Empowering India’s Wildlife Guides: A Digital Toolkit by a Birder, for the incredible Guides.
Hi, I’m Anirban Saha. By day, I work as a Data Scientist, navigating complex algorithms and data structures. But my heart belongs to the wild. Whether I’m tracking the majestic Wreathed Hornbills in the Eastern Himalayas or exploring the dense, mist-covered forests of North East India, I am happiest with a camera in my hand in the jungle.
During my travels, I realized something: the local guides who know every call of the forest are often invisible online. They have incredible stories and world-class sightings, but no professional way to showcase them.
That’s why I decided to use my background in technology to build something for the community. I’ve developed a WordPress Plugin designed specifically for wildlife and nature guides in India and South Asia.
Why I Built This
Most booking platforms take heavy commissions, and social media posts get lost in the noise. I wanted to give guides a “digital home” that they own. This isn’t just a plugin; it’s a way to level the playing field for the people who protect our forests.
Social media is a fleeting feed, but a website is your legacy. For a young wildlife specialist, a site builds global SEO authority that Instagram can’t. International travellers search the internet for expertise; they only trust high-value bookings when they see a professional portfolio and verified testimonials that prove you are a legitimate, high-end professional.
What am I suggesting?
I recommend individual guides to have their own website. It would be some amount of investment, and there is not much to suggest that it would be a bad investment. I would strongly recommend people to use WordPress CMS (free) with themes, and plugins that come for free. That could be a great starting point.
And in the suite of plugins that one could use, would be the plugin that I am developing.
Who is the Toolkit for?
Nature and Wildlife (including birding) guides in India/ South Asia, for their personal website.
What the Toolkit Does (To Start)
As of March 25, 2026, the plugin has the following features:
- Instant Inquiries via Telegram: I know guides are in the field, not in front of a laptop. When a traveler fills out your inquiry form, the details land instantly on your Telegram. No missed emails, no delays.
- The Wall of Trust (Testimonials): In our world, word-of-mouth is everything. Easily showcase reviews from the travellers and birders you’ve guided to build instant credibility with new clients.
- (next) The Sightings Gallery: A high-performance photography gallery. Your photos are your best marketing—this tool makes sure they look stunning and load fast, even on mobile.
My Vision
As a Data Scientist, I see a future where we can use AI—like Google Gemini—to help guides identify species or automate their itineraries. But for now, I want to get the basics right.
This plugin is free for individual guides. It’s my way of giving back to the forests and the people who make my birding trips so memorable.
Prerequisites for the plugin:
- Existing website on self-hosted WordPress CMS.
- An account on Telegram.
Get the plugin:
If you are a guide looking to professionalize your digital presence, I’d love for you to try it out.
Team:
- Anirban Saha [Owner, Solution Architect]
- Aryarishi Sikdar [Full stack developer]