Rajshahi Couple Capture Bangladesh’s Hidden Wildlife — Over 400 Bird Species and Rare Discoveries

For nearly a decade, Rajshahi-based photographers Imrul Kayes and Umme Khadija have been documenting Bangladesh’s rapidly disappearing biodiversity. Together, they have photographed 426 bird species and over 400 butterflies across the nation’s forests, rivers, and wetlands. Beginning their journey in college, their relentless exploration has led to remarkable findings — including the first-ever photographs of four previously unlisted butterfly species and the rediscovery of a freshwater crocodile in the Padma River once thought extinct in Bangladesh. Now university graduates, Imrul and Khadija remain devoted to wildlife documentation, with their work aiding researchers, conservationists, and raising public awareness about the country’s fragile natural heritage.