Vikram Nanjappa

14/06/2026

As naturalists we spend an inordinate amount of time watching animals. We observe their behaviour, speculate on their motives and occasionally convince ourselves that we understand what is going on inside their heads.

Far less attention is paid to another species that inhabits the same landscape: humans.

Over the years I have come to realise that wildlife destinations attract a remarkable assortment of characters, each with their own habits, quirks and behavioural traits. Some are easy to identify, others require prolonged observation and a few are best approached with caution.

This article is a light-hearted field guide to the humans of Wild India. If you spend enough time in the outdoors, chances are you will recognise some of these species. You may even discover that you belong to one of them.

As a naturalist and wildlife enthusiast I have spent an inordinate amount of time observing animal behaviour. Observing animals, be they…

12/06/2026

More than sixty years ago, naturalist E.P. Gee ventured into the Little Rann of Kutch to survey the status of the Indian Wild Ass. During his time there, he also attempted to photograph the animal. Despite all his ingenuity, the Wild Ass repeatedly outwitted him, eventually leading Gee to conclude that he was the real "ass" in the encounter.

In this article, I revisit Gee's observations, explore the history and ecology of the Little Rann, examine the social life of the Wild Ass, and reflect on my own encounter with a species that deserves far more attention than it receives.

Sometimes conservation is not merely about saving a species. It is also about changing the way we see it.

As my regular readers would know, I developed an interest in wildlife in my teens mostly through books as I lived in a city (Calcutta) and…

12/06/2026

Safarists

The Black-winged Stilt, one of the most elegant birds of the Rann. Nesting on open mudflats, salt pans and low islands within seasonal wetlands, it lays its eggs in a shallow scrape on the ground. The eggs, mottled in shades of brown, olive and grey, blend remarkably well with the surrounding mud and gravel, making them difficult to detect in the vast open landscape.

Across the wetlands of the Rann, where water levels rise and fall with the seasons, the Black-winged stilt depends as much on vigilance as camouflage. Adults fiercely defend their nests, raising shrill alarm calls and swooping at intruders that venture too close. In a landscape shaped by extremes, the Black-winged Stilt combines grace with tenacity, thriving in one of India’s most challenging environments.

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10/06/2026

Safarists

10/06/2026

High key

09/06/2026

High key

08/06/2026

Safarists

08/06/2026

Desert fox

07/06/2026

Fish eagle