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The Flamingo City: A Paradise Under Threat

bySreekumar KrishnanAvailable for filmmaking projects across IndiaStarts from₹25,000 per filmView full gallery

Navi Mumbai is home to over 150,000 flamingos each year, a spectacle of grace amidst urban expansion. This collection documents their courtship, flight, and the fragile wetland habitat they depend on.

I call this "The Angels Have Landed." It shows the incredible sight of flamingos returning to DPS Lake in Navi Mumbai, a habitat now recognized as a Conservation Reserve. Watching them land in perfect coordination without colliding is a moment of pure wonder that gives me goosebumps every time.

The courtship ritual of lesser flamingos reminds me of a 'Swayamvar,' where suitors strut to win over a bride. Here, the males march with necks held high, hoping to impress a mate. It's a humorous and beautiful sight, but it carries a serious message about the potential loss of this lake to development.

This film captures the 'Flamboyance,' the spectacular courtship march of the lesser flamingos in Navi Mumbai. They gather in the scorching heat of May to find life partners before migrating. My work aims to ensure that future generations can also witness this incredible dance of life.

A flock of Greater Flamingos wades through the calm waters of a Navi Mumbai lake, their elegant forms reflected against a backdrop of lush mangroves. This image was part of a feature in Mid-Day newspaper to raise awareness about these vital urban ecosystems.

In this humorous take, I imagine a flock of Greater Flamingos getting a pre-flight briefing before a long journey. In reality, their orderly formations are a marvel of natural coordination, a beautiful spectacle that unfolds daily in the wetlands of Navi Mumbai.

A wide view of the DPS lake in Navi Mumbai, teeming with thousands of flamingos while a smaller group takes to the sky. The city's skyline in the background serves as a constant reminder of the urban pressures on this delicate and vital ecosystem.

By turning this image upside down, the reflection of the lesser flamingos creates an entirely new perspective, like an impressionist painting. It reminds me that only when the mind becomes still can we truly experience the beauty and light that nature offers.

This high-key, minimalist photograph of the T.S. Chanakya lake was featured in the Mangrove Photography Awards. It portrays the serene, almost glassy surface of the water, a fragile peace that is threatened by plans to convert this vital wetland into commercial properties.

I call this film "Gold Mornings." It features the whiskered terns of Navi Mumbai, which are incredible aerial acrobats. They are pack hunters, and filming their high-speed dives tests both my skills and my equipment, capturing the dynamic energy of this magical place.

On India's Republic Day, the lesser flamingos put on their own aerial display, flying past the national flag near the DPS lake in Navi Mumbai. It's a powerful symbol of the natural heritage that we as a nation have a duty to protect.

About The Flamingo City: A Paradise Under Threat

Capturing these migrations requires more than just a lens. It involves quiet, patient hours in the wetlands, matching my breathing to the rhythm of the flock, and waiting for that singular moment when light transforms the landscape. My filmmaking here focuses on the fragile intersection between Navi Mumbai’s urban expansion and the seasonal, migratory pulse of these birds.

150,000 migratory flamingos documented in Navi Mumbai. — Approved by the tribe
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Sreekumar Krishnan

Available for filmmaking projects across IndiaStarts from ₹25,000 per film

I am Sreekumar. Photography is my meditation, and my camera is how I give a voice to nature. Whether I am documenting a flamingo courtship or filming the struggle of our mangroves, I focus on capturing the soul of the moment. I want you to see what is at stake so we can protect it together.

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A massive flock of flamingos takes to the sky over the wetlands of Navi Mumbai. I help photographers learn the right settings for capturing sharp images of birds in flight against a clear blue sky.
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In a huge flock, I focused my lens to find this perfect moment where two flamingos formed a heart shape with their necks. It’s like they were the stars of the show, standing out in the beautiful chaos.25
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I love capturing the quirky personalities of birds. This flamingo seemed to be hiding from my camera, giving me a shy pose that was just too cute not to photograph.

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See my work across wildlife, portraits, and conservation storytelling.

Nature photography workshopsFine art portraitsConservation filmmakingWildlife documentationPrivate photography shoots

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