1. Neha Dixit In 2021, filmmaker Neha Dixit from Nainital, Uttarakhand, set out for the Himalayas to track down the elusive musk deer, locally known as ‘kasturi’.
During her time there, Neha and her crew heard locals recount stories of how the musk deer, classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, often becomes the target of hunters.
“Along with musk, the hunters are also looking for bear bile, said to have medicinal value,” they were told.
2. Shaleena Phinya A certain babbler with olive-grey plumage and a black cap is popular in Singchung, Arunachal Pradesh.
In fact, the Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum) is only found here and nowhere else in the world.
The bird was identified by Dr Ramana Athreya, an astronomer and ecologist from Pune, in 1996. He scientifically documented them as a new species in 2006.
3. Ashwika Kapur Every year, thousands of jungle cats, Indian flying foxes and greater coucals, elongated tortoises and long-billed vultures are massacred as part of an illegal ritualistic hunt in West Bengal.
Many of these species are at risk of extinction; the hunt delivers the final blow to their numbers. Now, an award-winning natural history and conservation filmmaker from Kolkata is attempting to change this reality with her documentary Catapults to Cameras.
Instead of taking part in the ritualistic hunt in West Bengal, the children are being encouraged to photograph the wildlife in these areas.
Credit goes to the Menarias, who have completely taken ownership of their wetlands and actively patrol the area to prevent illegal hunting. They’ve also built an eco-tourism model that protects the wetlands.
The filmmakers are backed by Roundglass Sustain, a digital encyclopedia dedicated to India’s biodiversity. These initiative-backed films go beyond sparking wanderlust; they also drive impact.