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| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
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Childhood hobby becomes a quest by Vimukthi Fernando
'We were following him at a fair distance. This majestic looking loner. Suddenly, the tusker was on us. "I could not fathom how he turned and came charging at us. He stopped, inches away from the vehicle as if to lift it with its giant tusks. Well, almost... Out of so many experiences this it was the only one that shook me so much," says Ifham Raji. Attending to his business in Colombo, Raji has very little time for leisure. However, his passion for wildlife makes him spend almost all his free-time in a wildlife bungalow in Yala-his favourite national park or in wildlife sanctuaries and parks elsewhere in the country. Promoting wildlife This has been a hobby he indulged in, since childhood. But now, it has become a quest. Raji is involved in promoting wildlife and wildlife photography in Sri Lanka. He opines that much is yet to be done, for Sri Lanka to be recognised as one of the best wildlife and nature tourism destinations in the world.
It is not enough being recognised as one of the biodiversity hotspots, but, all depends on promotions and in presenting our product to the international market, he says."Bring in renowned wildlife photographers, bring in world famous travel writers. We may have to give them concessions or make the whole tour available free of charge. And, publish wildlife and nature magazines and books meeting international standards. That is how we can gain from nature tourism in Sri Lanka. The more we learn about nature and protect nature, the more we can earn from it. Take India and Kenya for example, they advertise their exotic species and attract tourists. But, we can offer more at a lesser cost. A leopard safari in Sri Lanka costs just a fraction of what it costs in the African countries. A tourist who spends about US $ 1,000 a night in Mala-Mala, South Africa on a leopard safari does not know that the same opportunity is available in Sri Lanka say in a park such as Yala, for half the price. We have to create awareness and attract tourists. Sri Lanka has so much potential. But I am yet to see wildlife and nature being given its due value and respect," says Raji. Photography
To aid his promotion of Sri Lanka's wildlife, he exhibited a collection of wildlife photography recently. The exhibition had also been about the potential in digital photography. "Digital photography poses a challenge in Sri Lanka. Many wildlife photographers are against digital photography, holding on to tradition. But, the point is that if we do not change to digital photography we will be at a disadvantage. When the whole world is changing why shouldn't we?" he questions. Especially when digital photography has many benefits such as the availability of cameras with technical improvements, its ability to make wildlife photography less cumbersome eliminating the use of film and the ease of storing of photographs. "Furthermore, the saving on the cost of film is an added advantage," says Raji. Raji's favourite subject is the "leopard, because of its beauty, majesty and stealthiness. " It is interesting to track down a leopard. It is a fantastic experience to see one at its home grounds, to get into its territory and to photograph one at its favourite spot in the moody soft light of the early morning or late evening. You can spend hours tracking down a solitary adult male or watching the frolicking of a few leopard cubs,". However, with a busy life, it is not often that he goes leopard shooting. He says that he makes sure that the disappointment in not being able to photograph his favourite subject is lessened by photographing the feathered beauties and the majestic tuskers. "As a photographer, you can never get enough of these subjects. Fascinated They have the ability to fascinate you all the time. But, you have to be careful in selecting and focusing, if it is to become a quality photograph. Further, you have to be careful not to disturb the animal at all." While appreciating the efforts of the Department of Wildlife to protect wildlife and promote nature tourism, he is concerned about the high number of vehicles that disturb Yala's wildlife during long weekends and holidays. Poaching, cattle grazing and logging are vices that are still going on in wildlife parks and sanctuaries, he says. Added to this are the haphazard road building within the parks and newly employed trackers without proper training. Awareness creation among the villagers in the vicinity, proper training of staff and availability of basic facilities will take Sri Lanka's nature tourism a long way, concludes Raji. |
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