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What aroused your interest in wild life?
    It is an instinct. My upbringing in the sylvan surroundings of East Africa also has been influential in prodding my interest in wildlife.

    Indeed, I believe family has a great role to play when it comes to compassion for animals. Add to this, a bevy of pets our family bred. It is a combination of all these factors that endeared wild life to me.

Any instance that is vivid on your mind?
    I remember this real incident which my mother used to tell me. It was so that while I was a tot, there was this black mamba ( considered the longest venomous snake after cobra) crawling beside me. And we had this pet dog named Jack.

    It gave shrill barks which made my mother come out of the kitchen. What she saw left her dumbfounded. The mamba lying in a pool of blood.

    As I grew up my mother recollected how Jack stood in the face of death to save me. I would therefore say animals are more intelligent and at times more sensitive than human beings. Or else how can you expect a bird to fly across the globe without the help of a map or how can a dog help identify a criminal through smell.

Do films on wild life actually help reduce atrocities on animals?
    To an extent yes. My documentary on the whale sharks brought in a legislation across the globe to protect the species. And then there was this documentary on vultures titled Vanishing Vultures which has been a catalyst in initiating a ban on Diclofenac - a medicine made by killing vultures.

How do you see wild life protection laws vis-à-vis the rare species in India?
    See laws are there no doubt. But we cannot bank on laws alone to save animals. It is also necessary to sensitise people on the importance of protecting them. It is an irony that peacock the national bird of India and yet it is almost on the verge of extinction. Hence I would say education could be more influential than laws. Unfortunately, in India education has failed to reach over 65 per cent of people.

Are your films taken to rural areas?
    Yes. The film on vultures has been shown to people across India in local languages.

Who do you think can help in such endeavours?
    Public broadcasters can be of great help. In India, Doordarshan is one such medium which has a pan-India reach. But then again a mere 30 per cent of air time for wild life programmes is not enough to get the message across. We need at least 50 per cent of air time on the channel.

You have dabbled with many a rare species across the globe. Is there any on the list that posed a challenge for you?
    Well, practically all animals are difficult to shoot. They have their own set of behavioural traits. But yes vulture was a tough call, given its rarity and migratory streak.

And which would you like to shoot?
    Spiders, rabbits, flamingos and migratory butterfly are some of these creatures. I would also like to film the dance of the blue whale. It is simply amazing.

Your forthcoming ventures
    A series titled Earth Matters that would go live on Doordarshan by June-July.

Your message to people
    Our country has a vast reservoir of flora and fauna. Let's understand their significance or else a day will come when many species India prides on, would fade from its soil.