For most children in India, the first animals they become familiar with are not necessarily those that live in their immediate environment. African Lions, elephants, giraffes, and cheetahs often dominate the pages of storybooks, encyclopaedias, and cartoons, while the Gharial of the Ganga or the Great Indian Bustard of Rajasthan remain largely unknown. This gap between global and indigenous wildlife representation has long bothered Professor Dr. Abdul Mohammed Ali Jinnah, a teacher at Jamal Mohamed College in Tiruchirappalli and a passionate storyteller. This passion was shared equally by Rtn AKS Dr. K Srinivasan, Ambassador Extraordinaire of Pachyderm Tales, who enthusiastically collaborated in the project.
Before beginning his current celebrated series, “Abdul Meets Endangered Animals,” Dr. Jinnah contributed to another project—the Ananth Series. This was a collection of children’s books that revolved around African wildlife. The series was initially envisioned as a photography-based project, with striking visuals of elephants, lions, rhinos, and leopards. However, at the suggestion of Pachyderm Tales, Dr. Jinnah added narrative storytelling to accompany the photographs by Wildlife photographer, V Ananthakrishnan, making the books far more engaging for young readers.
He recalls with fondness how his favourite contributions to the Ananth Series were the stories about the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus. Later, the giraffe too was added, bringing to life the grandeur and majesty of African fauna for Indian children. These books were important because they gave young readers access to an entire world of creatures, landscapes, and ecological questions that existed beyond India’s borders.
Yet, despite its impact, the Ananth Series left Dr. Jinnah with an unfulfilled dream. He realized that while Indian children were growing familiar with African elephants or cheetahs, they remained relatively unaware of the endangered species in their own backyards. This recognition led to the idea of creating an indigenous ecology series, one that would focus exclusively on animals central to Indian landscapes, rivers, and forests.
Thus began “Abdul Meets Endangered Animals,” a new storytelling journey centered on native species such as the Gharial, King Cobra, Langur, Nilgiri Tahr and the Great Indian Bustard. Unlike the Ananth Series, which leaned heavily on photography, this new project relied on illustrations that captured both the beauty and vulnerability of India’s unique creatures.
The shift from global to local was more than just a thematic choice; it was a conscious ecological intervention. Dr. Jinnah strongly believes that ecological awareness starts with familiarity. Children are unlikely to care about conserving species they don’t even know exist. By telling stories about animals like the Gharial—a crocodilian species found in the Ganga but facing extinction—he hopes to cultivate a sense of responsibility and empathy among young readers.
What makes this shift even more significant is the cultural context. The chosen animals are not just random species but are deeply embedded in India’s traditions and heritage. The peacock, for instance, is the national bird and a recurring motif in Indian art and mythology. The langur is often seen near temples, while the cobra holds religious symbolism. By highlighting these species, the stories emphasize that conservation is not an isolated ecological act—it is about preserving culture, faith, and identity.
Another fascinating aspect is how the storytelling voice evolved. In the Ananth Series, the animals and photographs carried the narrative. But in “Abdul Meets Endangered Animals,” the child protagonist Abdul becomes the central voice. This allows children to see themselves within the story, making the ecological lessons far more relatable.
In many ways, the transition from the Ananth Series to the Indian series mirrors a broader shift in environmental education—from admiring exotic animals abroad to protecting the native ecosystems at home. While both series share the same mission of building ecological awareness, the latter resonates more deeply with Indian readers because it speaks directly to their lived environment.
Dr. Jinnah’s work demonstrates the importance of storytelling in conservation. Scientific facts and reports may outline the dangers of extinction, but it is stories that bring these realities to life for young readers. Whether through the grandeur of African elephants or the quiet resilience of India’s Gharials , his books invite children to care, to question, and to imagine a world where coexistence is possible.
Ultimately, the journey from the Ananth Series to “Abdul Meets Endangered Animals” represents an evolution—not just in Dr. Jinnah’s storytelling, but in how we approach ecological education itself. It reminds us that conservation begins with awareness, and awareness begins with a story.
