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A famend coronary heart surgeon on the Asian Coronary heart Institute, Dr Ramakanta Panda spends his free time in varied nationwide parks of the nation and the wilderness worldwide, capturing the essence of animals of their pure habitat.
Relating to conservation and respect for the wild, Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Ramakanta Panda and nature are on the identical web page. A significant chunk of the center surgeon’s day is spent tending to sufferers on the Asian Coronary heart Institute in Mumbai, which he established in 2002. This leaves little time for different issues.
Nevertheless, at any time when he does handle an escape from his busy schedule, he ventures into the wilderness together with his digital camera and a few meals provides.
Two life classes, he says, that wildlife images has taught him are endurance (“I as soon as waited for six hours over two days at 45 levels Celsius to get {a photograph} of a tiger couple mating”) and honour for the topic — classes which have stood him in good stead each within the wilderness and out of doors.
His images journey is as compelling as his medical one.
He educated beneath the famend Dr Denton Cooley — famed for the primary profitable human coronary heart transplant — whose interview he chanced upon in Class 9. Since then, issues of the center held a fascination for him and there was no trying again. Regardless of a profitable profession on the Cleveland Clinic, in 1993, Dr Ramakanta returned to India in an try “to supply the type of superior medical therapy that’s taken without any consideration abroad.”
Many would ask how pursuing a profession in drugs permits time for hobbies, however Dr Ramakanta factors out they develop the thoughts. “It [photography] has helped me focus higher in my medical occupation too. As you delve deeper into an unknown topic, you have a tendency to take a look at life from a broader perspective as effectively.”
Town’s majestic hen inhabitants of greater than 1,300 species compels him to enterprise into nature and get clicking. However, the numbers are dwindling, he warns. “Except we defend and protect, our subsequent technology will see wildlife of any sort solely in zoos.”
By his images, Dr Ramakanta is on an escapade to seize these beauties of nature, which he shall be showcasing at Mumbai’s Jehangir Artwork Gallery from 21-27 November, 2023.
Right here’s a preview.
1. Golden-fronted inexperienced leafbird
The shot was captured inside the scenic Karnala Chicken Sanctuary in Panvel, which Dr Ramakanta says is famend amongst hen fanatics in Mumbai and the remainder of Maharashtra. “The sanctuary homes over 222 hen species, of which 160 are resident birds. This makes this sanctuary a preferred and vibrant website for bird-watching.”
2. The large cat
On the Kanha Nationwide Park in Madhya Pradesh, tigers benefit from the huge expanse of grassland. “Kanha stands as a pinnacle in efficient tiger conservation inside the nation,” factors out Dr Ramakanta who himself has spent many weekends on the park admiring its wild entities. He shares his commentary of discovering the employees right here a number of the most devoted and honest professionals. The park’s efforts in tiger conservation have been applauded because the tiger census of 2022 revealed an increase within the inhabitants of the beast from 2,967 in 2018 to three,167.
3. The lions of the Mara
The horizons of the savannah wilderness in Southwestern Kenya are dotted with beasts that roam so freely, that the scene may effectively move off for a nonetheless from the ‘Lion King’. Masai Mara is touted as a photographer’s paradise and rightly so.
Sharing about this click on, Dr Ramakanta says it was taken through the ‘grand migration’, which begins round July and sees over 1.5 million wildebeest arriving on the Mara from Tanzania’s Serengeti.
4. The white-bellied sea eagle
Rising up in Odisha, Dr Ramakanta’s earliest recollections of images took form right here. One of many locations he frequented as a younger boy was the Bhitarkanika Nationwide Park. “The Park is well known as one of many nation’s best mangrove forests. It lies alongside the Odisha coast and gives a useful habitat for varied species,” he shares.
5. The noticed cat
Within the shot, a leopard will be seen quenching its thirst at a waterhole in Kenya. Explaining why this image is particular to him, Dr Ramakanta says it’s an instance of ‘conceal images’. “The distinctive setup locations photographers in underground bunkers at water stage, affording silent and intimate photographs of animals as they strategy the water supply.”
6. The noticed owlet
Whereas the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is famed for its tiger inhabitants, it additionally provides a haven for avian fanatics, comparable to this coronary heart surgeon. Dr Ramakanta has frequented the reserve quite a few instances for hen watching and shares considered one of his clicks of the coveted noticed owlet.
An grownup of the species is round 21 cm in measurement, and they’re most plentiful throughout the breeding season which spans January by April. He asks to keep watch over the tree cavities as that’s the place they’re most outstanding!
7. Lion cubs
“The early morning rays illuminate two lion cubs in Masai Mara,” notes Dr Ramakanta. “Captured in a second of solitude, these sisters who’re only a few months previous, have been left to discover on their very own whereas their moms have been away looking. This enchanting shot encapsulates the essence of a tranquil African morning.”
8. Daybreak
Sunrises, effectively earlier than town of Mumbai wakes up, are a few of Dr Ramakanta’s favorite moments. This shot too was captured throughout considered one of them. He shares, “The tranquil fantastic thing about a dawn envelops a seagull on this {photograph}, taken at Mumbai’s DPS lake. The placement is famed for internet hosting not solely flamingos however quite a lot of marine and aquatic birds. This specific picture captures the serene environment through the golden hours of daybreak.”
9. Black-winged kite
Towards the backdrop of Tal Chhapar — a sanctuary in Rajasthan — a black-winged kite soars into the sky.
Dr Ramakanta explains that this “barren land” has been remodeled over time right into a vibrant grassland. “At the moment, it teems with life, internet hosting over 5,000 blackbucks and varied birds. Through the migratory months of October to March, it emerges as a first-rate vacation spot for observing predatory birds and an assortment of falcon species.”
10. The peacock
“I departed from the traditional perspective to seize the peacock’s rear view throughout its fascinating dance,” the center surgeon shares. “The concept behind doing this was to attract consideration to the peacock’s symmetry, vibrant colors, and the distinctive allure of its intricate show.”
The shot was taken in Sariska Nationwide Park of Rajasthan.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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