Conservation Photography in Navi Mumbai Wetlands

The flamingos at DPS Lake depend on precise water levels, which are often dictated by sluice gates rather than nature alone. When I shoot here, I watch the tide tables and the water management closely, knowing that if the inlet is closed or the mudflats dry out, these birds cannot land to feed. My work aims to capture this delicate intersection of urban infrastructure and wild life, showing how our daily decisions directly impact the survival of these migratory visitors.

For me, photography in this space is less about the perfect aesthetic and more about documenting a living, breathing conflict. The Lesser Flamingos that flock to Navi Mumbai—often called Agnipankh by locals—are not just a beautiful sight for a Sunday walk. They are a bio-indicator of our wetland health.

When I frame a shot, I am often thinking about the administrative decisions behind the scene. Is the water being held back? Is the dumping of debris encroaching on their foraging grounds? These images are evidence. They are featured in publications like Mid-Day not because I want fame, but because the public needs to understand that these birds are guests in a city that is increasingly squeezing them out.

My conservation work involves:

• Habitat Documentation: Photographing the actual state of the mangroves and mudflats, providing visual data for activists and NGOs.
• Behavioral Analysis: Using long lenses and silent shooting to record how the birds react to human encroachment near the lake shores.
• Advocacy Through Imagery: Creating visual narratives that connect the citizen's sense of pride—like seeing the Indian flag near the wetlands—with the urgent need to protect the mudflats beneath it.

Whether it is the DPS Lake, TS Chanakya, or the broader Thane Creek, my goal is to make the invisible threats visible. We have the power to protect this habitat, provided we stop viewing it as empty land waiting to be developed and start seeing it as the vibrant, essential ecosystem it truly is.