After decades of serving, preserving and loving wild animals and dense forests of Aravalis the renowned wildlife conservationist Raza Tehsin is back again, this time he has something to offer for children.

Dr. Raza Tehsin with his daughter Arefa Tehsin has co-authored an edutainment book Tales from the Wild. The book contains educational and entertaining content related to wild animals and their habitat.

Tales from the Wild is published in Aug 2011 by Unicorn Books.

During an online discussion with Arefa, a budding writer and chief consultant of Tehsin’s Leucoderma Treatment, she shared her views on several aspects of the book in detail. Here is the gist of it.

About the Book

Tales from the Wild as the name suggests, comprises of stories on different wild animals like leopard, bear, tiger, vulture, fireflies etc. explaining their natural habitat, behaviour, physical attributes and hunting of these animals by men, with interesting illustrations to make it understandable by children.

The book is written with an aim to introduce and strengthen the relation between children and nature.

Raza Tehsin, who has dedicated his life protecting animals and jungles had the idea of an edutainment book since long, he wanted the coming generation to learn about the world of jungle and its dwellers.

Excerpt from Dr. Tehsin’s preface in the book: This book in an attempt to re-connect children with nature, not by preaching and teaching, but through a medium that they like – stories. Stories about animals, their life cycles, jungles, the delights and thrills of the wilds, conservation, and the fact that we do not have to preserve Nature, but respect it, for it is Nature who is preserving us.

Finally, Arefa took the responsibility of scripting the ideas of her father, though she has not been able to stay with Raza Tehsin, Arefa made it complete within one month. However, each story of the book is written under the guidance and instruction of Raza Tehsin.

In Arefa’s own words “we discuss story and ideas or I write stories on my own after he gives me information and facts on the animals and jungles. I write the stories and he gives me feedback and checks them for any discrepancies in animal facts.”

Tales from the Wild is aimed for children between age group 8-9 years and above. However, Udaipurites still have to wait for the book to be available but it will be soon availabe at Arya Book Store and Sun Book Store.

However, it is available online on flipkart.com in Rs. 91/- and will also be available soon on Amazon.com

About Authors

Dr. Raza H Tehsin needs no formal introduction for those who loves nature and wild animals. He is well known as Vasco da Gama of Mewar. He is a wild life conservationist, nature lover, social activist and environmentalist and has also penned down dozens of research notes for national and international journals.

Raza has been awarded, honoured and admired not only for his passion for forest and animals but also for his impeccable knowledge in curing disease like Leucoderma.

Limca Book (1996) also contains his name for conducting an interesting survey on spit being spat by tobacco chewers in India.

Raza is the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Udaipur district, Former Executive of WWF, Former Member of Wildlife Advisory Board, Govt. of Rajasthan and holder of Honorary Ph.D from Jyotish Mahavidyalaya, Roorkee.

Arefa Tehsin is a perfect example of  like -father-like daughter except on one small point. Being a hardcore environmentalist and wildlife lover she has been gifted with an additional flair for writing. Arefa started writing in school and since then the flow has never stopped.

Growing up under the supervision of a father who has dedicated his life to nature and wild animals, Arefa too has developed that love for wild creatures.

Educated from NMIMS and St. Xavier’s Mumbai, Arefa has lived in Sri Lanka for 5 years and now she is back to Mumbai. She has contributed in Sri Lanka’s national news paper and many Indian news papers and magazines.

Arefa also co produced documentaries and her three more books and several more writings are coming out.