Rashid’s passions are natural history and wildlife conservation. As a child growing up in a family of naturalists, Rashid developed a keen interest in the natural world as the family visited many wildlife parks and nature reserves in India and abroad. It wasn’t surprising that he pursued a career as a professional naturalist guide, spending much of his adult life living and working in India’s national parks, including the famous tiger sanctuaries of Kanha and Ranthambhore. In Kanha he managed a lodge, facilitated guide training programs and conducted tiger census surveys. He also coordinated with the BBC’s Natural History Unit on several projects in Kanha. In addition to sharing India’s nature treasures with guests, Rashid has also guided Indian travelers through Europe, though it wasn’t long before he was drawn back to the wild homelands he loves. Most recently he has been working on a conservation project in the Western Ghats of South India’s Kerala region. Rashid and his Irish wife, Jan, share their home with two children and a collection of extraordinary animals. They live in Pune, where Rashid and his son are regularly called upon to use their skills in handling snakes.