The Naturalists

at Red Earth






Our Naturalist Team

Sentinels of pristine lands, all Red Earth Resorts are duty bound to protect and celebrate the rich natural heritage. Every Red Earth has naturalists, many of them from the indigenous communities, who are passionate and take ownership of the land and there in. Their passion inspires them to become storytellers engaging, entertaining and enlightening us all. Here we tell their stories.

Jeswin Naturalists at Red Earth

Jeswin Kingsly, Senior Naturalist

Jeswin Kingsly's journey from Marine Engineering to becoming a dedicated Wildlife Conservationist is truly inspiring. His transition from a family with a hunting background to a Naturalist working in the Central Indian landscape showcases his passion for wildlife.

Starting his career with WWF in the Tiger Project and later contributing to the Elephant Conflict Mitigation project in the Nilgiris Biosphere demonstrates his commitment to protecting these endangered species. His upbringing in the foothills of the Western Ghats likely played a significant role in fostering his love for nature.

It's fascinating to learn about Jeswin's interests in snakes and butterflies, highlighting his deep connection to the region's biodiversity. Establishing the "Wildlife Wranglers" organisation with fellow enthusiasts, focusing on conservation through education is a commendable initiative.

Moreover, Jeswin's involvement in assisting the forest department during conflict situations and his contribution to the award-winning film 'Kaliru,' which addresses the Elephant Conflict in the Nilgiris foothills, underscores his dedication to wildlife conservation.

In his extensive stint with the legendary Belinda Wright at Kipling Camp, he was mentored personally by her and carried forward the legacy of conservation.

His passion for wildlife extends to photography, making him a multifaceted conservationist who uses visual storytelling to raise awareness about the beauty and importance of our natural world. Jeswin Kingsly's journey is a testament to the power of following one's passion and positively impacting the environment. 

Manjula Birder at Red Earth

Pallavi Kulkarni, Junior Naturalist

Pallavi is an Interior Designer by profession. However, she started her wildlife journey as a tourist in 2017 and eventually became passionate about it by exploring different jungles across India. She has great understanding of jungles in Tadoba, Kanha, Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, Bandhavgarh, Satpura and Sunderbans to name a few. Fueled by her zest for wildlife, she pursued a photography course and has now turned into a full-time wildlife photographer.
She joined Pune based Wildlife Tourism company in 2021 and was handling sales, operations and leading group tours. Recently, she has completed PRONAT, a certified professional naturalist course from Madhya Pradesh and is ready to take your wildlife safari experience to the next level with her valuable technical insights. Her friendly nature has helped her guests to enjoy wildlife related discussions and make them fall in love with nature!

Naturalists at Red Earth

Huzaifa, Junior Naturalist

Hailing from Chhattisgarh, Huzaifa's academic journey has predominantly been shaped by the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Huzaifa accomplished his master's degree in Zoology in 2023 from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, a testament to his unwavering passion for wildlife.

With a PRONAT (Professional Naturalist Training Program) certification, Huzaifa's primary objective is to acquire profound knowledge and actively contribute to conservation efforts within the field of wildlife. With a special interest in reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods, he is not only skilled in wildlife photography and videography but also a dedicated explorer of wildlife habitats. His fundamental understanding of plant biology, coupled with a constant drive to gain and upgrade knowledge, positions him as a valuable asset in the realm of wildlife conservation.

With effective interpersonal skills for community engagement in conservation efforts and proficiency in off-road driving, Huzaifa is prepared to lead the charge for change in wildlife conservation efforts.

Naturalists at Red Earth

Jezreena, Trainee Naturalist 

Born and brought up in Kanniyakumari District, Jezreena is a trained Montessorian who has always loved the sounds of nature and the peace that accompanies it. Her love for languages drove her to pursue her masters in Applied Linguistics.

Jezreena enjoys connecting children to nature and helps them develop the love for it so they can explore independently and be educated further.

Getting married to Jeswin Kingsly, a wildlife conservationist played a pivotal role in her entry into Wildlife. She delights in birding, exploring the world of butterflies and photographing them.

Naturalists at Red Earth

Mohan, Naturalist

Mohan who started his journey as a lead manager in the water pumps industry was fascinated and entered into the world of wildlife in the year 2018. His interest in wildlife culminated into him entering into the world of wildlife photography. Starting from birds and into mammals, he now even specializes in macro photography. He is an avid story teller and engages with guest with all his experiences in wildlife. A day with him at Red Earth, Gokarna will help the guests take great interests in understanding the flora and fauna as well as learning a lot of tips and tricks of using your mobile phones in picturing great memories.

Naturalists at Red Earth

Sanad Rajesh Shende, Naturalist

With three years of experience as a Wildlife Naturalist in the Tadoba National Forest, specifically within the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, he has led over 100 jungle safaris, exploring all the reserve's gates. Proficient in birdlife, he manages large foreign groups and VIP tourists, ensuring memorable experiences. At Camp Serai Tiger Tadoba-Moharli Zone and Jharna Jungle Lodge-Navegaon Zone, he facilitated nature walks, greeted guests warmly, and presented documentaries to enrich their understanding of the ecosystem. Additionally, he managed safari arrangements, ensuring smooth logistics. Active in knowledge-sharing within the Chandrapur community, he enhances the resort's reputation as a wildlife hub. His multifaceted role hones his skills as a naturalist, manager, and ambassador for environmental conservation.

Naturalists at Red Earth

Prakash, Naturalist

Prakash N from Hosamalla, a tiny hamlet 3km away from Red Earth Kabini joined us as security guard way back in 2012. After a year of working, absorbing all that was happening here, Prakash volunteered to train as a naturalist. Given his penchant for identifying birds, he is a favourite of all our guests. The little anecdotes he has to relate about the many bird species found at Red Earth are riveting and entertaining!

Vineeth Naturalist at Grassroots

Vineeth, Naturalist

Hailing from a nearby village, Periya, Vineeth has lived all his life in Wayanad. After graduating from Kannur University, Vineeth joined Grassroots Wayanad, a sister organization of Red Earth and has morphed into Guest Relations Manager and Naturalist. Belonging to the indigenous community of Kurichiya, Vineeth has a treasure trove of tales and knowledge unique to the Kurichiya people. Kurichiyans, also called Malai or Hill Brahmins, practice agriculture along with being close to the wilderness. Vineeth brings his modern education and traditional knowledge to bear upon his work making for wonderful storytelling that the guests enjoy immensely.

Dhiraj at Red Earth

Dhiraj, Expeditions Expert

Dhiraj is a passionate wildlife biologist and herpetologist specialising in King cobras and rainforest ecology. For over 14 years, he has dedicated himself to field-based research on reptiles and amphibians in the Western Ghats rainforests. He worked extensively with Whitaker, honing his skills. Later, as a senior Naturalist at Jamtara Wilderness Camp, he became intimately conservant with the great wilderness of Central India.

Dhiraj was honoured as a Disney conservation hero in 2011 for his outstanding education and outreach efforts. Dhiraj firmly believes in inspiring the younger generation to develop a love for nature and wildlife, fostering their contribution to conservation. Since his teenage years, he has organised captivating workshops and awareness programs for schools and colleges. He excels at simplifying the intricate world of behavioural ecology, allowing him to engage with guests and effectively communicate the wonders of wildlife.

Our Mentors

Sandesh Kadur
Sandesh Kadur
NATURALIST, AUTHOR, PHOTOGRAPHER

We are lucky to have Sandesh, a well-known Indian wildlife producer and conservation photographer by our side. His passion for visual imagery has made him leave a mark in the industry, with his contributions to BBC Planet Earth and also his films being telecasted on various wildlife channels.

He is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and director of Felis Creations and aims to create content for the conservation of the planet and its biodiversity. 

Priya Singh
Priya Singh
WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST

Priya Singh is an independent wildlife biologist based out of Bangalore. She graduated with a degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from the Post-graduate program offered by WCS-India and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (TIFR), Bangalore in 2008. Currently, her primary interest lies in carnivore communities in the Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot. Yet another interest of hers is the hidden world of little creatures. Priya trains our naturalists in the nuances of moths, ticks, fleas, and leaches. Read fascinating wild encounters on her riveting blog.

Sudhir Shivaram
Sudhir Shivaram
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

Sudhir Shivaram is well-known and respected in Indian and international wildlife photography circles. Engineer by training, photographer by passion, teacher by intuition, Sudhir inspires many to chase their dreams.A long and lucrative career in IT didn't diminish Sudhir's passion for photography; it kept him in touch with his wild side. He left the corporate jungle for the real one. Asian Photography Magazine has named him one of India's 10 most influential photographers.



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