Photographing/Filming Wildlife

• The right equipment

• The right location

• Lots of patience

• Luck

Equipment

The key to getting good images or footage is that the animals are not aware you are there. Man made hides often fail in Cambodia, it is much better to build a hide from natural materials that will blend into the surroundings.

Location

Finding the right location is vital. Such as a trapeang (pond) in the dry season. Cambodia has a wealth of sites for birds, particularly large waterbirds, many of them very rare or endangered.

Cambodia’s wildlife is very shy, particularly the heavily hunted mammals. Research the animal you are after, talk to local experts at Conservation NGO’s.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is an excellent place to try to get natural looking shots due to many enclosures being forested. You still need a lot of patience.

Transportation/Logistics

Traveling in rural Cambodia is often very hard and very slow, plan logistics in detail as you cannot just pop back home to get something you forgot.

From July to Oct it is often impossible to pass rivers. Make sure you are properly equipped for rain.

Patience and Luck

Getting that perfect shot takes enormous patience and sometimes a lot of luck. It can take days or even weeks to get the shot you want. Video can be even harder as you need to build up sequences of shots.

Dangers There are many potential dangers from working in the jungle and

you are often days from medical help.

1.  Malaria – Always carry medicine, malaria can kill in less than

3 days.

2. Snakes - Take the time to learn about the numerous dangerous

snakes in case of suffering a bite, so you can tell the doctors what

species bit you.

3. Elephants – They will avoid humans if possible but they can be

very dangerous.

4. Illegal loggers – We are the most dangerous species in the forest

and illegal loggers will not be happy to see someone with a camera.

Ethical Behavior

Getting the shot at any cost is not acceptable. A good photographer will avoid impacting the animals he is trying to shoot. Do not put hides so close to nesting birds that you scare off the parents. Killing animals to use as bait is also not acceptable. Alternatives include scents to attract animals.

Most animals, including many bird species have an incredible sense of smell. Do not wear mosquito repellant. Keep any food in an airtight container. Do not smoke.

Feel free to contact me at www.wildcambodia.net

allan@wildcambodia.net

LAST BUT NOT LEAST PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR RUBBISH

IN THE FOREST