigenous plant species garnered recognition, with numerous articles published in esteemed national and international scientific journals.

Dr. Shenoy’s career was marked by milestones such as the establishment of ‘Sasyakashi’ in 2000 under the INEP initiative and the creation of Pilikula’s Herbarium and Botanical Museum in 2011, supported by the Karnataka Biodiversity Board. As the head of the Department of Botany, he served as a guide and mentor, inspiring countless students and leaving behind an indelible legacy in the field of botany.