Rabindra Pokharel

Kathmandu:

A biker-cum-tiger-lover, Nanda SJB Rana wants children to get to know more about the world’s most beautiful animal and protect it, too.

Educated at the Cotton Bishop, Nanda SJB Rana loved to call himself a biker. But he got passionately involved in something he had never even imagined he would take up. Perhaps, as one matures, passions sublimate, and along with it one’s mission in life. He is the only person who describes himself as a wildlife consultant. “I’ve discovered what I can do best and doing it gives me the greatest satisfaction,” asserts Nanda haughtily. Apart from the aristocratic legacy of the Rana family, he also inherited an enduring love for animals. After completing his senior high, he spent some time helped his father at their film production company in Kolkata (Calcutta then). However, that stint didn’t hold his interest for long. Besides biking, his love of the jungle saw him spending most of his time hunting in Indian jungles. “I’ve shot leopards, wild bear and other animals, but I’ve never shot tigers, elephant and rhinos,” says Rana. Rana recalls an incident that changed his view. “I had been deep in the woods for about three days and nights without sighting a single quarry. The third night was one of those beautiful nights. We were in the jungle and a tiger stepped up just 30 yards away. Unperturbed it stood, and left me gaping at the magnificent being. If I had shot it, then it would have felt like shooting someone special. I dropped the gun promising never to shoot a tiger again,” reveals Rana.

Yet he shoots tigers, but with a camera now. Two of his wildlife documentaries have also been featured by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Discovery Channel. Rana is married to Latika Rana, who’s the only person in the world to earn a doctorate in Animal Conservation from the Oxford University. Rana spends most of his time in the wildlife reserves

and national parks in Nepal and India, learning about the habits and habitat of different animals and arresting them in his films. “I don’t have much to do when I’m in the city and staying in the city makes for too long makes both of us erratic.” But he says he has got “pets to look after” and also finds the time to socialise. Rana is presently associated with WCN (Wildlife Conservation Nepal), of which he is a founder trustee and TIGER (The Integrated Group for Environment and Research). “We’ve been able to do quite a few things for wildlife conservation, which mainly comprises workshops on wildlife photography, teaching people about the habits and habitat of tigers and how these animals can be protected.” They have also organised exhibitions in Germany (for Asia Pacific Festival), Mumbai and Delhi as fundraisers for the Tiger conservation campaign. Rana is also involved in wildlife tourism and is opening a wildlife resort in Kanata National Park, one of the largest national parks in India.

The Rana couple have also been providing consultancy services to IUCN, UNICEF, and ICIMOD.

To speed up his vociferous campaign for the conservation of tigers, Rana is also planning to stage an exhibition of wildlife photographs in London soon.

“We care for all animals but as tiger is on top of the food chain, it is important that we take especial care of the conservation of tigers,” he says. Rana believes most importantly, children should be made aware of the importance of conservation. The husband and wife have both toured America, India, Nepal conducting talks and teaching children about the very thing. His children’s books on wild animals (especially tigers) have been translated into seven Indian languages and seven European languages. Though he appreciates the idea of doing a book on wildlife photography, he laments, “I wish I were a good writer. I’d rather watch the tigers than write a book about them. But then I do want children to learn about the most beautiful animal in the planet.” Though his friends have approached him to join politicsm, Rana says he doesn’t want to. “I do follow politics closely but I’d rather not get into it. I love what I’m doing, and that gives me the greatest pleasure.”