Photo exhibition,other events lined up

To mark Wildlife Week,various activities have been organised by Nature Walk and Creative Foundation to spread awareness. All nature lovers are invited to send photographs taken by them on the two themes provided by the screening committee of the organisations. More than 350 photographs have been received from amatuer photographers for the Wildlife Photographic Exhibition from October 5-7,at Bal Gandharva Art Gallery.

“The two themes provided by us were ‘Urban Biodiversity’ and ‘Our Natural Heritage’. Anyone can send us photographs of birds,mammals,insects,plants,landscapes and anything they find relevant to the specified themes,” says Anuj Khare,president,Nature Walk. The only criterion for the entries is that photographs had to be of high resolution. “It is not a competition in any way. The only thing participants whose photographs have been selected for the exhibition will get,is the visitors appreciation,” says Khare. Renowned photographers such as Clement Francis and Raja Purohit have sent in some of their best snaps for the exhibition. A total of 200 shortlisted photographs will be displayed. “Due to certain restrictions,we will have to shortlist 100 amateur entries and 100 photographs from renowned professionals,” adds Khare. The exhibition will be inaugurated by BJP leader Gopinath Munde,with Girish Bapat,Vandana Chavan and SD Mahajan.

A film festival during three days at Indradhanush,Dattawadi,will showcase award-winning films such as Elephant – Lord of the Jungle,which focuses on elephants’ love for water,their feeding habits,and so on. A wild meat trail will have director Rita Banerjee throw light on the issue of hunting. This will be followed by a presentation by conservation biologist Pooja Bhale on ‘Illegal Wildlife Trade’. Cherub of the Mist by the Bedi Brothers trails highly endangered wild animals found in the fringes of the Himalayan ranges,lower south-east Tibet,China and Bhutan.

“The participation has been encouraging,with over 1,000 participants within the first three days. More activities must be organised to emphasise the urgency of the situation our environment is facing with the rise in global warming,” says Sandeep Khardekar,president of Creative Foundation.

At the start of the weeklong programme,walks were conducted to introduce indigenous plants and discuss growth of various pethas important to the phenomenal development of the city,as well as presentations were made that took nature lovers on a virtual tour through the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary,Tadoba Tiger Reserve and the lesser explored wildlife sanctuaries of Karnataka.