From SLR rifles to DSLR cameras, former military colonel finds new goal in wildlife images

KATHMANDU: For 26 years, Sudeep KC skilled his eyes on targets via the iron sights of an SLR rifle. Today, he makes use of the identical self-discipline and precision to border wildlife via a digital camera viewfinder.

The 58-year-old former Nepali Army colonel has spent the previous seven years documenting Nepal’s birds, mammals and landscapes, remodeling a army ability set constructed on persistence, statement and accuracy right into a profession in wildlife images.

His potential to find elusive species, work in troublesome terrain and seize wildlife in difficult circumstances has earned him recognition amongst nature lovers in Nepal and overseas. International photographers now journey to Nepal in search of his steering on monitoring wildlife and photographing species of their pure habitats.

A resident of Basundhara in Tokha Municipality-5, Kathmandu, KC retired from the military after a 26-year profession and turned to wildlife images full-time in 2019.

His curiosity in conservation started a lot earlier, throughout army postings to nationwide parks the place military models have been deployed for safety operations. Working alongside park officers, conservationists and nature guides launched him to Nepal’s biodiversity and deepened his curiosity in wildlife.

Since taking on images professionally, KC has photographed 595 chook species in Nepal.

“I have sighted more than 630 bird species in the wild,” KC advised Kantipur. “But because of timing, weather conditions and physical limitations, I have not been able to photograph all of them.”

Nepal has formally recorded 903 chook species.

KC’s seek for uncommon species has additionally taken him past Nepal. During images expeditions to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, he documented 378 chook species, lots of which aren’t present in Nepal.

Among his most memorable achievements is photographing the Himalayan Monal, Nepal’s nationwide chook.

“Capturing a clear image of the Monal required the greatest effort and persistence,” KC mentioned. “I had been tracking the bird for a long time.”

He photographed the colorful pheasant at an altitude of two,600 metres inside Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park and believes he was the primary wildlife photographer to seize the species throughout the Kathmandu Valley.

“We had walked through dense forest for nearly four hours and were completely exhausted,” he recalled. “Just as we were about to turn back disappointed, the bird appeared right in front of us. Others with me also saw it, but I managed to frame and capture it first.”

KC spends three to 4 months yearly travelling throughout Nepal looking for wildlife, transferring from the grasslands of the Tarai to the high-altitude landscapes of the Himalayas.

When in Kathmandu, he usually visits native wetlands, ridgelines and forest patches to {photograph} birds.

His portfolio consists of grassland species, migratory winter and summer season guests, forest birds and farmland species. He has photographed the Spiny Babbler, believed to be Nepal’s solely endemic chook species, in addition to uncommon species such because the Mandarin Duck.

Beyond birds, KC has documented 25 species of mammals and reptiles, together with the Royal Bengal tiger, sloth bear, leopard, one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, noticed deer, barking deer, blackbuck, otter, Gangetic dolphin and Indian python.

Since starting wildlife images, he has encountered 12 wild tigers and efficiently photographed most of them.

“I prefer photographing tigers in their natural habitat rather than taking close-up portraits,” he mentioned. “Habitat photography requires patience, tracking skills and long hours in the field. The excitement of seeing a tiger in dense forest never disappears.”

He recalled following tiger footprints for 4 days inside Bardiya National Park earlier than capturing a picture of an grownup tiger crossing a river at Tinkune, Bardiya.

But wildlife images has additionally introduced moments of hazard.

“While on a full-day jungle walk with ornithologist Ram Shahi in Bardiya, a full-grown tiger appeared on the trail just three to four metres ahead of us,” KC mentioned. “Adrenaline took over. Instead of raising the camera, our first instinct was to find safety.”

Two hours later, once they noticed the identical tiger from a safer distance, KC mentioned his palms have been nonetheless shaking.

In one other encounter in Sukebar, Chitwan, he needed to climb a tree after unexpectedly coming throughout a one-horned rhinoceros.

Photographing the elusive Red Panda within the snow-covered forests of Nanggin Got inside Langtang National Park required him to attend in freezing circumstances for 3 consecutive days.

“Wildlife photography demands immense patience,” KC mentioned. “Every second matters. You have to move quietly, understand animal behaviour and capture angles that make your work different.”

His assignments have taken him to greater than 40 districts throughout Nepal, from the plains of the Tarai to Upper Dolpa.

Guiding worldwide photographers

KC’s wildlife pictures shared on social media have attracted worldwide photographers curious about Nepal’s biodiversity.

“Two months ago, a group of four Japanese photographers visited Nepal,” he mentioned. “I guided them to key habitats where they successfully photographed several native bird and mammal species.”

Two years in the past, KC was appointed Nepal Country Representative for the Asian Wildlife Photography Club (AWPC).

Through the organisation, he leads annual images excursions for guests from Singapore, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka to biodiversity hotspots together with Chitwan, Bardiya and the Kathmandu Valley.

“When visiting photographers capture high-quality images here and display them abroad, it helps promote Nepal’s ecotourism,” KC mentioned. “Nepal has rich wildlife resources that can attract nature enthusiasts from around the world.”

His pictures have been featured in calendars, brochures and books printed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation, Bird Conservation Nepal, the Nepal Tourism Board and worldwide journals.

KC sees a robust connection between his army coaching and images.

“In both disciplines, you aim with one eye, stabilise your body, hold your breath and act at the right moment without shaking,” he mentioned. “In the army, we use camouflage and concealment so the target does not detect us. In wildlife photography, camouflage helps prevent disturbing animals.”

“Pulling the trigger of a rifle fires a bullet; pressing the shutter of a camera captures an image.”

KC’s pictures of landscapes, cultural heritage and rural life have received recognition in nationwide competitions.

In 2025, he secured first place and a money prize of Rs50,000 within the non-military class of a nationwide images competitors organised by the Nepal Army. Three years earlier, he received second prize in a nationwide contest organised by Kia Motors.

KC joined the Nepal Army as a second lieutenant in 1990, together with his first posting at Chitwan National Park.

Working alongside park workers, conservationists and nature guides sparked his curiosity in wildlife monitoring and species identification.

In 1991, he participated within the translocation of 4 one-horned rhinoceroses from Chitwan to Bardiya National Park.

“Before joining the military, I had a general interest in birdwatching,” he mentioned. “My time in Chitwan deepened that interest. During long patrols, I carried binoculars and field guides to identify species along the trail.”

After two years in Chitwan, KC was transferred to Kathmandu, the place he served for greater than 12 years as a detailed safety officer for the royal household. During royal visits to Bardiya and Chitwan, he usually informally guided guests on wildlife.

Following the 2001 royal palace incident, KC was posted to Bardiya National Park as a significant, commanding a military firm chargeable for park safety in the course of the Maoist battle.

“Operating from national park barracks during the conflict brought different challenges,” he mentioned. “We had to secure our positions, protect military assets and safeguard wildlife from poachers at the same time.”

During his army profession, KC spent greater than 14 years stationed in protected areas, together with Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Rara National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve, now Parsa National Park.

While commanding forces in Bardiya, he led anti-poaching operations in coordination with park authorities.

In 2011-12, joint operations within the Surkhet-Barahatal buffer zone recovered 242 unlawful muzzle-loading firearms.

Later, in 2015, throughout a army well being camp in Upper Dolpa, his unit confiscated illegally saved snow leopard pelts primarily based on native intelligence.

KC started his images journey with a Canon 6D Mark II paired with a 150-600mm zoom lens.

After consulting worldwide wildlife photographers, he upgraded his gear.

He now makes use of a Sony Alpha 1 digital camera physique, valued at round Rs900,000, with a 100-400mm G Master zoom lens value roughly Rs350,000.

The gear, he says, permits him to seize fast-moving wildlife with improved autofocus monitoring and high-speed shutter efficiency.

For KC, nonetheless, a very powerful instruments stay these he developed lengthy earlier than he picked up a digital camera: persistence, self-discipline and the power to attend for the best second.

Kathmandu Post/ANN