The jungle is a thing of beauty. Most of us only witness it on television or in magazines. Thanks to documentaries, social media, and to modern technology, we can finally imagine what it’s truly like out there. Then there are the fortunate few who get to immerse themselves in the wildlife and get to witness the true beauty that nature has to offer. One such example is wildlife photographer, Mithun.
Mithun is based in India. He has made it his life’s work and mission to bring the beauty and mystery of the jungle to life through pictures. Those who haven’t had first-hand experience at adventure appreciate what he has to offer. Because he grew up in the jungles of South India, Mithun had always been captivated by wildlife. In particular, he had an affinity for big cats such as leopards.
Mithun had worked for Nat Geo Wild’s “The Real Black Panther.” This not only fueled his desire to delve deeper into the studies of wild cats, but it also equipped him with the knowledge of tracking large felines and leading personalized safari tours.
Mithun has garnered a gaggle of followers because of his pictures. One particular shot caught everyone’s attention. He was able to capture the perfect moment between the leopard and the black panther standing behind her. The post went viral as people couldn’t help but notice how the panther seemed like the shadow standing behind the calm-looking leopard.
In an interview, Mithun relived the moment he was able to capture and put the moment in still life. “I can still close my eyes and relive that moment every single day of my life. You don’t see that often. Probably an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There was certainly a lot of waiting and patience that went into it. I had waited 6 days for this in the same spot since I could hear the panther and Cleopatra mating about 100 meters away in the thick undergrowth, but could not see them due to limited visibility. They had made a large kill and would not move until it was over. That is where the knowledge and years of experience of following and tracking the panther came in handy. I just had to wait at one of his favorite paths, since that was the place he would get her, since that was the edge of his territory, and this he did after 6 days. It was a fruitful wait, though. I could wait for 6 years for a moment like this,” he explained. Indeed, his patience and perseverance had paid off.
Mithun goes on to explain, “You never know what you are going to encounter at the next bend. The woods are mysterious, and to unlock that is my passion. You could be waiting for days and months and years for that perfect shot. But when it happens, those few seconds are magical, and to live for after all that time. That is the beauty of wildlife photography.”
Mithun’s life had taken a turn when he got his hands on his very first camera in 2009. He had successfully captured a magnificent male tiger that was swimming through the river. It was then he knew what head wanted to do with his life, and from then on, he had never looked back. He goes on to say, “Although I love every form of wildlife and love my birds as well, big cats were always a fascination from the beginning. Leopards, in particular, were my first love. The agility, the grace of this feline on the trees just fascinated me to no end. I would spend hours watching them lazing on a tree with their little ones. Have named and followed their individual journey in Kabini for the last 12 years now. It all started with one of my favorite Leopards whom I called ‘Monk’ (a big male) and ‘Moon’ (the female), and their generation still going strong now.”
What Mithun does is not for the faint of heart. It takes sheer passion and scrupulous commitment to be ready at all times. Since wildlife cannot be dictated, it takes patience to wait for hours, or even days, at a time. Mithun also believes that his knowledge of the terrain is of great edge. His advice is to know the dangers and limits when it comes to the study of animal behavior. When you have all these, you’re already partially geared for the battle. “These beautiful creatures are generally more scared and shy than we think. Give them space and let them get comfortable with you and you realize how close and personal you can get with their world. The secret is patience and respect.,” he says.
Through the Mithun’s work, he had also become a conservationist. His main objective is to create awareness especially when it comes to saving the leopards. He believes that, “They are the most neglected of the big cats across the world and in danger because of conflict with humans on the edges of the forests. People need to realize the beauty and grace of this amazing feline and their very important role in the ecosystem.”
As Mithun carries on with his work, his Instagram account has accumulated an impressive 220 thousand followers while his Facebook account has a total an equally grand 110 thousand.
