Naturalist
Specialty: Herpetology · Forest Ecology · Entomology
Sumrit Lahot has a saying about the wild: the forest is unexpected. He learned it the hard way on a solitary birding trail during a dry season, when he couldn’t find a single bird worth photographing. Disappointed, he stopped for a sip of water on his way back — and in that exact moment a White-eyed Honey Buzzard perched right in front of him, prey in its talons, close enough to capture the perfect picture.
Field Work and Specialties of Sumrit Lahot
A naturalist with three to five years in the field across the tropical forests, grasslands and wetlands of the Western Ghats and Central India, Sumrit specialises in herpetology, forest ecology and entomology. His non-negotiable field kit is a photographer’s: camera, flash and diffuser.
His real gift, though, is with people. Even when a trail turns up nothing, Sumrit can keep participants engaged and entertained through conversation alone, never letting the group grow bored. For him, nature is deeply personal — a best friend when he’s sad, his biggest motivation, his escape when he’s down, his emotional support when he’s stressed.
“Nature is my best friend — my motivation, my escape, my emotional support.”
