Before the first safari vehicle rolls out and long before the word sighting enters a conversation, India's forests are already awake. Birds announce the morning, pugmarks reveal nocturnal journeys, and somewhere between silence and sound, naturalists begin their day. Often mistaken as mere guides, they are interpreters of the wild — reading signs invisible to most, mediating between humans and habitats, and holding together the fragile balance of tourism and conservation.

But what does their day actually look like? What drives someone to choose a career where success isn't measured in guaranteed outcomes, where nature sets the rules, and where patience is not just a virtue but a necessity?

To find out, we spoke with three naturalists from Bandhavgarh National Park — one of India's most coveted forests. Gudda and Raju Gurung, Senior naturalists with Pugdundee Safaris, and Sarita Sahu, one of just 26 women naturalists working with the forest department. Together, their stories trace what it takes to build a life around the forest.

What drew them to the wild

For many naturalists, the journey begins long before any formal training — often in childhood, shaped by proximity to forests and wildlife. For others, it grows slowly, sparked by repeated visits and lived experience.

Gudda grew up in the jungle, where the forest wasn't a destination but home. "I became a naturalist because I was born and brought up in the jungle. I grew up seeing animals and forest people every day," he shares. For him, it was the “Pugdundee” or the forest paths that truly shaped him. "That's where I truly became a naturalist."

Raju's story is similar yet different. The pull of the wild began across the border in Nepal. Growing up in a small village near a national park in Nepal, he was surrounded by wild animals, birds, and the constant hum of the forest and river. 

"Because of this close connection with nature, I became deeply interested in wildlife and conservation, and becoming a naturalist was always my dream," Raju recalls.

For Sarita Sahu, the path opened later and not without barriers. She joined the forest department only in 2022 after women were allowed to join as naturalists. 

"I belong to Bandhavgarh and have always heard stories of the forest. I would visit it sometimes as a tourist, and that sparked the interest," she says. "But unfortunately, it wasn't open to women." Today, of the 195 naturalists in Bandhavgarh, 26 are women — and Sarita is one of them.

All of them had different beginnings, but all roads eventually led to the same place: the forest gate at dawn.

Morning rituals before entering the forest

Long before guests arrive at the safari lodge, a naturalist's day has already begun. Preparation and mental readiness — sets the tone for everything that follows.

"My day starts early in the morning. I wake up before sunrise, check the weather, and get ready for the safari," says Gudda. "I check permits, vehicle condition, my toolkit, and along with the guests, we enter the forest." 

Before guests arrive, a naturalist begins early, preparing mind and gear for the day.

For Raju, mornings are defined by planning. "Every day starts with a new safari plan. We make sure all essential gear and even the safari breakfast are ready at least half an hour before the guests arrive," he says. Each drive is treated as unique, never routine.

These aren't just logistical preparations. They're mental ones too. A naturalist must enter the forest with the right mindset — one of patience, alertness, and respect. Because in the wild, nothing is guaranteed.

And when the forest gates finally open, preparation ends, and presence begins. Now comes the real work: reading a language most of us do not know.

Once inside: Reading the forest's invisible language

Inside the forest, the........

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