Kozhikode: Armed with camera, 23-year-old turns to nature

Kozhikode: Unlike the boys of his age, Sadique Ali, 23, wanders through the forest near his home in Nilambur and has earned many national and international awards for his  wildlife photographs. Now he has also won  the ‘Green Student Award’ instituted  by the ‘Friends of Nature’ proving that he not only talks about nature but also tries  its conservation.

Sadique, who is pursuing his masters in communication and journalism from SAAFI institute, Vazhayoor, wielded camera at the age of 12.  By  23, he has visited almost all the forest areas in  Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and has captured thousands of photographs, including 22 lions from Gir forest, Gujarat.  

His photographs of leopard and Indian chameleon won  the best wildlife photography awards in October 2012 and April 2014 respectively. He also  received an invitation from the BBC to do an internship in wildlife photography.

Sadique has also extended a helping hand towards wildlife conservation. “There is an urgent need to conserve the flora and fauna in our region. I found camera to be a powerful and realistic device to make the public aware of the need for nature conservation,” says Sadique. He has also implemented a tree conservation programme where 150  saplings were distributed to the schoolchildren.

“Conservation of nature is possible only with proper learning and love for nature.  I love doing this and my dream  is to tune myself to the beats of nature,”  he says.  With his interest in reading and literature, Sadique is working on  his book on wildlife and wildlife photography named ‘Kaadinte Thudippukal.’