Wildlife Photography in Pune: Photographing Indian Wolves and Grassland Birds at Kadbanwadi

Exploring Pune’s Hidden Grasslands for Wildlife Photography

When people think about wildlife photography in India, places like Ranthambore National Park or Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve usually come to mind first. However, my wildlife photography experience in Pune showed me a completely different side of Indian wildlife — one that exists quietly in open grasslands and semi-arid landscapes.

One of the most memorable parts of my Pune journey was visiting Kadbanwadi, a place known for sightings of the rare Indian Wolf. Kadbanwadi is one of the few remaining landscapes in India where stable populations of Indian wolves can still be seen in the wild.

This journey was part of a much larger solo photography route that I had planned from Delhi to Pune, Pune to Bangalore, Bangalore to Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, and finally onward to Kerala.

Planning the Trip with Fellow Birders

Before the trip, I coordinated with a fellow birder named Raven from Delhi, who was also interested in joining the expedition. Together, we managed to connect with two more wildlife enthusiasts so that we could share safari and travel expenses.

One thing I really enjoy about such wildlife trips is that they bring together people with completely different interests. Some are more interested in birds, while others focus entirely on mammals. Since most of our group enjoyed birding, we initially began the trip by searching for grassland birds before shifting our attention toward wolves and hyenas later in the day.

Photographing Painted Sandgrouse in the Grasslands

One of the highlights of the birding session was spotting the beautiful Painted Sandgrouse.

Spotting them is not easy at all. Their plumage blends perfectly with the dry grassland terrain, making them almost invisible unless they move. But once you finally notice them, you cannot take your eyes off them because their colors are incredibly beautiful and vibrant.

I was lucky enough to see them at close range and managed to capture some of my favorite images from the trip.

Apart from the sandgrouse, we also saw:

• Indian Eagle-Owl

• Tricolored Munia

• Woolly-necked Stork

• Multiple raptors soaring across the open grasslands

A Landscape Similar to the African Savannah

What surprised me most about the region near Kadbanwadi was the landscape itself. The vast open grasslands reminded me of the famous Maasai Mara ecosystem, although obviously without lions or cheetahs.

Still, if you observe patiently, these Indian grasslands are full of life:

• Wolves

• Foxes

• Hyenas

• Raptors

• Grassland birds

• Antelopes

Unfortunately, these ecosystems often receive far less attention compared to forests, even though they are equally important for conservation.

Finally Seeing the Indian Wolves

The final day of the trip was reserved specifically for the Indian wolves of Kadbanwadi.

We headed into the grasslands early in the morning, hoping for a sighting. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to see a few wolves moving through the landscape. At one point, we also noticed a Chinkara nearby, and it appeared that the wolves were attempting to track or chase it.

Even though the sighting was brief, watching Indian wolves in their natural habitat was a very fulfilling experience for me because they are among the rarest and most elusive predators in India.

We managed to capture a few decent images as well.

When Our Jeep Got Stuck in the Mud

Unfortunately, the most dramatic part of the trip happened immediately afterward.

While trying to follow the wolves, our driver noticed a muddy puddle ahead and decided to cross it quickly. But instead of passing through, our jeep got completely stuck in the mud.

Thankfully, we had travelled in two separate safari vehicles.

While our jeep remained stranded, the people in the second vehicle were able to continue following the wolves. And that is where our luck turned slightly unfortunate — they managed to get eye-level shots of the Indian wolves standing out in the open grasslands.

Meanwhile, we were stuck waiting for help.

Eventually, other vehicles arrived and helped pull our jeep out of the mud. Even though we missed the best photographic opportunity of the trip, I still felt satisfied because we had managed to observe the wolves naturally hunting and moving through the landscape.

Travelling Across India Using Public Transport

One aspect of this journey that I personally felt proud of was the planning involved.

I completed almost the entire wildlife circuit using public transport:

• Delhi to Pune by train

• Pune to the Kadbanwadi region using local transport

• Then onward toward Bangalore by train

• Followed by my trip to Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Wildlife photography trips are often considered expensive, but with proper planning and flexibility, many destinations can still be explored at a reasonable budget.

My Overall Experience Photographing Wildlife in Pune

My experience in Pune’s grasslands taught me that wildlife photography in India is not only about tigers and dense forests. Grasslands hold their own beauty and support species that are equally rare and important.

Watching Indian wolves moving silently through the grasslands, spotting painted sandgrouse blending into the earth, and experiencing the unpredictability of the wild made this journey extremely memorable for me.

Even though we missed the perfect wolf photographs because of the jeep getting stuck, the experience itself was rewarding enough — because in wildlife photography, the journey and the unpredictability are often as meaningful as the final image itself.

A Landscape Similar to the African Savannah

What surprised me most about the region near Kadbanwadi was the landscape itself. The vast open grasslands reminded me of the famous Maasai Mara ecosystem, although obviously without lions or cheetahs.

Still, if you observe patiently, these Indian grasslands are full of life:

• Wolves

• Foxes

• Hyenas

• Raptors

• Grassland birds

• Antelopes

Unfortunately, these ecosystems often receive far less attention compared to forests, even though they are equally important for conservation.

Finally Seeing the Indian Wolves

The final day of the trip was reserved specifically for the Indian wolves of Kadbanwadi.

We headed into the grasslands early in the morning, hoping for a sighting. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to see a few wolves moving through the landscape. At one point, we also noticed a Chinkara nearby, and it appeared that the wolves were attempting to track or chase it.

Even though the sighting was brief, watching Indian wolves in their natural habitat was a very fulfilling experience for me because they are among the rarest and most elusive predators in India.

We managed to capture a few decent images as well.

When Our Jeep Got Stuck in the Mud

Unfortunately, the most dramatic part of the trip happened immediately afterward.

While trying to follow the wolves, our driver noticed a muddy puddle ahead and decided to cross it quickly. But instead of passing through, our jeep got completely stuck in the mud.

Thankfully, we had travelled in two separate safari vehicles.

While our jeep remained stranded, the people in the second vehicle were able to continue following the wolves. And that is where our luck turned slightly unfortunate — they managed to get eye-level shots of the Indian wolves standing out in the open grasslands.

Meanwhile, we were stuck waiting for help.

Eventually, other vehicles arrived and helped pull our jeep out of the mud. Even though we missed the best photographic opportunity of the trip, I still felt satisfied because we had managed to observe the wolves naturally hunting and moving through the landscape.

Travelling Across India Using Public Transport

One aspect of this journey that I personally felt proud of was the planning involved.

I completed almost the entire wildlife circuit using public transport:

• Delhi to Pune by train

• Pune to the Kadbanwadi region using local transport

• Then onward toward Bangalore by train

• Followed by my trip to Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Wildlife photography trips are often considered expensive, but with proper planning and flexibility, many destinations can still be explored at a reasonable budget.

My Overall Experience Photographing Wildlife in Pune

My experience in Pune’s grasslands taught me that wildlife photography in India is not only about tigers and dense forests. Grasslands hold their own beauty and support species that are equally rare and important.

Watching Indian wolves moving silently through the grasslands, spotting painted sandgrouse blending into the earth, and experiencing the unpredictability of the wild made this journey extremely memorable for me.

Even though we missed the perfect wolf photographs because of the jeep getting stuck, the experience itself was rewarding enough — because in wildlife photography, the journey and the unpredictability are often as meaningful as the final image itself.