The white-winged wood duck is so rarely seen that it has inspired several folktales in Assam’s swamp forests. Locals, who hear its ghostly call after dark, call it deo haanh or spirit duck. When filmmaker Jayshree Borgohain went looking for it, her search turned part-exploratory, part-spiritual.
Will the forest spirits guide her quest?
A Roundglass Sustain film
Directed by Jayshree Borgohain
Updated Jul 30, 2025
A Roundglass Sustain film
Directed by Jayshree Borgohain
Updated Jul 30, 2025
10 min watch
The white-winged wood duck is so rarely seen that it has inspired several folktales in Assam’s swamp forests. Locals, who hear its ghostly call after dark, call it deo haanh or spirit duck. When filmmaker Jayshree Borgohain went looking for it, her search turned part-exploratory, part-spiritual.
Will the forest spirits guide her quest?
Watch the film in English. To turn on subtitles, click on the CC icon at the bottom of the YouTube video. A red line will appear under the icon once the subtitles have been enabled. Thumbnail: Dhrtiman Mukherjee
Watch the film in Hindi. Thumbnail: Dhritiman Mukherjee
Watch the film in Assamese. Thumbnail: Dhritiman Mukherjee
About the Authors
Jayshree Borgohain
delved into storytelling through the visual medium during the Green Hub fellowship in Assam, igniting her passion for conservation narratives. With a keen eye on community and wildlife stories, she strives to bring the smaller yet fascinating stories from all around us.
Sustain Team
We are a driven group of people from diverse backgrounds, bound by an abiding love for India’s natural world.
