Wildlife in the silent forests of Kerala

June 5th is World Environment Day and this is one day when we must think of marvelling at the wonders of nature that  urges us to take action for its preservation and conservation. At the Kerala Tourism project done last December was wildlife documentarian Shivang Mehta’s suite of monochromes that had a deeply mystic and prophetic  voice that captured the secrets of the jungles and reminded us of our responsibility to the Earth and its inhabitants. In Kerala the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad became his oyster.

Fish Owl 

Shivang’s most evocative portrait was that of the fish owl in the tawny darkness of the night. Shivang said: “ Spotting an owl in flight or hearing the distinctive hoot  is an unforgettable  wildlife encounter. Most often it is glimpsed amidst the branches or the deep burrows of tree trunks.This one was mysterious in form and its eyes spoke volumes .”

According to Shivang, Indian owls are elusive, beautiful birds that  can be seen in both rural as well   forest landscapes. He says owls are also one of Kerala’s  most spectacular wildlife species to spot.

The tusker with grace

The second pair of monochromes that caught the human gaze was that of a gentle giant in the forests.Walking like a solitary sentinel this image of an elephant  is a lasting testimony to the endangered species. In southern India, elephants occur in the hilly terrain of the Western Ghats and in parts of the Eastern Ghats.In the tusker’s solitary walk lies power and beauty , nature seems almost architected: the tusker balances the composition like an ancient animal.

The most captivating  image is that of the trunk of the tusker.Cropped as a vantage visual this image is a fascinating portrait of the beauty of the elephant’s trunk. It draws our eyes towards the apertures.Two holes of magic in the trunk and the singular shaft of light between the legs make for a dynamic portrait of anatomical beauty. Charles Darwin would be so delighted with this singular portrait that regales one’s senses.

Mother and baby monkey

Yet another vertical fantasy is that of the mother and baby monkey.Caught against the fading light of dusk it is the soulful expression in the eyes of the mother that hints at melancholia and despair.In terms of maternal associations this is a poignant portrait of belonging and protection at the same time. Silence in the sublime shadows of dawn and dusk are Shivang’s allies.This Sony ambassador keeps walking, his eyes searching for long and lingering shadows and movements in the thicket of bushes and trees.

Silent call for preservation

These images presented a silent yet succinct call for preservation . The promise of  long-term protection for Kerala’s ancient forests, including Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and  Silent Valley and others are the largest remnants of vast primeval forests that once spanned the Western Ghats.

Spider babies in the forest

Shivang’s image of the spider babies  is  yet another image that has infinite perspectives, of a true botanical and zoological theater. Everything affirms a simple idea, nature must be nurtured by man. This aesthetic dialogues directly with the landscapes of the forest that are  rigorously and naturally  ordered.

The same spirit is found in all Shivang’s images which pan out like an immense living setting, designed as a total work of India’s living forests.The tiny woodpecker delights in its solitary existence.Textures of the tree and the woodpecker’s wings all create a rare symphony.

At the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai it was veteran documentarian, essayist and chief guest  Sadanand Menon who found Shivang Mehta’s images of wildlife captivating for its compositional uniqueness and depth. He said: “ These were imprints of nature in a war torn world, it spoke of the importance of a universal resonance in photography.”

A month later, Shivang stood in front  of his works at Victoria Memorial  in Kolkata and said: “ If my images can provoke responsibility and action that is the impact I would like, if my wildlife images can be even an incremental wheel in the cogs of change, of enlightenment and awareness of what we need to protect and conserve, then it is a beginning.”

Shivang scours wildlife sanctuaries and parks searching for subjects that are animating to the core. Whether still or moving, with or without colour, Shivang’s silent yet tender images compose a narrative haunted by presence and a faint hope of a shared future for birds and animals. In the frame of beings that are sentient his understanding of light is deep and resonant. Travelling between terrains of tigers, of elephants, in the waters of rivers and lakes and waterbodies, wildlife for Shivang Mehta is a celebrated reason, it is an odyssey that frames the environment’s destiny in moderation, and whispers  the need for authoritative protection that must serve to sustain wildlife across all creatures great and small.

Images: Kerala Tourism