AdminRenowned cardiac surgeon Dr Ramakanta Panda, who chairs the Asian Heart Institute in Bandra, is turning his medical expertise into a visual call‑to‑action, inaugurating a new wildlife conservation exhibition titled “Heartbeats” at Mumbai’s Jehangir Art Gallery from 26 November to 2 December. The show showcases 240 species captured in the past two years, all photographs belonging to its host’s keen bird‑watching lens, and pledges 100 % of proceeds to conservation initiatives run by the Asian Wildlife Trust—an organisation founded by Panda nine years ago to safeguard India’s natural habitats.
Background/Context
India’s biodiversity is under unprecedented threat: habitat loss, climate change, and rampant development are squeezing more than 700 species into shrinking pockets. In a city that sees billion-dollar infrastructure projects each year, the emerging trend among professionals is to pair their primary careers with ecological stewardship. Dr Panda’s exhibition is a recent manifestation of this shift, leveraging his medical stature to spotlight the fragile avifauna of the Mumbai region. The exhibition is not only a creative showcase but also a fundraising vehicle, with all ticket sales donating directly to the Asian Wildlife Trust’s field operations, such as camera‑trap programs and community welfare initiatives.
Key Developments
Unlike his 2023 show, this edition features entirely new material, with photographs taken between 2023 and 2025. Panda describes the new collection as a “pulse” that captures the day‑to‑day rhythms of wildlife in an increasingly urbanised corridor.
- Species diversity – 240 animals and birds, including rare sightings such as the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (often referred to by locals as the Black‑Necked Dwarf Kingfisher) and the Heart‑Spotted Woodpecker whose brightly coloured back forms a heart shape.
- Conservation stories – Several images document the return of the Asian Paradise Flycatcher to Karnala Bird Sanctuary, showcasing a morph change from the typical rufous plumage to a striking half‑red, half‑white pattern that signals a successful breeding cycle.
- Technology in conservation – The exhibition highlights Panda’s use of camera traps at Karnala, a move credited with increasing the number of nesting pairs from a handful to between 20 and 30, with repeated breeding in a single season.
- Collaborations – The trust’s partnership with local forest workers has transformed basic shelters into well‑furnished huts equipped with solar lighting and water filters, fostering sustainable livelihoods alongside biodiversity protection.
- Engagement – Tickets begin at ₹499, with higher‑priced “members” passes offering additional opportunities to meet the curator and view behind‑the‑scenes documentation projects.
“I rise at 5 a.m. to catch the first glints of sunrise when the birds are most active,” Panda notes. “By 9 a.m. I’m back at the hospital, so I maximize every second of that golden hour.” Such dedication underscores the intersection of his surgical precision and ornithological patience.
Impact Analysis
For students, particularly those studying environmental science, biology, or public health, the exhibition offers an interdisciplinary learning platform. It demonstrates how healthcare professionals can influence ecological outcomes by:
1. Funding conservation through creative channels;
2. Engaging local communities with sustainable income models;
3. Using technology (camera traps, drones) to monitor wildlife without intrusive presence.
Additionally, the show captures broad public interest; early ticket sales predict a fund raise of approximately ₹2 million, a substantial contribution to protecting over 5,000 hectares of reserved forest and wetland areas in the Mumbai‑Panvel region. This influx of resources could facilitate further field projects, such as mangrove restoration, setting a precedent for student‑led scholarship funds or community‑managed conservation programmes.
Expert Insights/Tips
Conservationists emphasise that the best impact comes from “data‑driven advocacy.” Dr Panda’s experience suggests the following practical steps for budding wildlife advocates:
- Document and share – Use photography or videography to capture habitat conditions; distribute images through local media or social platforms to raise awareness.
- Leverage policy networks – Engage early with forest department officials to secure permissions for monitoring equipment; collaborate in citizen‑science initiatives.
- Create sustainable livelihoods – Offer training workshops for forest workers and local youth on eco‑tourism, small‑scale agroforestry, or artisanal crafts that can coexist with wildlife conservation.
- Partner with healthcare stakeholders – Medical institutions can develop health‑and‑environmental curricula, enabling cross‑disciplinary research such as studying zoonotic disease links.
- Adopt adaptive management – Deploy camera traps and other monitoring tools, analyse data biannually, and adjust conservation strategies based on empirical evidence.
Students studying environmental policy can use this exhibition as a case study on how arts and commerce can fund crucial conservation work, underscoring the need for multi‑sector collaboration in modern sustainability models.
Looking Ahead
The Asian Wildlife Trust plans to expand its operations into a next‑generation wildlife rehabilitation centre in the Surguja district of Chhattisgarh by early 2026. The trust also intends to roll out a digital platform that streams live footage from camera traps set across several sanctuaries, allowing the public—and investors—to directly observe conservation progress.
For Mumbai’s birding community, the exhibition is a call to action: the city now hosts more than 100 species in its concrete jungle—a fact that aligns with the U.N. Biodiversity Strategy of 2020 to preserve urban ecosystems. Dr Panda’s initiative may spark similar ventures amongst other city officials, inspiring a wave of “wildlife conservation exhibitions” that marry art, science, and philanthropy.
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