THE WILDLIFE OF INDIA

by E.P. Gee

E.P. Gee was one of the earliest wildlife photographers of India. He led, what one may call, ‘a-dream-life’. A Cambridge educated Anglo-Indian, Edward Pritchard Gee took up employment on the tea estates of Assam in the midst of thick forests. All his holidays and leisure time was dedicated to travel and photography. He travelled to all the major wildlife sanctuaries and forests of India, clicking photographs! This is about his travels, people he met, animals he saw. Up close. The majestic gaurs of Bandipur. The charging rhinos of Kaziranga. The impressive elephant herds of Periyar. The unforgettable lions of Gir. The schools of barasinghas at Kanha. The golden langurs that he did not discover! The wild asses he chased in the Rann in open jeep. Of his many pets some of which ended up as celebrities in international zoos. His style of narration is easy paced, relaxed. He takes you for all those wildlife adventure trips that you somehow could never manage to take. You travel on train. On jeep. On elephant back. On boat. You will miss nothing! He talks of the early efforts at conservation – the foresters and the naturalists he encountered. Of his surveys to estimate populations of wildlife – the country’s earliest efforts at animal census. He talks of his simple ideas to manage wildlife. E.P. settled down with his pets at Shillong after his retirement to grow orchids and to pursue his hobbies with a greater vigour. The book is an enjoyable read. The foreword has been written by Jawaharlal Nehru! The flavour is much like that of Enid Blyton’s fairy tales for children.E.P. makes you experience the charm of wilderness – those enchanted woods – without trying too hard. And to make you wish that the story of India’s struggle to save its wildlife gets a fairy tale end.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Ryan]

This was probably one of the first 'modern' conservation oriented book on the wildlife of India, and that is also its strongest distinction, since it merely provides a whirlwind tour of the major sanctuaries and parks of the various regions without going into sufficient detail on different animals, with the exception of the tiger and rhino. Gee was known for being a pioneer in the field when the book was published in the 60s, and many have expanded and improved on his ideas since. Compared to subsequent reference works, this book falls short on technical information, but celebrated the sheer joy of being amongst nature in its wildest glory. For that alone it is to be applauded.

[Narasimhan]

A wonderful book,
E.P.Gee wildlife experiences and encounters during his travel to many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India during 1940s-1970s. It is surprising to know that E.P.Gee has traveled across India from Bandipur,Kabini forests of South India(including Vedanthangal,Point Calimere) to the Himalayas of North,East(Manas National Park,Jim Corbett,Kashmir) and to Rann of Kutch,Gir forests in an era when road transport were of low standards(or no roads at all in many forests and villages) and many of the forests and wildlife departments were just start to function.He has taken many beautiful photographs and videos of Wild Animals,their behavior using hide and vividly explains the challenges of taking the wildlife photography.He also talks about his encounters with wildlife, people, and behavior,instincts of wild animals.A lovely book to read,if you love wildlife of forests or wildlife photography.