Malaysian named National Geographic Explorer for Kenya wildlife project
30 Jul 2025 11:01am
His pitch stood out for its emphasis on ecosystem dynamics, including human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss and the effects of climate change on animal behaviour and migration patterns. - AFP file photo for illustration purpose only
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian photographer Tinesh Sritharan has been named a National Geographic Explorer for a wildlife conservation project in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve, where he will document the spectacular Great Migration - the world's largest annual movement of terrestrial wildlife (wildebeest, zebras and gazelles) from Serengeti in Tanzania to the lush grasslands of the Masai Mara.
His pitch to the National Geographic Society to document the Great Migration was approved in April and he is set to begin fieldwork in the Masai Mara on Aug 10, which coincides with the peak migration period.
"The Masai Mara is the heart of the Great Migration. It's not just a visual spectacle but a symbol of balance between nature and people,' Tinesh, 32, told Bernama.
He said his assignment, titled 'Echoes of the Savannah', will be an exclusive still photography project, with no video, drone or multimedia distractions.
"My intent is to tell the full story of the migration, not just the iconic river crossings, but the ecological dynamics, predator-prey tension, indigenous perspectives, and conservation challenges that surround it.'
His pitch stood out for its emphasis on ecosystem dynamics, including human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss and the effects of climate change on animal behaviour and migration patterns.
"This is a story of coexistence, disruption and hope,' Tinesh said.
To ensure cultural and ecological sensitivity, Tinesh will collaborate with local conservationists, ecologists and indigenous Maasai communities.
"Before photographing, I'll be consulting guides and researchers who know the land intimately. Their insights will ground my visuals in lived experience,' he said, adding that he had spent months preparing mentally, physically and technically for the fieldwork.
Supported by Sony Malaysia, Tinesh will be using the brand's latest 400-800mm telephoto lens to capture wildlife from a respectful distance without disturbing their natural behaviour. He said Sony Malaysia extended its support to his project following a proposal from Wedding Professionals Alliance Malaysia.
"The support from Sony Malaysia isn't just technical - it's a belief in the mission,' he said.
Tinesh said he will spend up to 10 days in the Masai Mara capturing the migration, predator-prey dynamics, conservation patrols and local indigenous narratives.
His deliverables include high-resolution images for publication and archiving under National Geographic's editorial platform.
"I hope my work will help people realise that these animals are sentient beings in a living system - one that we are all part of,' he said.
"A photograph, when done right, can shift perspectives and lead to real change.' - BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesia volcano belches six-mile ash tower
Lightning strikes as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spews volcanic material during an eruption in East Flores, Indonesia, on Aug 1, 2025. - Badan Geologi via AP JAKARTA: An Indonesian volcano spewed a 10-kilometre (6.2-miles) molten plume of ash topped by lightning into the Friday (Aug 1) night sky, weeks after another huge eruption triggered dozens of flight cancellations in Bali. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-metre-high volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted at 8.48pm (1248 GMT), the volcanology agency said in a statement. "The height of the eruption column was observed to be approximately 10,000 metres above the summit," the agency said. There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties. The eruption was triggered by a gas buildup in recent weeks, geological agency head Muhammad Wafid said in a statement. He also warned of the possibility of hazardous lahar floods -- a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials -- if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near rivers. Tourists and residents were told to avoid a six-kilometre radius around the crater. Pictures shared by the country's geological agency showed volcanic lightning near the top of the ash plume. Last month, the volcano spewed a colossal 18-kilometre tower of ash, scrapping 24 flights at Bali's international airport. There were no immediate reports of cancelled flights after Friday's eruption. Laki-Laki, which means man in Indonesian, is twinned with the calmer but taller 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) volcano named Perempuan, after the Indonesian word for woman. Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire". - AFP
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Bernama inks collaboration with HIMC to promote tourism, drive economic growth
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) formalised a strategic collaboration with Hainan International Media Center (HIMC) to enhance the promotion of Malaysia's tourism industry and stimulate economic growth. Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said the news agency is prepared to play an active role in showcasing distinctive local tourism offerings to attract more international visitors, especially from China. 'This marks the first collaboration between Bernama and HIMC to showcase Malaysia's tourism industry and investment landscape through media platforms. "They are eager to discover and help highlight local products and notable tourist destinations in Malaysia, such as the scenic beaches of Penang and Terengganu, to audiences in China," he told Bernama after the signing ceremony here on Friday (Aug 1). He said Malaysia would also serve as a strategic partner in promoting tourism in Hainan province, which offers more affordable travel options compared to other destinations. The partnership was formalised under the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Cultural Cooperation Alliance, which brings together HIMC and several Malaysian organisations, including Bernama, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Nanyang Siang Pau, MILA University, the Federation of Hainan Association Malaysia, and the Malaysia Asean-China Economic and Trade Development Promotion Association. The alliance aims to foster closer collaboration between media and cultural organisations in Malaysia and China, focusing on supporting content co-production, talent development and policy coordination. Additionally, the alliance places a strong emphasis on youth collaboration, with institutions such as MILA University in Malaysia and the Lingshui Haifeng International Film and Television Base in Hainan, which cooperate on exchange programmes, creative workshops, and training initiatives to nurture regional talent. Meanwhile, HIMC's Senior Advisor on Hainan-Asean International Communication, Dr Pua Eng Teck, said Malaysia was chosen as a strategic hub due to its strong historical and cultural ties with the Malaysian Chinese community, particularly in the fields of business, culture and information exchange. 'Kuala Lumpur is the central city of Malaysia, offering strategic geographical advantages and greater opportunities to foster people-to-people and business-to-business connections,' he said. Beyond business collaboration, Dr Pua also highlighted the benefits for students, especially those from China pursuing higher education in Malaysia. 'HIMC plays a key role not just in promoting cultural ties, but also in supporting educational exchange. It provides a strong platform for Chinese students studying in Malaysia to engage more deeply with local communities and institutions,' he added. – BERNAMA
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
What's it like to scale the highest active volcano in South-East Asia
We'd love to hear what made your holiday so special. Your story – experiences, tips, advice – should be 700 to 800 words long in Word or Text format. Please attach at least five photos (1MB, captioned) in a separate email. There is no payment for submissions, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email star2travel@ with the subject 'Readers Share'. How many of you have heard of Mount Kerinci in Sumatra, Indonesia? It may not be as famous as Indonesia's other peak in Lombok – Mount Rinjani – or even Sabah's Mount Kinabalu, but it's still a great climb for adventurous folks. Standing at 3,805m, Mount Kerinci is the highest active volcano in South-East Asia (making it Indonesia's tallest mountain), surpassing even Japan's Mount Fuji (3,776m). Known as the 'rooftop of Sumatra', this majestic peak is often wrapped in clouds and cloaked in mystery. I've never thought of myself as an 'adventurer'; I generally prefer having a quiet, not-too- adventurous life. But a prompt by my best friend made me – reluctantly – join a group of friends to scale Mount Kerinci. There were 16 of us, plus six amazing guides from Trekking Indrapura Indonesia. We started our climb at 9am from Pintu Rimba, the main entrance of the Kerinci Seblat National Park. The initial trek to Shelter 1 felt familiar to me, almost comforting even. The cool air, shaded trails and thick foliage reminded me of the Malaysian rainforests that I grew up around. A group photo on the summit of Mount Kerinci in Sumatra. However, the climb from Shelter 1 to Shelter 2 was brutal. We passed through an area called 'lubang tikus' or rat hole, which felt like something out of Alice In Wonderland. Only I wasn't Alice but rather, Mowgli from The Jungle Book, clambering and clawing my way up through the 'jungle'. By the time we reached 2,000m, some in the group started showing signs of acute mountain sickness or AMS. Our experienced guides stepped in to help – they handled things calmly and kept us on the right path, pushing us to move forward safely and steadily. We arrived at Shelter 3 (3,290m) at 6pm, and spent the night there. We were exhausted but happy that everyone made it. With sore legs and happy hearts, we huddled in the cold, knowing that the real challenge begins in just a few hours. At 2.30am we woke up to get ready to summit. It was freezing and dark but we geared up, put on our headlamps and started trekking about an hour later. The trail was narrow, steep, and unstable. Loose rocks shifted beneath our feet, and every gust of wind went through our jackets. The group of friends and acquaintances before making the climb, with Mount Kerinci in the background. I started to panic – my fear of heights coupled with the darkness of the night and the biting cold suddenly became too much for me to bear. Fortunately, a few friends noticed this and stayed by my side, helping and encouraging me to push forward, and to just take things step by step. At 6.45am, we finally reached the summit, together. Words could not describe what we felt. The sunrise painted the sky gold while a sea of clouds stretched below us. The red volcanic rocks glowed warmly in the light. It was breathtaking, humbling. A moment I will never forget. Once we've had our fill of God's beauty, we got ready for our descent, which turned out to be quite terrifying for someone like me. Climbing up, I was too focused on keeping my pace and preserving energy to notice the drop. But as we started climbing down in daylight, my phobia kicked in and hit me hard. I froze. Thankfully, one of our guides, Andes, held my hand the entire way down. I felt like a helpless princess! After a short rest at Shelter 3, we trekked down to Pintu Rimba. It wasn't as technically difficult as climbing up the day before, but our legs were 'dead'. Still, step by step, we made it. By 4pm, we were back to our hotel, smelly, muddy and with aching bodies. Nevertheless, we were all proud of our achievement beyond words. I need to add that one friend even did the whole thing while suffering through mild diarrhoea. What a champ! The views expressed are entirely the writer's own.
