Photographic Field Guide – Wildlife of South India is authored by renowned naturalists Surya Ramachandran and David Raju. This is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive field guide covering all the mammals, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and amphibians of the six states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) of South India.

The book, which has 360 pages, covers 1920 species belonging to the six taxa, using 1850 photographs contributed by around 280 photographers from India and beyond. The information presented in the field guide has been vetted and added to by experts from the scientific world. Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker, renowned herpetologist, has written the foreword of this book.

The book is a must have for wilderness enthusiasts; it is sure to transform wilderness walks and safaris and even the way people perceive urban wilderness, starting from one’s own balcony and garden.

The book was self-published (publishing assistance provided by Notion Press Publishing, Chennai), and released in Dec 2020. The book is supported by WWF India and Muthiah Research Foundation. 

This is the second such book by the authors. Their first book The Photographic Field Guide – Wildlife of Central India was published in 2016 and it aimed to shift the focus of visitors and local guides towards the wilderness as an entity, and not just mega fauna. The difference brought about by that book encouraged them to write more to bring about similar awareness and change in other regions of India as well.

About the authors:

David Raju worked as a naturalist in Central India and currently working in Wayanad, and has authored a well-regarded field guide on his first love, the dragonflies and damselflies of Kerala.

Surya Ramachandran used to be a documentary producer and now works as a full-time naturalist. He is currently an ambassador for Swarovski Optik Birding and runs a conservation tourism outfit focussed on snow leopards and other trans-Himalayan fauna in the mountains of Ladakh.

Over the years, the two of them have been invited to conduct many training sessions for park guides, naturalists, wilderness lodges and various forest departments. For their efforts in the field of conservation tourism, each has been awarded the prestigious TOFT/Sanctuary Asia Naturalist of the Year. Photographic Field Guide – Wildlife of South India is a collection of their combined 16 years of experience and knowledge, accumulated over their various explorations.

The book is available at: photofieldguides.com, amazon. com, and a few other online sellers.