Ariful Islam/Guwahati

Nejib Ahmed, a wildlife photographer from Dalgaon in central Assam’s Darang district is earning accolades for capturing the man-wildlife conflict through his camera. He recently won an international photo competition organized by Nature inFocus in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Ahmed, who started wild life photography in 2008, won the international award for his photograph depicting the conflict between a fully grown adult tiger and people working in a paddy field at Barshala village near Orang National Park in Sonitpur district. The picture captured the problem of increasing incidents of man-wildlife conflicts in Assam and other parts of the country.

Nejib Ahmed's award -winning photograph

Speaking with Awaz-the Voice, Ahmed said; "The place I took the award winning photo is situated at a distance of only 2 km from the Orang National Park. Tigers roam freely quite often in the area. The day when I took the photo was Uruka (the day of feasting) of Magh Bihu. I had been there before for various awareness and conservation activities with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Aaranyak, wildlife conservation NGO.”

On that day Ahmed was visiting Barshala village where he saw a chaotic scene. A large paddy field was surrounded by big mob. An adult tiger was trying to run hither and thither amidst people in the field. While some people were trying to drive away the tiger towards the nearby Orang National Park, a section were teasing the animal.

The police and forest personnel present on the scene were trying their best to control the situation.

Ahmed did not miss the opportunity; he clicked pictures and captured the moment. His prize winning picture depicts the tiger moving around in the field while people with panic written large on their face running away from it. Ahmed’s picture highlights the alarming situation in the context of man-wildlife conflict.

Pictures clicked by Nejib Ahmed

Beside photography, Ahmed is also a serious biodiversity conservationist. "The prime reason for alarming increase in the man-animal conflict is the loss of habitats for animals.

"We the humans are solely responsible for this. Human habitation and industrial activities have blocked elephant corridors and habitats of other animals in different parts of Assam. If something is not done immediately to stop human encroachment of animal habitats, the conflict between man-animal will be out of control in the coming days,” Ahmed said.  

Ahmed who recently participated in the 'Photographer of the World' competition said there is an urgent need to protect Bengal Florican, the rare bird also found in Assam’s Kaziranga, Manas and Orang national parks. According to Ahmed the present population of Bengal Florican (locally known in Assam as Ulumara) in the world is around 1000 and the number is declining.

Nejib Ahmed is concerned about the declining number of jackal and Bengal Fox in number. “I will try to create awareness to protect these two animals which were once found abundantly in Assam’s villages,” he said.

Peacock clicked by Nejib Ahmed

Nejib’s father Nazimuddin Ahmed is recipient of the President's Award for best teacher; he is also an author.

Nejib Ahmed and Champak Goswami wrote a book titled Wild Life and Ecotourism. The book is part of the curriculum of the Department of Zoology, Gawahati University.

Another book, Birds of Orang, has already been completed and is scheduled to be released soon. Pradipta Baruah, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Mangaldoi Wildlife Division is the co-author of Birds of Orang.

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Nejib Ahmed believes that preservation is more important than photography. Every animal on this earth deswerves to exist. “Animals can only be photographed if they are alive,” Ahmed said.