The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, featuring a vast array of wildlife, including big cats, elephants, and giraffes. However, despite its beauty and significance, the area faces a range of environmental and social challenges, from poaching and habitat loss to poverty and lack of access to healthcare. That’s where the Indian duo, Anjali and Manish, come in – they have made it their mission to serve both the people and nature of Masai Mara through a range of initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, education, and community empowerment. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at their inspiring work and the impact it’s having on this unique and precious corner of the world.
Dileep Anthikad is a wildlife photographer and conservationist who has dedicated his life to preserving nature. One day, while photographing black-crowned night herons at the Abu Nakhlah wetland in Qatar, Anthikad witnessed a sport hunter take down the same pair of birds he was observing. The incident left him heartbroken and spurred him to take action. He quit his job in the oil and gas industry to pursue conservation and played a key role in setting up Qatar’s first private nature reserve, Irkaya Farm, and the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve.
Anthikad’s profound love for wildlife led him to the Kenyan reserve of Masai Mara, where he established a river camp, Osero Sopia, along with conservationist and wildlife photographer Remya Anup Warrier. Guests, including hundreds of wildlife photographers, come to Osero Sopia throughout the year to watch animals from dawn to dusk. Anthikad, with his extensive field knowledge and experience, mentors the photographers and ensures that they respect the wildlife and the environment. “It is sensitive, and we want it to be ethical. It is crucial to keep a safe distance from the animal,” said Anthikad.
Anthikad and Warrier have founded an NGO for the conservation of local flora and fauna and regularly encounter wildlife, including elephants, hippos, leopards, and lions, inside their camp. Life on the savannah can be challenging, but their commitment to their mission keeps them going: “The wildlife heritage of Masai Mara belongs to all humanity with the great Masai tribe being its custodian. It is our responsibility to help them protect the abundant, yet vulnerable flora and fauna of this ecosystem,” said Anthikad.
