I had been making rounds around Ranganathitu and Bandipura near Mysore on the 27th and 28th March 2009. Intent was photography, but, unfortunately, nothing breath taking happenend. Highlight of the trip was the pose from a peacock which reslulted in a colorful frame.
Learnings:
1. Even if you have time, money and other resources; you need to know people to be in the league. In ranganthitu for example - we promptly reached at 6:45 AM but had to will till 8:15 AM to get a boat ride. That day I saw several big time photographers drive in, get a boat immediately and get on with their work when light was best
2. Booking yourself into private wildlife resorts in order to do serious wildlife tracking/photography or even casual appreciation is a big mistake. The resort we checked into had arranged two rides into the jungle, the second was in a noisy canter and was like a bus trip - we sat in it, went for a ride and came back. Perhaps it is we who are at fault - we keep their business going.
3. It makes sense to plan your trip around the date when the right accommodation/season/facilities are available rather than planning it around a convinient date and expect everything else to fall in place
4. Good lenses are expensive for a reason - they are good. No matter how good the idea behind a frame is, the right equipment is needed to execute it.
5. Toursim is adversely affecting not only the forest and its inhabitants but also the guaridans of the forest. Money is being spilt like water from an overflowing water tanker. For example: On the outset, it appears as though Bandipur's problem is mainly with the thorough fare of the huge number of vehicles plying between mysore and ooty, but during the jungle rides I discovered that tens of vehicles from many private resorts go around the jungle disturbing the peace and destroying the sanctity. For a wildlifer, seeing tourists screaming and shouting their way around the jungle does not fit in at all - it was distasteful. Money appears to be the root of all evil.
Ranganthitu's boatmen now want to pocket at least 250 rupees per boat ride, we paid 375! - officially, one has to pay twenty rupees for a ticket to get a ride. But photography enthusiasts have pepped up demand for off hours boating so much that, not only do you need to pay these people hefty sums of money but also be at the mercy of their discretion and impatience.
6. The state of our wildlife conservation is appalling. Bandipura, in certain areas, looks like a glorified Zoo/makshift hotel complex than a national park.
Some photos of the trip are shared here
