Photography by Abhilash Kar, Odisha, India

Grassland Warriors

The cheetah is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, capable of running at 80 to 128 km/h, and as such has several adaptations for speed, including a light build, long thin legs and a long tail.

Exif: 1/1000s, ƒ/8, ISO 500 | Location: Masai Mara, Kenya

Photography by Srikrishna Das, Odisha, India

Pond Heron with Catch

A small heron that is common in most aquatic habitats across the Indian subcontinent. Adults in breeding plumage have a dark reddish-brown back that contrasts with a yellowish head, neck, and breast.

Exif: 1/640s, ƒ/8, ISO 500 | Location: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Photography by Suvradeep Mitra, Odisha, India

The grey heron is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa.

Exif: 1/800s, ƒ/8, ISO 2500 | Location: Mangalajodi Wetland, Odisha

Photography by Santosh Kumar Mahalik, Odisha, India

Spot-billed Pelican

The spot-billed pelican or grey pelican, is a member of the pelican family. It breeds in southern Asia from southern Pakistan across India east to Indonesia.

Exif: 1/1000s, ƒ/5.6, ISO 200 | Location: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Photography by Srimant Das, Odisha, India

Returning Home

Keoladeo National Park is a vast bird sanctuary and former royal game reserve in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. South of the ancient city of Bharatpur, the park’s woods and man-made wetlands protect over 350 species of migratory and resident birds.

Exif: 1/1600s, ƒ/7.1, ISO 200 | Location: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Photography by Abhilash Kar, Odisha, India

It is the largest of Africa’s big cats and is commonly referred as the “King of the Jungle”. Lions are the most sociable member of the larger cat family.

Exif: 1/500s, ƒ/8, ISO 200 | Location: Masai Mara, Kenya

Photography by Suvradeep Mitra, Odisha, India

Vernal Hanging Parrot

The vernal hanging parrot is a small parrot which is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and some other areas of Southeast Asia.

Exif: 1/250s, ƒ/5.6, ISO 1600 | Location: Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala

Photography by Santosh Kumar Mahalik, Odisha, India

Grey-headed Woodpecker

The grey-headed woodpecker, also known as the grey-faced woodpecker, is a Eurasian member of the woodpecker family, Picidae.

Exif: 1/320s, ƒ/5.6, ISO 1600 | Location: Sattal, Uttarakhand