In May 2025, on a sweltering afternoon with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit), most people would have stayed indoors. But for 36-year-old wildlife photographer and ICICI Group senior manager Hardik Shelat, the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, became the setting for a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife moment.

As he told The Bright Story, Shelat and his team had set out on a one-day trip in the blistering heat with one goal: to capture images of fruit bats in the wild.

"It was a summer afternoon and the temperature was almost 44 degrees Celsius," Shelat said. "It was scorching, so we had to cover our faces and bodies completely."

What followed was a test of endurance and patience.

“We waited almost two and a half hours with nothing to click. We were sweating and constantly hydrating,” he said.

But that patience was rewarded.

“After waiting for almost 2.5 hours, finally they started their activities and came out from the trees,” Shelat recalled. “Generally, fruit bats are nocturnal — more active at night — but due to the extreme heat, they were also active during the daytime.”

This rare daytime behavior was a surprise even to experienced photographers. The bats began splashing in the water and drinking from the river to stay cool and hydrated.

“They started splashing in the water and drinking to keep themselves cool in the summer heat,” he said.

Capturing the moment proved as difficult as it was rewarding.

“It was very difficult to click them — they were so fast in the water,” Shelat said. “And with the heat, it was even more challenging. But we felt so happy at the end when we were able to capture those amazing moments.”

The photos sparked fascination, especially given the common belief that fruit bats are active only at night.

“People generally believe that fruit bats are nocturnal,” he said. “After seeing my photos, they were amazed. It really changed their perspective.”

Shelat used a Canon EOS R5 Mark II paired with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens — a setup chosen for its clarity and reach. Despite the quality, Shelat said he applies only minimal editing.

“I didn’t use any post-processing techniques,” he said. “I just used basic Lightroom adjustments to convert the raw files to JPEG.”

For Shelat, wildlife photography is about more than capturing stunning images — it’s a lifelong mission.

“Patience is the key to wildlife photography,” he said. “You need patience and multiple attempts. Nature will always bless you with something special if you love and respect it.”

He added a heartfelt message: “We should always protect our biodiversity. We are completely dependent on one another. Only by protecting nature can we save the Earth — and ourselves.”

In capturing a rare and beautiful moment in the life of fruit bats, Hardik Shelat not only demonstrated skill and dedication, but also helped shift public perception about a misunderstood species. His photographs are a testament to nature’s quiet wonders — and the power of patience, purpose and perspective.

To see more of Shelat’s wildlife photography, visit his Instagram page at @hardik_shelat_photography.

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