Capturing Birds Through Lens

by YULETTE COUTINHO
Posted on 2008-11-11
Alliance Francaise, Panaji has organised an exhibition of photographs on birds capturing their flight, their habitat, their environment called ‘Optique Oiseaux’ by research scholar Coralie D’Lima an ecologist and self taught photographer. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Consul General of France in Mumbai by Mr Francois Pujolas and the photo exhibit will be on display till November 14, at the Art Gallery of Alliance Francaise, Panaji.
Coralie D’Lima is a researcher working for Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore. The Nature Conservation Foundation an NGO, aims at contributing to the knowledge and conservation of India’s unique wildlife heritage with innovative research imaginative solutions. Learning and understanding the survival needs of highly endangered species such as snow leopards and elephants, corals and spiders. Conservative strategies are made based on knowledge of wildlife ecology and human society. The organisation has received recognition from various organisations for distinguished service by the Society for Conservation Biology, USA in 2006, the Whitley Gold Award by the Whitley Fund for Nature, UK in 2005 and others. Their programmes include Research in wildlife ecology and human society, exploration and biological surveys, resolving human-wildlife conflicts, conserving with local communities, guiding conservation policy, etc.
Her current work through Nature Conservation Foundation is based on the ecology and behaviour of the Irrawaddy Dolphin of Chilika Lagoon in Orissa. The lagoon is a wetland ecosystem of international renown, and includes the Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, on an island located within it.
Having spent five months at the lagoon during her fieldwork, Coralie was presented with a number of experiences and opportunities to hone her photographic skills. This exhibition is an anthology of birds photographed both at the sanctuary as well as at other parts of the lagoon. Through this exhibition, the photographer hopes to share her experiences in the wild with anyone interested in nature.