An Indian Forest Service Offi cer, a tiger protector, a Great Indian Bustard protector, wildlife photographer par excellence, and a man whose heart beats for wild nature. Born in 1968, in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, he grew up in a tiny village called Narwana in Himachal Pradesh. He graduated in Biosciences from the Government College, Dharamsala and obtained a Masters in Botany and an M.Phil. from the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. The University of Rajasthan, Jaipur awarded him a Doctorate in 2011 for his thesis ‘Plant Resource Utilisation by Avianfauna in Sitamata Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India’. Clearly an academic, he has known Bittu Sahgal for over two decades and speaks to him about his love of photography and passion for wild nature.
I have known you for decades, and enjoyed your company in the wilds, but had no clue about your thirst for academics.
That is probably because it was eclipsed by my love for the outdoors. My father was in the Indian Army and as a Pahari (hill) village boy, forests and streams were my life. Most of my time was spent with forest guards and rangers and I credit them with seeding me with the desire to join the Indian Forest Service (IFS).
And photography? What triggered that bug?
You remember me from those days, spending time as a Deputy Field Director, trying to identify every tiger through facial and body stripes? Well, one thing led to another and when I met photography greats such as Nanak Chand Dhingra, Jagdeep Rajput, John Isaac and Mike Powel my ambition to turn wildlife photography into a management tool fused with the desire to use it as an expression of art too.
How did you get that ‘pugmark’ on your back in 1997?
It was a classic case of irresponsibility. Instead of waiting for a trained vet, as a forest officer with little more than theoretical knowledge, hopelessly unprofessional and imbued with hyperenthusiasm, I went to the site, armed with a .32 calibre pistol I had no intention of using. No immobilisation equipment. No transportation cage. I got too close. The villagers began pelting the tiger with stones. The tiger basically ‘slapped’ me and gifted me with the clawed pugmark I carry on my back. It could have killed me, but chose not to. (Read the first-person account at www.sanctuaryasia.com)
Shifting gears… does the GIB have a real chance at survival?
Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av Sanctuary Asia.
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Denne historien er fra April 2019-utgaven av Sanctuary Asia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World
On my very first day in India, I encountered many marvelous new customs not practiced in the United States, my home country. But the most curious by far involved trees. Here and there, alongside the roaring streets of Mumbai were rings of marigold wreathed around twisting banyan trunks like dried rays of afternoon sunlight…
Who's Who?
Fact: all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads! Let’s unpack this...
The Sea Raptor
The White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster is one of the most common raptors along the Indian coastline. Nevertheless, the sight of this soaring, broad-winged, white and black bird of prey is nothing less than majestic
Bringing Up Bob Hoots.
While we were visiting a friend’s farm in the village of Yelachetty, near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, we found Spotted Owlets nesting on the tiled roof… and one of the chicks on the kitchen floor!
Yala, Land Of The Leopard
Yala is not only Sri Lanka’s second-largest, but also the most-visited national park in the island nation.
The Wizards Of Oz!
Australia is not only a country, but also a continent. The land down under, cut-off from the rest of the world has an abundance of unique species of native animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.
Scales & Tails
I was really excited and looking forward to the workshop on reptiles and amphibians at Nature’s Nest in Mollem, Goa, between June 24 and 26, 2017. It was my opportunity to meet renowned herpetologist Varad Giri.
Big, Brilliant And Endangered
When one thinks of elephants, the first word that probably comes to mind is BIG! But elephants, while they may be the largest creatures on land, are not just big and powerful, they’re wise and sensitive as well. Recent scientific studies have established that they are among the most intelligent animals in the world.
Earth Manners
Everyday habits matter! Let’s be kind to the planet, animals and ourselves!
World Scan
CHINA’S IVORY TOWNAn explosive investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency has revealed how criminal gangs originating from an obscure town in southern China have come to dominate the smuggling of ivory tusks poached from African elephants.
