"Proud moment": Uttarakhand Minister after documentary on King Cobras enters German film festival
Dehradun, May 22
Uttarakhand's wildlife and biodiversity are set to get global attention as a documentary on King Cobras in the state has been selected for the "Green Screen" International Film Festival in Germany.
The documentary, titled "The Divine Mother", will be screened from September 9 to 13 this year. The film focuses on the presence of King Cobras in Uttarakhand and their role in the Himalayan ecosystem.
Uttarakhand Forest and Environment Minister Subodh Uniyal spoke to ANI about the selection and said it was a proud moment for the state. He said the film's selection shows that Uttarakhand's conservation work is being noticed at the international level.
"It is a matter of great pride for us that the documentary on the King Cobra, which we launched here at Raj Bhavan, has been selected for the International Festival in Germany. This is proof that the entire world has appreciated both our conservation efforts and our documentation. This will prove to be very helpful in addressing the pressing needs of the entire world today, to work towards saving the entire environment and balancing the ecology," the Uttarakhand Environment Minister said.
The documentary has been produced by wildlife photographer and Padma Shri awardee Anup Sah, along with conservationist Parth Sharma. It has been directed by filmmaker Ajay Suri.
The project took 18 months of fieldwork. The film looks at the world of the King Cobra, a species that is often feared but plays an important role in nature.
One of the key parts of the documentary is the nesting behaviour of the female King Cobra. The film shows how the female King Cobra protects her nest, a rare act among snakes.
The "Green Screen" International Film Festival is known as one of the major platforms for nature and wildlife films. With this selection, "The Divine Mother" will bring Uttarakhand's rich wildlife to viewers across the world.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a local from Dehradun, I'm so proud! 🙏 The title "The Divine Mother" is perfect - Nag Panchami festivals show how Indians have always revered these snakes. European audiences will finally see the spiritual side of our wildlife. Just hope the filmmakers also highlighted threats from urban encroachment.
Great that a snake doc from India is getting global attention. King Cobras are fascinating - I saw one in Agumbe once. But let's be honest, the real conservation heroes are the Irula tribes who handle snakes without killing them. Hope the film gives them credit too.
Proud moment indeed! 🇮🇳 We always see Amazon or African wildlife documentaries getting awards, so this is huge for Himalayan ecology. But I wonder if the government will use this momentum to create more protected corridors for wildlife or just for photo ops. Show us real action, Minister sahab!
Impressive 18 months of fieldwork. Wildlife photography is no joke in Indian terrain. My cousin does similar work and says it's 90% waiting and 10% shooting. Anup Sah ji's Padma Shri is well-deserved. Hope this inspires more youngsters to pursue wildlife conservation as a career. 🌿
"The Divine Mother" - such a beautiful name! We worship snakes during Nag Panchami and now the world will see why they're sacred. But let's also talk about how the illegal pet trade and road kills are threatening these majestic creatures. Awareness is good but enforcement is key. Hope the minister follows through.
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