Behind the lens

a blog every Friday on a specific species of animal or bird and jungle lore

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Asian Common Toad

The Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) is a resilient generalist across Telangana's forests. An explosive, monsoon-triggered breeder, its mating window lasts just 24–48 hours after first rains. To stand out in chaotic pools, males turn from dull brown to neon yellow for two days, helping identify females. Following an intense scramble for amplexus, females lay 40,000 eggs. However, climate change now disrupts this highly synchronized, weather-dependent cycle.

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation IndianCommonToad #IndiaBiodiversity #Toad #Amplexus #MatingBehaviour #monsoontriggeredbreeder #monsoonbreeder

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Indian Jungle Crow

The Indian Jungle Crow reminds us that every creature plays a vital role in our ecosystems. As human activity continues to change the landscapes of Telangana, the survival and adaptability of this intelligent bird will offer crucial lessons on how wildlife responds to a changing world.

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #EcoTourism #IndiaBiodiversity #Panchgani #UmaMaheshwaram #Kawal #IndianJungleCrow #Crow #intelligentbird

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Greater Coucal

In the rich tapestry of Indian folklore, the Greater Coucal occupies a dual space as both a mysterious shaman of the forest and an omen of impending change. Across several rural communities in Telangana and central India, the bird is known as the Chemooka or Koti-pitta. It is deeply tied to traditional weather lore. Because its deep, resonant coop-coop-coopcalls intensify during periods of high humidity, local farmers view the bird as an infallible rain prophet. Hearing a coucal call repeatedly from the highest branch of a tree is considered a direct signal from nature that the monsoon is about to break over the dry Deccan fields.

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #EcoTourism #IndiaBiodiversity #AchampetRange #GreaterCoucal #Coucal

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Common Bronzeback Tree Snake/ Daudin’s Bronzeback Tree Snake

The undergrowth of Telangana’s forests is a complex, multi-layered environment shaped by the harsh semi-arid climate & rugged sandstone terrains. A soft rustle stirs the leaf litter before transitioning into a fluid, almost weightless ascent up a low-hanging tree. Moving like a ribbon of liquid metal is the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis). This arboreal master of stealth navigates the fragmented dry woodlands of the Eastern Ghats, serving as a vital link in the region's rich biodiversity

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #EcoTourism #AnanthagiriHills #Vikarabad #IndiaBiodiversity #CommonBronzeback #Bronzebacksnake #Snake #Bronzeback #TreeSnake

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Indian Pitta

As the first spear of golden sunlight pierces the dense deciduous canopy of Telangana’s wilderness, a sound breaks the stillness—a sharp, clear, musical two-note whistle. It is the unmistakable whistle of the Pitta brachyura, the Indian Pitta, locally celebrated in Telugu as the Poda Pitta (the spotted bird).

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #EcoTourism #IndiaBiodiversity #AchampetRange #endemic #Pitta #IndianPitta

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Indian Blackbird

The morning mist in the Nallamala Hills weaves a silver shroud over the rugged valleys of the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. In this quiet theater of the Eastern Ghats, a melody begins—a series of clear, fluting whistles that seem to mimic the very spirit of the forest. This is the call of the Indian Blackbird (Turdus simillimus nigropileus), a bird that carries the essence of India’s wild highlands in its soot-coloured wings.

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #EcoTourism #IndiaBiodiversity #AchampetRange #IndianBlackbird, #Blackbird #endemic

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Wildlife, Wildlife Photography, Nature Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Wildlife Photography, Nature Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Intimacy of the Gaze

These encounters weren’t planned or controlled. No Cages! No Scripts! Just fleeting moments where wild animals meet the human gaze. Each look is a presence, a life moving through the same landscapes as us - forests, grasslands, hills. 

We are visitors in their world as much as they are part of ours. To watch them look back is to remember responsibility, humility and coexistence. 

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #EcoTourism #IndiaBiodiversity #ForestBathing #WildlifeEthics

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Wildlife, Nature Photography, Landscape Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Nature Photography, Landscape Siddhartha Mukherjee

Maisamma Madugu

Hidden deep within the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Chenchu sacred groves like Maisamma Madugu are protected patches of forest revered by the indigenous Chenchu tribe. These sites are managed through traditional wisdom, serving as biodiversity hotspots, conserving rare flora & acting as sanctuaries for wildlife. The tribe’s belief system ensures these groves remain untouched, fostering ecological balance and protecting natural resources.

#WildArtWorks #AmrabadTigerReserve #ChenchuTribe #SacredGroves #TelanganaTourism #WildlifeConservation #NallamalaHills #IndigenousKnowledge #EcoTourism #IndiaBiodiversity #TribalHeritage #MaisammaMadugu #AchampetRange

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