Photo and caption by Anupam Katkar

When I first saw this Golden Orb Weaver, she was wary of me and moved away. With slow movements, doing nothing to agitate her, I started winning her trust - doing a little more each time, but at her pace. When she trusted me sufficiently, I placed my hand next to her for scale. Later I even touched her but couldn't click at the same time because it took considerable mental focus. Animals can be deeply rewarding if we earn their trust. The plastic bag on the forest floor is yet another proof of how much we are damaging fragile ecosystems and endangering the charismatic creatures they shelter.

Location: Karnala bird sanctuary, Maharashtra, India