The most extraordinary feature of earth is the diversity of life on it. This variety of life is adversely affected by alterations of ecosystems by human activities. Humans have always been part of biodiversity and there are many more moral as well as scientific reasons to preserve it.
Leopard from Jhalana leopard reserve, Jaipur ( Rajasthan)
India is one of the mega diversity countries in the world, with a mere 2.4 % of world ‘s land area, India accounts for 7.31 % of global fauna. Conservation is crucially important and critical for protecting biodiversity which is often severely impacted by human activity. A better understanding of the human element of our relationship with nature can be used to protect it.
With many species facing extinction, conservation and awareness are more important than ever, and wildlife photographers are contributing to those efforts by documenting animals in their natural environments. . People learn and understand wildlife and conservation better when they get to appreciate the beauty captured through the eye of the photographer, which in turn, enhances interest in ecology and conservation. . Nature photography is more than just taking visually pleasing pictures, it needs to have an educational element for the audience to be able to take something away it is not only loving the beauty of life on the planet..it is also about making the general public aware of the consequences of human activity . By showing people the beautiful nature and the need to protect it , it enhances interest in ecology and conservation.The change should come from people for taking care of our planet. I got into wildlife photography when I was inspired by seeing photographs in magazines such as National Geographic, Sanctuary Asia and WWF publication etc and it also made me understand the interconnection of life on Earth and how every living being is connected in the web of life, since then it has been my endeavor to show the relationship between humans and other living beings in nature through photography in a shuttle way .
As an avid birder , wildlife photographer, nature lover, and conservationist, I have discovered wildlife photography is a great medium for furthering the mission of building a world where people and nature co-exists peacefully. Our natural world has learned to co-exist since time immemorial. Every human must ensure that this symbiotic relationship continues. If we lose ecosystems like forests, grasslands, and wetlands, we risk losing our precious wildlife.
Plum headed parakeet , Ranakpur ( Rajasthan)
Apathy or people’s unconcern is the main reason that our environment and biodiversity are under threat .Why should we be bothered about biodiversity loss and degradation of the environment? People do not have a connection with the natural world and biodiversity, Therefore they are unable to comprehend the consequences of its loss. Photography is a way to record , we have many places and species yet to be documented. By documenting places, people and wildlife, photography portrays beauty and wonder of the natural world . When it comes to a rare or new species reported, the first thing people ask now is “where’s the photo?” Everyone expects to see photos accompanied with new sightings .Recently the sighting of an immature Slaty-breasted rail from Barmer, Rajasthan by me and two other birders Dr Chetna Sharma and shri vinod Pui , the first confirmed record from Rajasthan, elicited huge interest among birders, thanks to the photographic record.
Immature Slaty-breasted rail from Korna village, Barmer ( Rajasthan)
Conclusion
Wildlife photography can be a used as a tool to appreciate wildlife and motivate the public to care about and become active participants to address threats to our environment and conservation issues. Photography is the foremost medium in wildlife behavioral studies ,as that alone can confirm a particular behavioral aspect .Our forests are laboratories for behavioral studies on wildlife .
Dr Renu Kohli , Associate Professor in Zoology , Government Bangur college, Pali(Rajasthan). Joint secretary Ethological Society Of India
