Meet Bismi Wills: Kerala’s Beat Forest Officer with a lens for the wild

Vallakadavu ( Idukki): A forest department team recently witnessed a serene yet striking scene at the foot of Manammutti mountain in the Vallakadavu range: a lone elephant cooling itself by tossing soil into the air. Capturing this moment from a distance was Officer Bismi Wills—Kerala’s only woman Beat Forest Officer known for her wildlife photography.

With a single click, Bismi froze the majestic sight in time: the elephant, the spray of flying mud, and the towering backdrop of Manammutti mountain, all now part of her growing collection of vivid wildlife images.

A native of Nanthapuram Parassala, Bismi has seamlessly blended her passion for photography with her duties in the Vallakadavu range. Her photographs, frequently featured on the forest department’s official social media handles, offer the public rare glimpses into the region’s rich and often hidden biodiversity.

Her interest in photography began unexpectedly after joining the forest department. In 2018, while posted in the Moozhikkal section of the Azhutha Range, she started taking photos of butterflies on her Android phone. Later, in the Pampa Range, she upgraded to a digital camera and expanded her focus to birds and small animals. Upon reaching the Vallakadavu Range, Bismi decided to pursue professional wildlife photography, acquiring a professional camera with guidance and support from a colleague, Vishnu.

Although Periyar is a tiger sanctuary, she has yet to capture a tiger on camera, a goal she continues to pursue. Bismi receives strong support from her husband, S Dinahar, manager of the Aqua Gen Shrimp Hatchery in Puducherry, and their eighth-grade daughter, Diya Bianci.