The Million Rupees Food Chain : Tokay Gecko

Tokay Gecko, (click) are the largest geckos of India, the second largest in the world and are found in the north eastern parts of India.

   Though classified as Least Concern in the IUCN red list, their survival has been seriously threatened in recent times due to indiscriminate poaching.

   The poaching is fuelled by its demand in traditional medicines, especially in China, with some even claiming it to be the remedy for AIDS.

   Depending on their size, a single specimen can even fetch up to Rs 80-100 lakhs. They are becoming so scarce that there are reports of even monitor lizards being dressed up with an attempt to pass them off as geckos!

   But these guys have found safe havens for generations in the old colonial bungalows of tea estates and forest rest houses of the northeast.

   They come out at night in significant numbers to keep other insects at bay.

Gear : Nikon D 7200,  AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Shot: 1/60 sec., f/6.3, 210mm  ISO 450

Location: Heritage Hollong Forest Rest House, Jaldapara National Park, West Bengal 🌏

#Jaldapara #nikon #d7200 #endemic #duar #forestresthouse

Sparrow

A Sparrow Couple

Common Name (Hindi): Gauraiya,Chida aur Chidiya

Clicked: February of 2006

In: West Rajasthan

Gear: Fuji Finepix S5600

   This was one of the earliest bird pic clicked by me, on a lazy winter morning, just outside on the balcony. Though it was a bird as common as a bird could be ,the House Sparrow, but I felt as if the birds were posing for a formal photo-shoot in a studio.

   I still feel, that composition wise, its one of the best bird pair pic that I have clicked. My then fiance, and now wife, couldn't stop laughing on seeing this pic, "...'cause Sparrows are so common, who clicks Sparrows, they are found everywhere, just outside the house, like you did and well even inside...".

   Ironically, who would have thought that these commonest of birds would so soon find a place in list 'Threatened Species' of WWF, India.😥😢😢

   Please spread awareness and help in getting our sparrows back. And hopefully, they will be back...

- By the Husband