A Photographic Guide to the Wildlife of India

If you have a deep interest in a specific taxonomic group (e.g. birds, mammals, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies etc) there is no substitute for carrying one or more dedicated field guides. If your interest spans multiple taxonomic groups this could mean taking with you a wheelbarrow load of books. This is too cumbersome for both overseas and local visitors. A collection of field guides is also too much weight to carry in the field given that many serious wildlife enthusiasts will be having a heavy day pack with camera gear and binoculars. A book like this is an excellent compromise with an emphasis on the most popular taxonomic groups covering 770 birds and 114 mammals. Most people on a wildlife safari also find it interesting to be able to identify the commoner reptiles, butterflies and trees that they encounter. A reasonable selection of these is also included with 72 butterflies and other insects, 54 reptiles and 54 plants.

The species section which is the bulk of the book has a standard format with a double page covering six species with text on the left and images on the right. Each species has one image which allows for a reasonably large image in this book which is to a standard field guide shape (height 19 cm and width 13.5 cm). The trees are the trickiest group to handle in a book like this. Whilst many mammals, birds and butterflies can be satisfactorily depicted with just one image, it is very difficult for any species of tree to be adequately served by one image. But to keep the book to a reasonable weight, a compromise is necessary on both the selection of species and the number of images used. For wildlife enthusiasts who need a more comprehensive treatment, there are more detailed books by John Beaufoy Publishing as well as a number of other local and international publishers.

The front section has a useful introduction (10 pages) to the geographic regions of India followed by an introduction to wildlife habitats (5 pages). The end sections have a wildlife-watching site guide (spanning 34 pages) which covers the best sites in each state. Brief details on access are provided with a table of the key species. India is a vast country and the site descriptions which describe the terrain and type of vegetation and the bird species richness will help with trip planning.

India is too species-rich for a single book to do justice to its wildlife. An entire library is needed. However, this book works well as a single, multi-taxon photographic guide covering the most popular groups and of a shape and weight that is portable.