The Irulars, an indigenous community deeply connected to the rhythm of the water, begin their daily ritual a journey of sustenance and survival. This image captures the quiet, powerful essence of the Irulars’ Community existence. Yes, Irulars are among the people who live in the Pulicat Lake region of Tamil Nadu. The Irulars are a Scheduled Tribe who have faced many challenges, including legal restrictions, natural calamities, and economic conflict. Some of the interventions made to help the Irulars and other coastal tribal groups in the Pulicat Lake region include: Distributing money from seabass fish sales, Inaugurating crab farming and poultry units, Stocking crab in pens, and Inaugurating terrace gardens. In the image, a father strides through the shallow waters, pulling along a makeshift raft on which his young daughter sits. The little raft, adorned with a few humble essentials—perhaps their day’s provisions—acts as her seat in this watery world. The scene portrays more than just the physical journey; it tells the story of the father preparing his child for the life ahead, a life intricately tied to the water, the worms they gather, and the fish they catch. This community has no streets, no paved roads to walk upon; instead, their paths are fluid, ever-changing with the tide. The backwaters are their highways, and fishing is not merely an occupation, but a way of life. For generations, the Irulars have mastered the art of worm collection—an essential bait for catching fish, a tradition passed down from parent to child. The father, as seen in the image, is not just guiding his daughter on this day’s journey but is grooming her to understand the significance of their heritage and the delicate relationship they hold with nature. In the father’s hand and the daughter’s gaze, we see the transmission of knowledge—a generational torch being passed, ensuring that the next generation, too, will navigate these watery streets and continue the traditions of their forebears. This journey, though devoid of streets, speaks volumes about travel. It tells the tale of resilience, of a life lived in rhythm with the sea, where the journey is both the destination and the path to survival. Location: Pulicat Lake Exif:- Exposure : 1/1500, F 6.7, ISO - 800 Camera: Sony Alpha A7M3 Lens : 200600 G Lens

Sand Slide on Elephant: The scene was unimaginable, and it will stay in my eyes until I die when I see an elephant. I was so close, and with my prime lens, I could only focus on one part of her body. She threw the mud on her back, and a portion of the dirt stayed on her body, and the remains fell. I focused on her face and the sand sliding on her face and eyes smoothly, and she didn't even close her eyes un􀆟l the sand fell on the ground. Place: Bandipur Tiger Reserve Camera: Sony Alpha A7M3 Lens: 400 F - 2.8 Sony G Lens Exif Details Exif: ISO – 400, F-2.8, SS- 1/3000

In the serene wilderness of Panna Tiger Reserve, where the landscape unfolds in a symphony of rocky outcrops and tranquil waters, a young sub-adult of P151 embarks on a journey of discovery. This image captures a pivotal moment, as he steps cautiously along the Ken river's edge, the rocks beneath his paws offering both a path and a challenge to reach its sibling which is already in the water. As the tiger walks on, the river whispers its ancient secrets, the wind rustles through the leaves, and the landscape stands as a silent witness to this moment of natural beauty and raw, untamed life. This scene, frozen in time, tells a tale of courage, discovery, and the indomitable spirit of a young tiger making his way in the world. Place: Panna Tiger Reserve Camera: Sony Alpha A7M3 Lens: 200600 Sony G Lens Exif Details Exif: ISO – 3200, F-6.7, SS- 1/750

For people who are working hard and facing huddles get this deep thought in their mind “Why is this happening to me only”. Let me tell you a beautiful story about overcoming from these huddles. What if you were born with no parents or care throughout your life? How would it shape who you become? Our parents guide every step, providing safety and teaching life lessons. The child grows confident and strong, secure in the knowledge that help is always there. Yes, there are species fall under the r-strategy: many offspring, but no parental care and grow without the parental guidance In this image, a bush frog is getting ready to hatch from its egg and surrounded by hundreds of other eggs. Its mother is gone, leaving the frog to fend for itself. From the start, it must learn to survive—dodging predators, and finding food—all without guidance. For many r-strategists, the act of laying eggs is driven by instinct rather than a conscious awareness of carrying or caring for the eggs. They often don’t exhibit behaviours indicating awareness or concern for the eggs after they are laid, as their strategy relies on producing many offspring, with the expectation that only a few will survive to adulthood. Therefore, in a biological sense, it’s unlikely that these animals are consciously aware they are carrying eggs in the same way that more K-strategist animals might be aware of their offspring. However, some r-strategists may exhibit behaviours that suggest some degree of instinctual recognition or care. These eggs are laid on the tree branches under the leaves to protect them from predators. Probably that’s why the adult is called a “MOTHER”.