Conservation Storytelling & Visual Advocacy
Available across India
I create photo stories that show how people and wildlife share space in cities, using long-term fieldwork and local collaborations to help conservation.
Nayan Khanolkar
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6.9k
About
Why I Do What I Do
Living in Mumbai, I've seen how leopards and people share space, and it's changed how I think about the wild. The wild isn’t just deep forest - it’s right here, cha mulukh madhe (in our city). My photos aim to make folks see that animals aren’t intruders but neighbours. I want people to feel something, maybe rethink how we treat the creatures around us.
My Style of Conservation Storytelling
I’m not just snapping animal pics. I build visual stories that make you pause. Whether for magazines, wildlife advocacy campaigns, or exhibitions, I use images to talk about stuff that matters - like flamingos fighting to keep their home or tigers needing safe passage. I want my work to actually help conservation, not just look pretty.
How I Work: Real Stories, Real Patience
- I spend years following animals, like Luna the leopard, so you get the whole story, not just a cool shot.
- I use camera traps and drones to catch what we’d never see otherwise. Most of my favourite moments happen at night, away from crowds.
- I team up with scientists, forest officers, and locals like the Warli community. Their knowledge brings my stories to life.
Projects That Matter
- Urban wildlife photo essays: Leopards living in Mumbai, flamingos in Navi Mumbai wetlands.
- Visual stories for ecosystem protection: Tigers in Central India, the fight for corridor conservation.
- Community-driven conservation narratives: How local tribes coexist with predators, what we can learn from them.
What I Want My Photos To Do
If people start respecting these animals, even a little more, that’s a win for me. Conservation isn’t about saving “them” - it’s about making sure we all have a place, together.
Meet your Expert
Nayan Khanolkar
79 connects in last 3 months
My Story
My Work
Wildlife Photography & Conservation Stories - I take up wildlife photography assignments, create conservation photo stories and offer talks, all grounded in real field experience.
Urban Big Cats Focus - Most of my work is about documenting Mumbai leopards, showing their lives right at the city’s edge. Urban leopard photography is my thing.
Ethical, Patient Approach - Camera traps, lots of waiting, and careful watching. I never disturb the animals - I let their stories unfold naturally.
Storytelling Through Images - I don’t just click photos. I build wildlife coexistence stories that make you see animals and humans together, differently.
