Firefly congregation at Annamalai Tiger Reserve | Photo Credit: KA Dhanuparan
“Trust me, this scintillating film will steal your heart. Annamalai – An ecological paradise of Tamil Nadu. This World Wildlife Day let’s take a pledge to preserve our ecological heritage,” tweeted Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary Environment, Climate Change and Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu as she launched the film on World Wildlife Day (March 3) .
The film on Annamalai Tiger Reserve made by Pollachi Papyrus with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is currently running on YouTube and Instagram. “We have made a film that succinctly captures ATR,” says Praveen Shanmuganandan, editor of Pollachi Papyrus Who has scripted and curated the film.
A rich biodiversity hotspot, ATR hosts a variety of pristine ecosystems and is home to many wild species. Drone shots in the film show some of the iconic species including great hornbills, lion tailed macaques (LTM), Nilgiri tahr and purple frog.
Movie Poster | Photo Credit: KA Dhanuparan
In April last year, in a rare event, millions of fireflies lit up the forests as they synchronously emitted light and moved among the trees in the dense forest. “This footage was the most challenging,” says award-winning wildlife photographer KA Dhanuparan, who did the cinematography for the film. “All the footage that appears in the film was captured over a period of three years,” he says, adding that it was pitch dark in the jungle and he could hear a tiger growling throughout filming. “We can’t use lights in the jungle and at that time had no idea about the animals around us. We saw an elephant only a few meters away from us. It was risky, but unforgettable Because it was a spectacular display of fireflies.
Along with footage of firefly gatherings, the film also shows the rich diversity of habitats including rainforests, evergreen forests, dry deciduous, shola patches, scrub forests and riverine forests. An important tiger reserve, Annamalai has a rich diversity of tree species, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals. Annamalai also supports indigenous communities including Malasar, Malai Malasar, Kadar, Eravalar, Pulayar and Muduvar. The Kozhikmuthi Elephant Camp in ATR is one of the oldest elephant camps in the country. The mahouts belong to the Malasar tribal community.
Annamalai Landscape | Photo Credit: KA Dhanuparan
Dhanuparan spent several hours inside the forest documenting the landscape inhabited by several iconic wild species. “I was lucky enough to get footage of a lone leopard,” he says. However, it was the hornbills that took his breath away. “I spent over a month recording the behavior of great hornbills. On one lucky day, I could see cask butting behavior where the bright, yellow and black birds perched on a tree took off and engaged in aerial flight We have to ensure that the species is not disturbed even using drone shots.”
The aim of the film is to inculcate a sense of appreciation for this beautiful landscape among the visitors. “We are also urging them to contribute to its conservation and be responsible tourists,” says Praveen.
The film is currently streaming on YouTube on the Pollachi Papyrus channel. You can also follow it on Instagram @Pollachi Papyrus.