diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/ViewPagerAdapter.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/ViewPagerAdapter.java
index 5ca20372a..b887aaf99 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/ViewPagerAdapter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/ViewPagerAdapter.java
@@ -18,6 +18,17 @@ public class ViewPagerAdapter extends FragmentPagerAdapter {
         super(manager);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Constructs a ViewPagerAdapter with a specified Fragment Manager and Fragment resume behavior.
+     *
+     * @param manager The FragmentManager
+     * @param behavior An integer which represents the behavior of non visible fragments. See
+     *                 FragmentPagerAdapter.java for options.
+     */
+    public ViewPagerAdapter(FragmentManager manager, int behavior) {
+        super(manager, behavior);
+    }
+
     /**
      * This method returns the fragment of the viewpager at a particular position
      * @param position
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/ExploreFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/ExploreFragment.java
index 223d028dc..b31c34b67 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/ExploreFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/ExploreFragment.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import android.view.ViewGroup;
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment;
+import androidx.fragment.app.FragmentPagerAdapter;
 import androidx.viewpager.widget.ViewPager.OnPageChangeListener;
 import fr.free.nrw.commons.R;
 import fr.free.nrw.commons.ViewPagerAdapter;
@@ -69,7 +70,9 @@ public class ExploreFragment extends CommonsDaggerSupportFragment {
         loadNearbyMapData();
         binding = FragmentExploreBinding.inflate(inflater, container, false);
 
-        viewPagerAdapter = new ViewPagerAdapter(getChildFragmentManager());
+        viewPagerAdapter = new ViewPagerAdapter(getChildFragmentManager(),
+            FragmentPagerAdapter.BEHAVIOR_RESUME_ONLY_CURRENT_FRAGMENT);
+
         binding.viewPager.setAdapter(viewPagerAdapter);
         binding.viewPager.setId(R.id.viewPager);
         binding.tabLayout.setupWithViewPager(binding.viewPager);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/map/ExploreMapFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/map/ExploreMapFragment.java
index a222a98ac..feebd20c6 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/map/ExploreMapFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/map/ExploreMapFragment.java
@@ -221,7 +221,6 @@ public class ExploreMapFragment extends CommonsDaggerSupportFragment
             binding.mapView.getController().setZoom(ZOOM_LEVEL);
         }
 
-        performMapReadyActions();
 
         binding.mapView.getOverlays().add(new MapEventsOverlay(new MapEventsReceiver() {
             @Override
@@ -341,7 +340,12 @@ public class ExploreMapFragment extends CommonsDaggerSupportFragment
             !locationPermissionsHelper.checkLocationPermission(getActivity())) {
             isPermissionDenied = true;
         }
-        lastKnownLocation = MapUtils.getDefaultLatLng();
+
+        lastKnownLocation = getLastLocation();
+
+        if (lastKnownLocation == null) {
+            lastKnownLocation = MapUtils.getDefaultLatLng();
+        }
 
         // if we came from 'Show in Explore' in Nearby, load Nearby map center and zoom
         if (isCameFromNearbyMap()) {
@@ -974,9 +978,6 @@ public class ExploreMapFragment extends CommonsDaggerSupportFragment
                     -0.07483536015053005, 1f);
             }
         }
-        if (!isCameFromNearbyMap()) {
-            moveCameraToPosition(new GeoPoint(latLnge.getLatitude(), latLnge.getLongitude()));
-        }
         return latLnge;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/media/MediaInterface.kt b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/media/MediaInterface.kt
index ef0ef1f9c..643374e54 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/media/MediaInterface.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/media/MediaInterface.kt
@@ -186,13 +186,25 @@ interface MediaInterface {
     ): Single<MwQueryResponse>
 
     companion object {
+        /**
+         * Retrieved thumbnail height will be about this tall, but must be at least this height.
+         * A larger number means higher thumbnail resolution but more network usage.
+         */
+        const val THUMB_HEIGHT_PX = 450
+
         const val MEDIA_PARAMS =
-            "&prop=imageinfo|coordinates&iiprop=url|extmetadata|user&&iiurlwidth=640&iiextmetadatafilter=DateTime|Categories|GPSLatitude|GPSLongitude|ImageDescription|DateTimeOriginal|Artist|LicenseShortName|LicenseUrl"
+            "&prop=imageinfo|coordinates&iiprop=url|extmetadata|user&&iiurlheight=" +
+                    THUMB_HEIGHT_PX +
+                    "&iiextmetadatafilter=DateTime|Categories|GPSLatitude|GPSLongitude|" +
+                    "ImageDescription|DateTimeOriginal|Artist|LicenseShortName|LicenseUrl"
 
         /**
          * fetches category detail(title, hidden) for each category along with File information
          */
         const val MEDIA_PARAMS_WITH_CATEGORY_DETAILS =
-            "&clprop=hidden&prop=categories|imageinfo&iiprop=url|extmetadata|user&&iiurlwidth=640&iiextmetadatafilter=DateTime|GPSLatitude|GPSLongitude|ImageDescription|DateTimeOriginal|Artist|LicenseShortName|LicenseUrl"
+            "&clprop=hidden&prop=categories|imageinfo&iiprop=url|extmetadata|user&&iiurlheight=" +
+                    THUMB_HEIGHT_PX +
+                    "&iiextmetadatafilter=DateTime|GPSLatitude|GPSLongitude|ImageDescription|" +
+                    "DateTimeOriginal|Artist|LicenseShortName|LicenseUrl"
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/wikidata/model/gallery/ImageInfo.kt b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/wikidata/model/gallery/ImageInfo.kt
index 492e2e1f8..7645e438d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/wikidata/model/gallery/ImageInfo.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/wikidata/model/gallery/ImageInfo.kt
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ open class ImageInfo : Serializable {
     }
 
     fun getThumbUrl(): String {
-        updateThumbUrl()
         return thumbUrl ?: ""
     }