Zahran CR's Photography

Zahran CR's Photography I am a hobbyist bird watcher and Photographer from PAKISTAN

Hidden in Plain Sight....From the safety of their dark tree hollow, they keep a watchful gaze on the world. These hollow...
04/08/2026

Hidden in Plain Sight....

From the safety of their dark tree hollow, they keep a watchful gaze on the world. These hollows shelter them from predators and harsh weather by day. But outside, they meet a complex human perception, one woven with awe, mystery, and ancient folklore.

Despite their small size, Spotted Owlets play a vital role in maintaining balance within local ecosystems. They are crucial allies for agriculture as their diet consists heavily of rodents, small reptiles and large insects like beetles and grasshoppers.

This natural pest control keeps farm lands and gardens healthy without the need for toxic chemical pesticides. Furthermore, because these birds rely on mature trees with natural hollows for roosting and breeding, the presence of thriving owlet pairs serves as a clear indicator of healthy habitat biodiversity and ancient forest growth.

In our part of the world, no bird is misunderstood quite like the owl. In traditional regional folklore, the word ullu is frequently used to denote foolishness, yet in older mythology, the owl is revered as a sharp-sighted creature capable of seeing through absolute darkness. In many rural communities across Pakistan and India, an owl perching on or calling near a home at night is traditionally viewed with suspicion. Long-standing local superstitions associate their high-pitched screeches with bad luck, illness, or impending tragedy. Unfortunately, these negative omens and misguided ritual beliefs have often made owls targets for black magic and illegal wildlife trade, making local education essential for preserving these quiet night hunters.

VIEW IN FULL SCREEN !
Hope you enjoy it :)

Bird name: Spotted Owlet

Gear: D500 | Nikkor 600mm f/4 |
Sett: f/4 | 1/250s | ISO-280 | 600mm |

A Flame in the Frozen Realm of the Ghost Cat......Deep in the mountains of Khunjerab National Park, seeing a red fox is ...
28/07/2026

A Flame in the Frozen Realm of the Ghost Cat......

Deep in the mountains of Khunjerab National Park, seeing a red fox is a special reminder of how wildlife survives in one of the harshest places on Earth. While searching for the elusive snow leopard, coming across this beautiful predator gives a better understanding of the delicate mountain ecosystem. Every top predator depends on a healthy food chain and in these frozen mountains the snow leopard rules the high rocky cliffs while the red fox searches for food on the lower slopes and valleys. Following fresh fox tracks through deep snow can often lead into snow leopard territory because both animals travel through the same mountain passes in search of prey.

Winter in Khunjerab is extremely harsh. Temperatures fall far below freezing, and strong icy winds make survival even more difficult. To stay warm, the red fox grows a thick double coat. Its long outer fur keeps out snow and wind, while its soft inner fur traps warm air close to its body. Its large bushy tail is also important for survival. When the fox rests, it curls into a tight ball and wraps its tail around its nose and face. This helps keep its face warm and protects it from the freezing air.

At first, the fox's bright orange fur may seem easy to spot against the white snow, but it actually works well as camouflage. Strong winds often blow the snow away from rocky slopes, exposing dry orange grass, reddish brown soil, and weathered rocks. In these areas, the fox blends in surprisingly well. Also, many of the small rodents hiding under the snow cannot see colors the way humans do, so the fox does not stand out to them as much as it does to us.

VIEW IN FULL SCREEN !
Hope you enjoy it..

Red Fox
Khunjerab National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan

Gear: D500 | Nikkor 600mm f/4 |
Sett: f/4 | 1/4000s | ISO-180 | 600mm |

A Dream Framed in White...For as long as I can remember, I have imagined one moment above all others: seeing the elusive...
21/07/2026

A Dream Framed in White...

For as long as I can remember, I have imagined one moment above all others: seeing the elusive Snow Leopard standing in a world of pure white. No distractions, just the cat in its natural kingdom.

The Snow Leopard is elusive enough on its own, but to witness one in such pristine conditions feels like nothing short of a blessing from Allah. Moments like these cannot be planned or bought. They are gifts that Allah bestows through His magnificent creation. When everything comes together, they become fuel for the soul, reminding me why I keep returning to the wilderness, again and again.

The wild has a beautiful way of reminding us who the true Artist is

Protect forests. Protect wildlife. Protect our future. 💙🧡This little Blue-capped Rock Thrush is one of summer's most bea...
05/07/2026

Protect forests. Protect wildlife. Protect our future. 💙🧡

This little Blue-capped Rock Thrush is one of summer's most beautiful visitors to the Margalla Hills National Park. Every year, it returns trusting that the forests it once knew will still be waiting.

But will they?

The branch it sits on is more than a perch. It is part of an ecosystem that has taken centuries to grow. Every tree in the forest stores carbon, cools our cities, protects our water, prevents soil erosion, and shelters thousands of living creatures, from tiny insects and fungi to leopards, barking deer, owls, and migratory birds like this one.

When we lose a forest, we do not simply lose trees. We lose an entire living community.

In recent years, Margalla Hills National Park has faced repeated forest fires, many of which authorities believe were linked to human negligence or deliberate acts rather than natural causes. The park has also faced increasing pressure from encroachments, infrastructure expansion, habitat fragmentation, threatening one of Pakistan's most important biodiversity hotspots.

Every fire leaves behind more than blackened hillsides. During summer which is the breeding season, it destroys nests before chicks can fly. It burns insects that pollinate our forests. It forces mammals to flee their territories and robs migratory birds of the safe refuge they depend on each summer. Even when the flames disappear, the scars remain for years.

As wildlife photographers, we often celebrate beauty. But beauty alone is not enough.

A photograph should also be a reminder of our responsibility.

Birds cannot attend meetings, file petitions, or ask for stronger protection. They depend entirely on us to protect the forests that sustain its life. If we continue to treat protected forests as vacant land for development, ignore illegal activities, or remain silent when these habitats are threatened, future generations may know these birds only through photographs.

The Margalla Hills are not just Islamabad's backdrop. They are the city's lungs, its natural water filter, and home to an astonishing diversity of wildlife found nowhere else around the capital. Protecting them is not an environmental luxury, it is a necessity for both wildlife and people.

I have always hoped that my work inspires more than admiration. I hope it inspires action, because the greatest wildlife photograph is not the one that gets the most likes. It is the one that inspires people to protect what they see. It is the one whose subject still exists decades from now.

VIEW IN FULL SCREEN !

Bird name: Blue capped Rock Thrush
Location: Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad

Gear: Nikon Z50II | Nikkor 600mm f/4 VR TC |
Sett: f/5.6 | 1/400s | ISO-400 | 840mm |

Address

Islamabad

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Zahran CR's Photography posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Zahran CR's Photography:

Shortcuts

Share

Category