A podcast about people who really love the wild

Filmmaker and photographer Rohit Varma on Some Like it Wild, a podcast focusing on stories of India’s wildlife champions

Filmmaker and photographer Rohit Varma, the co-founder of Nature inFocus, a Bengaluru-headquartered platform focused on wildlife storytelling, believes that every human being can play a role in saving the planet. And it starts with being more connected with the natural world. That is what he hopes to do through Some Like it Wild, a podcast focusing on stories of India’s wildlife champions, one which he hopes will become “a destination podcast for anything you want to know about wildlife, conservation, restoration, science.”

The podcast, which Rohit hosts with Sripad Sridhar, unfolds in interview format, highlighting the journeys of noted experts from the conservation world. So far, he has talked to wildlife historian Raza Kazmi, National Geographic Photographer and Explorer, Prasenjeet Yadav, leading tiger biologist Ullas Karanth, veteran wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam and ‘Snake Man of India’ Romulus Whitaker, among several others. “It is a very small set of people who really love the wild, and Some Like it Wild is about those people,” says Rohit, who feels a deep gratitude for what they have done and continue to do, often against the odds. And he wants their amazing stories and experiences to be shared with the world. “The dedication and commitment they have is unimaginable. They are a different breed altogether, really driven. And the kind of work they are doing gives me hope.”

Romulus Earl Whitaker, herpetologist, wildlife conservationist and founder of Madras Snake Park and Crocodile Bank | Photo Credit: RAVINDRAN R

But Some Like it Wild is not just about profiling these experts. It also highlights their perspectives about wildlife conservation, drawn from their many years of fieldwork, including broader issues like the impact of colonisation on Indian forests, human-wildlife interactions, the consequences of keeping exotic animals as pets, as well as more specific concerns, such as Mumbai’s relationship with leopards and the challenges faced by the black tigers of Simipal.

Animals like iguanas are a highly sought-after species among exotic pet owners | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

And yes, these are unfiltered conversations that do not hold back on offering all sorts of opinions from the people featured on the podcast. “We engage in candid conversation, and we respect the opinion of each person. These opinions are based on years of experience in the field, their own research and belief systems, their documentation and what they’ve witnessed. There is no right or wrong way to do conservation work,” says Rohit, pointing out that something, which works in one region may not work in another , even if the species is the same and the issue looks similar.