Mandepanda Savitha Poovaiah, of Ammathi, is one among the few women wildlife photographers from Coorg.
Born into the Mallengada clan at Badagarakeri near Birunani, the rich flora and fauna of her village enabled her in developing a fascination for wildlife at a very young age. She was encouraged by her parents to love and respect wildlife. The Poovaiahs have two daughters.
Savitha says: “Taking perfect picture of animals in the wild can be very challenging. When it comes to the insect world, one needs patience and concentration for the find. Birds are beautiful and interesting creatures. They lead fascinating lives. And bird photography is one of the most popular and challenging and needs specialised skills as well as good equipment. I started photographing birds in my backyards and gardens and later moved to wild.”
As a responsible photographer of wildlife, she notes that she never uses digital manipulation to misrepresent a subject or mislead the viewer.
Savitha says that she is proud to be one among the few Kodava women wildlife photographers. “I believe many more women in our community should show interest and take up photography which will give immense pleasure. I hope that my photos will help to showcase the true beauty of Kodagu wildlife,” she adds.
