Former cricketer Anil Kumble, author Vivek Menon and Karnataka's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinay Luthra at the book launch.
After his retirement from cricket, leg spinner Anil Kumble now has more time to pursue another passion: wildlife.
Mr Kumble is happy to lend his celebrity status to the cause of wildlife conservation.
The cricketer, who recently launched Vivek Menon's book on Indian mammals in Bangalore, said, "I know my shoulder is pretty weak after bowling more than 10,000 overs in international cricket. But post-retirement, it is pretty strong for wildlife causes."
And he is looking forward to heading to the forest with Mr Menon's Indian Mammal - a Field Guide.
"I was looking out for such a book. I'm a wildlife lover, so this will add to my collection," Mr Kumble told NDTV.
Explaining why he wrote the book, author Vivek Menon said Indians should look beyond tigers and elephants to lesser known but equally amazing mammals.
We asked Karnataka's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Vinay Luthra, who attended the launch, about his favourite mammal.
He said, "Of course, tigers fascinate me. But the lion-tailed macaque is a beautiful animal. Recently, in the Cauvery national park, we found the honey badger. So there are beautiful mammals which we don't even know about, which we have never seen."
The tiger is, of course, our national animal, but what about a state animal for Karnataka?
Mr Menon suggests the 'Gaur', which, he says, is the "largest wild cattle of the world that achieves its greatest magnificence in Karnataka".
The more we know about India's wildlife, the more we can do to keep it safe. Books like these, which help to create awareness about the country's rich and varied wildlife, are a step forward in conservation efforts.