BEST PICTURE

Though she has many favourite pictures, that of a pair of rose ringed parakeets attacking a monitor lizard is amongst the top. One of the rarest moments in nature, it was the most repr duced image of her work, and received l of appreciation, she recalls.

Narrating the story behind it, she says, “It happened when I was shooting migra tory fowls in Keolodeo National Park. While I was kneeling on the ground to shoot them, all of a sudden, I saw something hurrying towards me. I turned my lens and was astonished to see a monito lizard running for its life as a pair of par keets were fiercely attacking it and tryin to bite its tail.”

Lizards are typically lazy, whereas para keets are peaceful and keep to themselves, she says, adding, “Here the para keet pair was driving away the lizard tha was looking to steal the eggs. After the scared lizard disappeared into the bushe nearby, the parakeets continued to watc till they were sure that it would not com back. This was the first time I witnessed parakeets being aggressive. It reminded me of how protective animals and birds too are of their babies.”