Review: Prakriti Photo Nature and Wildlife Magazine

Prakriti Photo, a nature and wildlife magazine, volume: 3, Issue: 1 published by the Prakriti Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organisation to create awareness among people about nature and wildlife conservation and to promote eco-tourism. Price: Bangladesh Tk 180, overseas $ 5.75. Total pages: 80.

The cover story of the magazine was written Syed Noor Hossain on an endangered animal Tama, the clouded leopard at Dulahazra Safari Park. He also took the photographs. Tama is young and beautiful, but her nature is uncertain. There is no other clouded leopard in captivity in Bangladesh. The story of Tama begins with her rescue on January 19, 2005 from the Garo hills in Sherpur. Six-month old at the time, Tama probably lost her mother and strayed into the locality close to the forest. The cute leopard was handed over to Dr Tapan Kumar Dey, Divisional Forest Officer, who is charge of the wildlife division of the Forest Department. Dr Dey's office is in Chittagong and he is responsible for Dulahazra Safari Park.

The Dulahazra Safari Park started in 2000 with 300 hectares of forest. Eventually, another 600 hectares were added to the scheme to bring the total size to 900 hectares. The park has relatively large enclosure for lion, tiger, elephant and other animals like Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), and reptiles such as the saltwater crocodile (Crocodilus porosus) and sweet water crocodile (Crocodilus palustris). The story writer mentioned that the park officials presented him with a brochure that details some of the mammals (totaling 45), birds (totaling 90), amphibians (totaling 6), reptiles (totaling 28) and trees (totaling 61) that visitors can see in the park.

Tama, the only known clouded leopard in captivity in Bangladesh, is confined to a small cage in Dulahazra Safari Park. She is not in a safari-like in a zoo. The clouded leopard's critically endangered status in Bangladesh and urgent need for breeding in captivity, justifies that loving animal's transfer to a bigger and natural looking surrounding. But sorry to say that this largely arboreal animal lives inside a small cave-like construction most of the time of the day. There is no tree for Tama to climb inside the small cage. She can, however, climb the eight-foot high meshed wall of the cage.

Meanwhile, another article titled 'Natural Tranquility: Padding the Okefenokee' text and photographs were taken by Jamie McLeod. The writer expressed his experiences while visiting one of the most pristine swamps in the USA 'Okefenokee National Wildlife Refugee' in South Georgia. He along his friend Brian had assembled quite a crew for four days, twenty-two miles adventure where a party of fourteen with five canoes and two sea kayaks. There are so many rare photographs and experiences of the Okefenokee were mentioned in the article.

In the commentary section, Syed Noor Hossain written 'Lawachara Revisited: Whither Conservation.'

Another beautiful article titled 'Palla's Fish Eagle: Can we save it from extinction' was written by M Sohrab Uddin Sarker. He also took some photographs. Palla's fish eagle or Ring-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) is generally called bird of prey or raptor. This majestic bird is locally called 'Kuarh'. Sixty-three species of raptors occur in Bangladesh. Palla's fish eagle is one of the largest eagles of the country. In the article, he mentioned how they surviving in the nature.

Menwhile, Syed Noor Hossain also written on 'The Art of Nature Photography.'

Prof Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz, a Professor of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University, written an article on 'Wildlife Rescue Centre: Jahangirnagar University'.

Another beautiful article was written and photographs were taken by Ismat Jahan on her 'Capturing beautiful Sunsets and Twilights'. She beautifully described the sunset and twilights where special time of the day has been expressed in her write-up. Therefore, she took some tremendous photographs in her article.

Nisa Qais also wrote 'Cox's Bazar: The Longest Unbroken Beach'. Her beautiful photographs of the beach found there.

Meanwhile, Sy Ehlidil presented extraordinary photographs and texts on 'Backyard Birds of Georgia.'

There are some animals, flora and fauna in the country, which are in extinct situation at present. For the survival of them, everybody should come forward and this type of nature-oriented magazine should be published in the long run where present situation of these endangered animals could be expressed and presented there.