Behind the Lens
a blog every Friday on a specific species of animal or bird and stories of photos
Search for a specific species, genre or even a location or use the directory for a complete list of species I have photographed and written about till date.
Listen to my TEDx talk.
The Vanchowki Tigress
Pench National Park, nestled in the heart of India in the lower southern reaches of the Satpura hills, sprawls a massive 758 sq. kms across the states of Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra. Named after the pristine River Pench it was immortalised by Rudyard Kipling in his Jungle Book. Every year millions make their way here to spot Akela, Baloo, Bagheera and Shere Khan.
Our story is about the beautiful and shy Vanchowki tigress who has made her home in the small hills and well-stocked teak mixed forest of Rukhad. Tigers, like many large mammals, are believed to have a mental map of their territories and they are also extremely territorial.
#wildartworks, #wildlifephotography, #penchnationalpark, #pench, #rukhad, #masoonalagate, #canon, #rukhadgate, #kurai, #seoni, #tiger, #jungle, #wild, #forest, #wildlife, #conservationphotography, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, @globalcapture, #madhyapradesh, #trackingwildlife, #tracking, #kingfishermale, #kuraigadmale, #kuraigarhmale, #vanchowkitigress, #monsoon, #pantheratigris, #scentmarking, #bengaltiger, #royalbengaltiger
Mottled Wood Owl
The Mottled Wood Owl is a medium-sized patchy-looking owl with dark eyes. It has exquisite densely-marked orange-and-gray coloration and typically gives single hoots, but also gives an odd, mellow tremolo vocalisation in the breeding season. It is a lowland species, favouring groves and clusters of trees in open plains and on the edges of cultivated areas.
#wildartworks, #wildlifephotography, #tadobanationalpark, #Tadoba, #canon, #jungle, #wild, #forest, #wildlife, #conservationphotography, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, @globalcapture, #maharashtra, #trackingwildlife, #owl, #mottledwoodowl, #woodowl. #mottledowl, #raptor, #ananthagiriforestrange, #vikarabad
Indian Scops Owl
The Indian Scops Owl is a nocturnal bird that is rarely seen during the daytime. It has prominent ear tufts and dark eyes. The coloration is variable, ranging from gray to brown, but dark eyes, thin black border around the facial disc, and lightly streaked underparts remain constant. It inhabits forests, forest edges, parks, and gardens from lowlands up into foothill and montane regions.
#wildartworks, #wildlifephotography, #penchnationalpark, #pench, #Turia, #canon, #seoni, #jungle, #forest, #wildlife, #tadoba, #tipeshwar, #conservationphotography, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, @globalcapture, #madhyapradesh, #trackingwildlife, #owl, #indianscopsowl, #scopsowl, #raptor
The Jackal
The Indian Jackal (Canis aureus indicus), also known as the Himalayan Jackal, is a subspecies of golden jackal native to Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Burma and Nepal. This is the only species of Jackal on the Indian subcontinent and it is found in almost every habitat in the country, inspiring numerous folk stories and songs, but also a few questionable practices that have led to poaching of the wild canid.
#wildartworks, #wildlifephotography, #penchnationalpark, #pench, #Turia, #canon, #seoni, #jungle, #wild, #forest, #wildlife, #conservationphotography, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, @globalcapture, #madhyapradesh, #trackingwildlife, #indianjackal, #goldenjackal, #jackal
The Khursapar Leopard
Today is about a few intimate moments spent with the Vulnerable Indian leopard - Panthera pardus fusca - in the beautiful Khursapar range of the Pench National Park which is set in a flourishing teak jungle, home to various wildlife species, including tigers and dhole. Pench National Park is a spectacular natural reserve, with typical teak jungles common to central India, offering a quiet and secluded game viewing experience.
We first spotted this magnificent male as he quietly crossed the track well in front of us. His nose was pointed towards us and to our right. Our guide and driver both said he will come sit amongst the rocks on our right and a few minutes later there he was.
Read the full story on the blog.
#wildartworks, #wildlifephotography, #penchnationalpark, #pench, #khursapar, #canon, #seoni, #tiger, #jungle, #wild, #forest, #wildlife, #conservationphotography, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, @globalcapture, #madhyapradesh, #trackingwildlife, #pantherapardusfusca, #IndianLeopard, #Leopard
Two Tigers
Pench National Park, nestled in the heart of India in the lower southern reaches of the Satpura hills, sprawls a massive 758 sq. kms across the states of Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra. Named after the pristine River Pench it was immortalised by Rudyard Kipling in his Jungle Book. Every year millions make their way here to spot Akela, Baloo, Bagheera and Shere Khan.
Our story revolves around two young male tigers who have made their home in the small hills and well-stocked teak mixed forest of Rukhad. Let’s track and watch the two tigers - from first light to last light - living, patrolling and marking the same territory.
Tigers, like many large mammals, are believed to have a mental map of their territories and they are also extremely territorial so to have two young males patrolling and marking the same territory is not observed very often. The presence of two males in their prime invariably leads to drama and multiple fights till one emerges supreme.
#wildartworks, #wildlifephotography, #penchnationalpark, #pench, #rukhad, #masoonalagate, #canon, #rukhadgate, #kurai, #seoni, #tiger, #jungle, #wild, #forest, #wildlife, #conservationphotography, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, @globalcapture, #madhyapradesh, #trackingwildlife, #tracking, #kingfishermale, #kuraigadmale, #kuraigarhmale, #safari, #nightsafari, #monsoon, #filmingintherain, #pantheratigris, #scentmarking, #bengaltiger, #royalbengaltiger
Tigers of Kabini
The presence of a tiger changes the jungle around it, and those changes are easier to detect. Bird calls darken, small deer call softly to each other. Herds do not run but drift into shapes that suggest some emerging group consciousness of an escape route. A kind of shiver seems to run through everything, a low hum that sounds — literally, in the whispered Hindi conversation of the guides — like sher, sher, sher! This zone of apprehension follows the tiger as it moves. Often, the best way to find a cat is to switch off your engine and listen. You might then hear, from a distance, the subtle changes in pitch and cadence that indicate a boundary of the zone. But even then, it is impossible to predict where, or if, the tiger will appear.
#wildartworks #kabini #jungle #bigcats #wild #forest #wildlife #wildlifephotography #tiger #tigress #nilgiribiosphere #nagarholetigerreserve #kabinibackwaters #conservationphotography #indian_wildlifes #indianwildlifeofficial #wildlifeonearth #bbcearth #natgeowild #natgeoindia @awpc.hk #bigcatswildlife @bigcatswildlife