Akshat Pratap Photography

25/01/2026

Silence of snow draped over rocky sandstones of Saxon Switzerland.

The Saxon Switzerland National Park (Sächsische Schweiz) is a part of Bohemian Switzerland in the Elbe valley near the border parts of Easter Germany and Czech Republic. This scenic place is covered by Sandstone depositions, aging nearly 90 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. The forests are largely dominated by the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), with a mosaic of different vegetation types such as spruce, and other pine trees.

This National park is a significant cultural landscape of the State of Saxony, inspiring painters such as Casper David Friedrich for his iconic art work "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog".

22/01/2026

The Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), is one of the most elusive dwellers of German forests, and a well-known amphibian of European temperate forests.

Known by its striking black and yellow pattern, it thrives in humid, deciduous and mixed forest landscapes and relies on small streams or springs for larval development. Lying Deadwood on the forest floor acts both as a daytime refuge and hibernation site, according to Waldwissen-net.

The species is widely distributed across forested regions of Germany, especially in hilly and low-land mountain areas (Mittelgebirge). In Saxony, the distribution of these critters have been observed in the Elbe valley, such as the Saxon Switzerland National Park, as well as the Breiter Grund in Tharandt forests according to Die Sachsen and TU Dresden Research portal.

The species is currently classified as "Vorwarnliste" (warning list) on the National Red list of Amphibians, as the populations show negative trends. The Saxony state's own red list says the salamander is "stark gefährdet" (strongly endangered).

Threats include habitat loss, alteration of landscape, as well as use of heavy forestry machinery disrupting micro habitats.

08/09/2024

Predator in Paradise: Steppe Eagle gliding across Chir Pine forest of Tehri Forest Range.

07/09/2024

A Trickling Melody: Rapids at Narmada river cascade over the rocks at the "oxbow" of Sahastradhara in Madhya Pradesh.

06/09/2024

Nature’s Ballet: Great Black Vein Butterflies flutter around Indian Horse Chestnut (Aesculus indica) blossoms. These tiny critters are essential for tree pollination in forests which benefit regeneration of forest ecosystems.

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05/09/2024

A diverse flock of Greater Cormorants and Indian Darters frolicking around pear green swamps of the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary. The site came under the Ramsar Convention in the year 2019 embarking on a better conservation practice for the Avian habitat.

04/09/2024

Moody members

The Indian flying fox, one of the world’s largest bats, has a wingspan up to 1.5 meters and weighs up to 1.6 kg. These nocturnal creatures feed on fruits and nectar, playing a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersal.

03/09/2024

The Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) is a small owl found in Southeast Asia and the Himalayas. It is classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN but faces threats from habitat loss and deforestation.

02/09/2024

The Ruddy Shelduck, also known as the Brahminy duck, is a waterfowl with its vibrant orange-brown plumage. These migratory birds face significant threats from sand mining in India, which destroys their natural habitats and disrupts their food chain.

07/11/2022

Thank you, Sanctuary Asia!

Fireflies are actually beetles, not flies! Each firefly species has a unique pattern of flashes with which it communicates. The female, seen here on an Erigeron annus herb, often uses the code of another species to lure the male, only to eat him up alive! Over 2,000 species of fireflies have been recorded all over the world.

This image features in the November 2022 issue of Cub magazine. Subscribe to CUB on our website. ✨

Image: Akshat Pratap ()