MN Jayakumar

Following a lifelong passion for the protection of wildlife and the conservation of natural resources, MN Jayakumar has established himself as one of India’s leading nature photographers and is among one of the few forest officials to take up nature photography.

Born in Mysuru (Karnataka, India) in 1952, MNJ as he is popularly known, graduated from the College of Agriculture (Bangalore, India) and was selected for the Forest Service. He secured the first rank with honours from the Indian Forest College (now the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy) in Dehradun, India.

Wildlife photography happened by pure chance in 1993 after a colleague remarked that he was wasting the opportunities offered to him by his profession as a forest officer. Since then, he has had the privilege of travelling extensively across various National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India and around the world, capturing the essence of nature through his camera. The years of experience in observing wildlife in its natural habitat have led to some priceless images supported by incredible stories.

MNJ has won numerous national and international awards and certificates for his work. His photographs have been displayed in leading publications globally and across exhibitions in India, England, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Australia, Scotland, the USA, and South Africa

MNJ retired from service in 2012. Having served for close to 4 decades, he is a true advocate of wildlife protection and the conservation of natural resources.