“The Guardians Of Birds” To Be Honoured At Paws Trails International Wildlife Festival

Paws Trails Explorers is a global platform for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. To celebrate the “Year of Zayed“, Paws Trails is organizing the first of its kind of event in UAE, “International Wildlife Festival” (IWF) starting on 1st, till 3rd of November 2018 at the Emirates Golf Club Dubai in partnership with National Geographic.

This event is the first of its kind in the Middle East and to insure that it inspires change and awareness, the directors of the Festival have decided to honour two  very incredible individuals; the first is known as “The Mother of Birds” –

Salma Ali Alsuwaidi an acclaimed Emirati photographer, she is a member of many professional photography clubs like the FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique), UAP (Union of Arab Photographers) and EFPC (Emirates Falcons Photography Club). Her works have been recognized and she considers the 2011 FIAP gold medal in the Emirates Photography Competition – Arab Photo Awards as her best.

Salma explains, “My pictorial journey was a difficult challenge for me but with God Almighty’s determination and hope, I was able to accomplish in the field of wildlife photography, and to draw myself a path that distinguishes me from other bird photographers. My work includes numerous images of the nest, which has gotten me the beloved nickname “the mother of birds.”

The second individual who will be honoured at the IWF is Balpandi also known as  The Guardian Angel of the Birds of Koonthamkulam, Tamil Nadu, India. Balpandi’s 40-year-old association with his feathered friends makes him an unconventional ornithologist. Many researchers and scientists have made use of his immense wealth of knowledge in return for a paltry sum and in worst-case scenario, not even acknowledging his contributions. He still works in Koonthamkulam Bird Sanctuary as there is no person to take his place with the kind of expertise he possesses. In his illustrious career, he has received 46 awards including three international awards. In 2009, Balpandi co-authored a book, “Diary on the Nesting Behaviour of Indian Birds” with naturalist Chinna Sathan. The walking avian encyclopedia of this tiny village is a rare gem in the history of Nature Conservation of India.

“There is a mysterious relationship between me and the birds. They usually don’t fly away when they see me. I think they consider me as one of their own. My life is dedicated for birds. I can’t think of a life without them,” affirms Balpandi.

Some of the major highlights of the festival include, publishing a coffee table book “The Arabian Trails”, depicting photographs of 101 species photographed from the Arabian Peninsula. There will be an exhibition of 50 spectacular wildlife images by 50 photographers from different parts of the world to make the event more of a visual treat.

The Festival also offers awe inspiring sessions by 12 acclaimed international experts who regularly contribute to National Geographic, BBC, WWF, these notable speakers include Fredrik Granath, Molly Ferrill, Dhritiman Mukherjee, Shaji Muhammed, Melissa Schäfer, Dr. Peter Hudson, Dr. Reza Khan, Jainy Kuriakose, Bu Abdulla, Gurcharan Roopra, Robert Gubiani & Gokul Manu.

The 3 day Festival will host two conservation photography exhibitions; One featuring local content from the middle east and the other showcasing an international collection dedicated to conservation issues across the world. Conservation photography is all about what a photographer does to use the photo as a tool to bring awareness to, appreciation of, or support for an environmental issue as it is about the beauty or intrigue of the subject itself. Photographs become tools for change, rather than remain tools for enjoyment.

Event Details: –

Title: “Paws Trails International Wildlife Festival” (IWF)

Genre: 3 Day Festival

Opening Date: 1^st of November (Thursday) By Invitation Only

Festival Dates: 1^st – 2^nd – 3^rd November 2018

Festival Open to Public: 2^nd & 3^rd of November 2018 (Free Entry)

Venue: Emirates Golf Club, Dubai – UAE

To Register:

http://www.pawstrails.com/festival/