Moonilal Chablal.
Image: Supplied
A passion for wildlife conservation and storytelling has led 56-year-old Seatides resident, Moonilal Chablal, to publish his first children’s book - Big Nose of Borneo - on a global platform.
Chablal, who is self-employed in financial services, released the book on Amazon Kindle.
The children’s adventure story is inspired by the jungles of Borneo, an island in Malaysia known for its rich biodiversity and rare wildlife.
“The book is an exciting adventure story based on true creatures living in the jungles of Borneo. My inspiration to write stemmed from the island being home to some of the world's most unique creatures, including Proboscis monkeys, hornbills and parrots," he said.
According to Chablal, the book was written with the aim of creating conservation awareness among young readers while sparking curiosity about the natural world.
“Children love these creatures and become curious about the natural world. I wrote the book based on conservation awareness and endangered species. Children can be taught the importance of wildlife and its protection from an early age," he explained.
He added that the story also carried important life lessons about harmony, peace and kindness.
“Children can learn to live and learn in harmony, peace and kindness, just as the creatures of the jungle coexist."
The idea for the book was conceived in August 2014, but it remained a dream for several years before becoming a reality.
“I always had a passion for writing stories but I only took it seriously later in life when I had more time to put pen to paper. This book was only possible because my wife and children prompted me to finally start and publish the book. They knew this was a good story that I always wanted to share with the world,” he said.
Chablal said completing the manuscript took him about three months, with one of the greatest challenges being how to make the story engaging for children.
“The hardest part of writing the book was to develop the story to get the children engrossed. I gave the creatures voices and personalities so that children could become part of the story and feel excitement.
"The book is also currently translated in Hindi with a glossary of English meanings for the schools in India."
The author self-published the book through Amazon Kindle and worked alongside graphic designers and IT professionals to handle editing and illustrations.
Since its release, he said the book received positive feedback from readers and reviewers, and he planned to write more children's books.