“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight… but not the tiger!”
Isn’t it inspiring to discover and learn about individuals who, instead of following the conventional paths paved by industry giants, choose to forge their own unique routes to success? The world is filled with numerous success stories, many of which follow traditional trajectories. However, some exceptional tales stand out, having been built from the ground up, rising to the top despite intense competition and market saturation.
One such inspiring story is that of Sandeep Sinha, a Data Analyst and Professor, who chose to carve out a career driven by his passion for painting, photography, and wildlife.
Sandeep Sinha was born into a defence background in central India surrounded by seven major tiger reserves: Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Pench, Satpura, Sanjay Dubri, and the newly declared Veerangana Durgavati.
He completed his education with an M.Tech degree in Computer Science. Like many young professionals, he started his career as a Data Analyst, working for MNCs like SAP, L&T, Zensar, AT&T, and Tech Mahindra. He also served as a guest faculty member at various universities worldwide.
However, to rise above his corporate life, he chose to pursue his passion. A self-taught artist, he gradually gained recognition for his work. He brought glory and honor to the nation twice: in 2015 with his highly acclaimed miniature painting, and in 2019 with the “World’s Largest Professional Oil Painting,” which earned a Guinness World Record.
In 2007, Sandeep began traveling to wild forests, where he developed a fascination for wildlife and animals, particularly enjoying photographing them. Gradually, he started traveling across India, capturing bird and tiger sightings during his trips.
According to Sandeep, photographing tigers goes beyond just taking pictures; it’s about documenting their behaviors, personalities, and the delicate balance they maintain within their ecosystems. He feels privileged to witness these magnificent cats in their various habitats.
Through his lens, Sandeep aims to tell compelling stories of tiger life: from the tender moments of motherhood to the heart-stopping drama of a successful hunt. Each photograph is a testament to the beauty and resilience of these iconic creatures.
As apex predators, tigers play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems. They regulate prey populations such as deer and wild boar, which in turn influences vegetation growth and biodiversity. By keeping prey species in check, tigers help preserve the health of forests and grasslands. The presence of tigers in an area indicates the overall health of the ecosystem.
Despite the recognized importance of tigers, Sandeep has witnessed changes in wildlife and tiger populations. These observations have led him to reflect on issues such as current state of tigers and the detrimental impact of human activities on nature.
India is home to the largest population of wild tigers in the world and good news is they are continuously increasing. As per 2023 data, The number of tigers in Madhya Pradesh has increased from 526 to 785 in the last four years. It is followed by Karnataka (563) in second place and Uttarakhand (560) in third place.
The major concern is the ratio of tigers to forest area. A male tiger requires a large territory, approximately 5 to 150 km2 (2 to 60 mi2) of forest land. In a tiger’s territory, there can only be one dominant male, which underscores their authoritative nature. Limited forest cover leads to conflicts between tigers, resulting in the death of the weaker ones, which is a loss that cannot be afforded.
Forest cover is depleting due to human activities, climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, and human settlements. A lower tiger ratio means fewer predators, disrupting the natural habitat balance.
Without tigers, prey populations like deer can increase, leading to overgrazing and further forest depletion. We cannot turn blind eye towards ‘Hasdeo Arand’ forest of India, where thousands of trees have been felled over 137 hectares of biodiversity-rich forest in Hasdeo for the Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal blocks of Chhattisgarh.
Saving tigers is crucial, but saving their jungle habitats is even more important. The core and buffer zones of tiger reserves should be expanded. Governments must take action to increase forest cover. Increasing the number of tigers alone won’t help; preserving and expanding their habitats is essential.
Wrapping up my experience, I feel it is my duty as a wildlife photographer to raise these concerns. I hope to continue capturing and sharing such stories through my lens.”
About the Author
Sandeep Sinha was born into a defence background in central India surrounded by seven major tiger reserves: Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Pench, Satpura, Sanjay Dubri, and the newly declared Veerangana Durgavati.
He completed his education with an M.Tech degree in Computer Science. Like many young professionals, he started his career as a Data Analyst, working for MNCs like SAP, L&T, Zensar, AT&T, and Tech Mahindra. He also served as a guest faculty member at various universities worldwide.
However, to rise above his corporate life, he chose to pursue his passion. A self-taught artist, he gradually gained recognition for his work. He brought glory and honor to the nation twice: in 2015 with his highly acclaimed miniature painting, and in 2019 with the “World’s Largest Professional Oil Painting,” which earned a Guinness World Record.
In 2007, Sandeep began traveling to wild forests, where he developed a fascination for wildlife and animals, particularly enjoying photographing them. Gradually, he started traveling across India, capturing bird and tiger sightings during his trips.
According to Sandeep, photographing tigers goes beyond just taking pictures; it’s about documenting their behaviors, personalities, and the delicate balance they maintain within their ecosystems. He feels privileged to witness these magnificent cats in their various habitats.
