Call of the wild

Why some wildlife photographers are finding it impossible not to take up Nature's cause after coming face to face with its many majestic creatures

Regular Joes and Janes would have but one instinctive reaction if they found themselves in close proximity with a member of the wildlife community: turn tail and run. You have to give it to wildlife photographers then, who choose instead to grip their cameras ever tighter and snap away - revelling in being part of what they know to be a rare and privileged experience. After years of shooting these ferocious beasts though, wildlife photographers often find they have to make way for a new passion: activism. Here are some of Dubai's own, talking about why they've taken it upon themselves to champion the cause of the untameable.

WILDLIFE WARRIORS: (left to right) Nisha Purushothaman and Hermis Haridas

'The statistics are downright depressing'

The last few years haven't been an easy journey for either Nisha Purushothaman or Hermis Haridas, both of whom quit their jobs to take up wildlife photography full-time. Together, they co-founded Paws Trails Explorers (www.pawstrails.com), a global platform for Nature lovers that hosts exhibitions, workshops and talks, and also organises group trips to various destinations for like-minded shutterbugs. The duo declare they have no regrets. "I'm actually happy at last," says Hermis, whose "life changed forever" after a trip to Maasai Mara in 2011.

'Weekend photography' has turned to 'daily photography' for the pair, who now travel to Kenya's famous game reserve once a month as well as Kamchatka in Russia, known for its abundance of bears, once a year. They're fairly quiet... till you get them started on the subject of wildlife. Then they can barely contain themselves. Nisha waxes eloquent about the "blessing" of finally spotting tigers on a recent expedition to Kerala - a tale all the more appreciable when you consider the 41-year-old spent six months tracking pug marks to no avail, before unexpectedly sighting the big cats on the very last day of the project, after the team had dispiritedly begun packing for their return.

She is quick to defend animal behaviour, asserting that even lions and cheetahs can be perfectly harmless if unprovoked. That's experience talking, not just spiel. "If you understand the behaviour of a species, you will be able to predict, to a good extent, what they're about to do. I've had cheetahs climb atop our jeep, sniff my head, and touch my nose with its nail for almost 15 minutes, before going away. I've also had cubs come right up to my lens and kiss it. But while it can be extremely tempting to reach out and pet the cub, we'd never do it - just because we know the mum will always be around, and any such attempt might be the end of our story. So, it's about knowing where to draw the line."

That's not to say they've not had their share of close encounters. Hermis tells of how he once broke away from his group to shoot a bear cub playing in the water in Russia. "Suddenly, I saw a giant, hairy leg through my viewfinder and looked up to find the mother bear towering over me. I honestly thought it was over. But after a few minutes, she led the cub away. I thought she was wary of me, but only when I turned did I see the ranger in our group had his gun pointed at the bear. Naturally, I got fired for ignoring the rules. But I learnt my lesson that day, because you're not just risking your life, but the animal's too."

The activists host regular exhibitions in Dubai to highlight the dire need for increased conservation efforts. "The statistics are downright depressing," says Nisha. "Where once there were hundreds of thousands of tigers, lions and cheetahs, these numbers have dwindled down to a few thousand across the entire world." The general attitude of apathy towards the very real possibility of these species going extinct is what Nisha and Hermis are endeavouring to break. They are especially aiming at schools and kids, in the hopes of "catching them young". Don't think that the extinction of these wild animals in a distant part of the world won't affect you, says Hermis. "Every species on this planet is just one part of the overall chain. When one link is missing, be sure that it will affect the entire ecosystem - including you."

TREADING CAREFULLY: Mark captures wildlife in their natural habitat by donning camouflage clothing

'We need to gain a stronger social conscience'

For Canadian expat Mark Williams (IG: @falcnr), wildlife photography is a passion that stems from his days as a hunter. A falconer for the last 40 years, he decided to swap his bow for a camera about 12 years ago - but asserts that both pursuits require the same skills. "To be good at either hunting or wildlife photography, you have to understand the behaviour of your subject: where it eats, sleeps, breeds." The goal, he says, is to get beyond their "highly evolved senses of detection and predation" to capture that perfect shot.

To that end, Mark often finds himself in scent-free, camouflage clothing, lying for hours in bushes and foliage, even in -25°C if need be - all in a bid to obtain his snaps without disturbing his subject. "A wildlife photographer's first priority should always be the animal. You don't want to alter its behaviour in any way, because you're not in a zoo. You're in their territory - and they usually know it. So, it's important to always maintain a respectful distance, and also know when to back off."

It's an approach that can lead to mutual respect between man and beast - and some pretty incredible experiences. Like the time he had a big humpback whale - 4-5 times the size of his boat - come up right alongside his vessel and fix him with her huge eye. "It wasn't a cold, dark stare - like looking into the eye of a shark," recalls Mark. "It was like she was reading my soul. I don't anthropomorphise much, but when that whale looked at me, there was a non-verbal connection. Her calf was then allowed to rest its head on the boat, and let me touch its rubbery skin for a few minutes before slipping back into the water and swimming away." Other unforgettable experiences include bumping into brown bears in Alaska, but these, he adds, are memorable only "because your life flashes before you momentarily"!

The risks that come with his hobby depend on the subject - but also on the photographer's behaviour. "Common sense is not so common, unfortunately," he deadpans. "You have people trying to take selfies with bears... They've got a warped perception of what wildlife photography is about. It's true if you cross an animal's personal space, you can be injured - because it's reacting instinctively. But, ultimately, it's the animal that suffers because authorities will feel it needs to be put down."

Mark travels 2-3 times a year, whenever finances allow - India, Mongolia, Alaska, Ecuador and Kazakhstan are just some of his haunts- and admits most vacations will have a "wildlife photography contingent" about them. Decades of interacting with these creatures has taught him a lot. Like what to do in case you get attacked by a bear or mountain lion ("do not run or turn your back on them"). But more than that, he's come to realise the importance of educating the masses through his images. "Over the last few decades, we've become so urbanised, we've lost touch with Nature." Don't underestimate your individual impact on the environment, he urges - even for trivial actions like littering deserts and beaches, because you don't understand the long, slow and painful deaths many creatures suffer as a result. "We need to gain a stronger social conscience, because only when people begin to appreciate wildlife will they care enough to protect it."

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