PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDES & NATURALISTS

DIGPAL karmawas

DIGPAL KARMAWAS

“I’m actually from a village close to Jodhpur which is known as Karmawas. I’ve done my schooling from Mayo College, Ajmer and took my degree at Mumbai University. I've worked with the BBC Natural History Unit on films like ‘Warriors of the Monkey God’ and ‘The Life of Mammals’ as a field assistant and have also worked in Gujarat with National Geographic whom made a film on wild ass known as ‘Riders of the Storm’. Furthermore, I’ve worked on documentaries based on people and places in Rajasthan for various channels. I've had the great pleasure in working with David Attenbourgh, Jonathan Keeling, Phel Chapman, and cameramen like Mike Lemon, Mike Herd, and Gavin Thurston.

My passion for wildlife is actually something that I have picked up from my family and by working with such people as mentioned above. Travelling around north India and visiting different wildlife parks so many times with different people has given me the experience to be a good guide/naturalist.

I’ve been working in Bandhavgarh for last six years on tigers and I was the field assistant with BBC films working on leopards in Rajasthan for the series ‘The Life of Mammals’. I worked very hard before the crew arrived because, as a local person, I could get information and resources from the villagers which made the filming much easier.”

I was introduced to Digpal in December 2004. Dhruv at Churhat Kothi had recommended Digpal when I enquired about government permissions at the park but permissions are time consuming to organise and very costly, as I was advised.

I'd had a terrible ordeal leading up to my trip in December as I'd originally planned to go to Ranthambhore but pulled out at the last minute. By the time I'd arrived at Churhat I was stressed and full of doubt as to how well this trip would go. My fears were unsubstantiated. Digpal put me at ease within seconds of meeting him. He has one of those personas that radiate calm and serenity. We talked through the trip and I explained to Digpal what I needed from my time there. He let me know what was realistically possible and never promised what he could not deliver.

In the field, Digpal’s calm composure is worth its weight in gold. There are so many speed freaks, aggressive drivers, and agitated or over-excited tourists that you need someone to cut through chaos and bring a scene to order. Digpal has earned a great deal respect from other guides in the park has he has strong morals and work ethics. If a situation is unfolding and a tiger looks like its going to be pressurised, Digpal often stood up and instructed other drivers to back off, which they did without question.

With regards to photographic opportunities, Digpal has a fantastic relationship with the mahouts of the park. They have a great relationship built on mutual respect. Often, if the mahouts knew we were in the queue they would keep an eye on the situation. If something happened such as the tigers moving into a clearing or to water, they would collect as soon as they were allowed to in order for me to make the most of the situation.

Butch Lama

BUTCH LAMA

Butch was raised in Kathmandu, and is a citizen of Nepal. His affinity for wildlife began during breaks from school in Chitwan; his father managed Machan Wildlife Resort there. It wasn’t long before he was leading rafting tours down the Trisuli River in Nepal where his love of birds was born. After three rafting seasons, he shifted his focus to wildlife, working full time in Chitwan at Machan and Gaida Wildlife Camp as a naturalist-in-training. In 1990 he began working with Nanda Rana as a naturalist at Bandhavgarh Jungle Camp (now known as Churhat Kothi). He remained in Bandhavgarh until 2005, taking a couple of years out to live in Ecuador and get married.

While in Bandhavgarh, Butch worked as a field assistant with teams from National Geographic and Partridge Films on several occasions from October 1995 to June 1997. They were there to film and photograph Sita, her cubs (from what would be her last litter), and Charger. Specifically, the teams included photographers Nick Nichols, Roy Toft, Alfonce Roy and producer Claire Fisher, and other camera people. There have also been a few independent professional photographers, most recently Wolfgang Kaehler. As for wildlife artists, Butch has assisted Simon Combes and Robert Fuller, among others; each had Butch’s undivided attention when they visited the park (1994, and 2004, respectively) to take photos for their tiger paintings. Let’s not forget the countless amateur photographers, of varying proficiencies, including Butch himself!). Lastly, he has guided a half-dozen world renowned ornithologists, a further testament to his ability to work with all who build their professional lives around wildlife.

Working with National Geographic gave Butch the rare opportunity to explore inaccessible parts of the park where photographers, guides, and mahouts do not go because these areas require special permission and are only accessible on foot. He spent many long, hot hours/days in hides near water holes, on the hills where only the resident animals go. He uses this knowledge daily in anticipating where the tigers are within their individual territories, what they are doing at various times of day, during the different seasons of the year.

He has an amazing recall of nearly every sighting he has ever had with a tiger since 1990. He is well known and well regarded by the local community, especially the mahouts and park guides. They respect his knowledge, experience, and abilities, but, above all, their respect is based on how he treats them -- consistently, fairly, and generously.

Skills:

• Visual acuity and memory play a vital role in spotting and identifying various species, as large as a tiger, and as small as a warbler, and everything in between.
• Butch’s passion for wildlife drives him to expand his knowledge base, from a wide range of sources, including his own observations.
• Butch speaks English, Nepali, and Hindi fluently (along with several local Indian and Nepali dialects); he can even remember enough Spanish (from living a year in Ecuador) to guide Spanish clients who have limited-to-no English. More importantly, his ability to communicate extends beyond his language skills. By disposition, he is able to establish a rapport with nearly everyone he encounters: from foreign dignitaries such as Robin Cook (British Foreign Minister) and Bob Dole (Republican leader of the Senate and presidential candidate) to the Mahaveer, the elderly local gentleman in Tala who minds the Park’s Main Gate.

CONTACT DETAILS AND FEES

If you are interested in recruiting Butch Lama as your guide, please contact me for the terms and fees.