Over recent years, there has been a swarm of ‘self-styled’ wildlife photographers and pseudo nature lovers venturing into the woods. The forests and wildlife are facing a new threat in the form of ill-informed eco tourists and unethical photographers who fail to realise that the jungle is the home of wild animals.

Until a few years back, only a handful of passionate wildlife enthusiasts made trips to reserve forests, and a single shot took hours of perseverance. Nowadays, patience is hardly a virtue attached to nature photography. Unfortunately, chasing and teasing wildlife is the latest trend, and the handiest way to get that perfect action shot. It’s ironic that when wildlife photography is all about candid, spontaneous moments in the wild, much of what we see today is orchestrated or staged. This crop of self-claimed shutterbugs is disturbing habitats, robbing wild citizens of their right to privacy and peace, and in the process, altering animal instincts and behaviour.

For instance, the mating images of Maya and Matkasur male (the famous tiger pair of Tadoba) went viral on social media recently, and every other wildlife photographer on Facebook posted pictures of the pair shot from various angles, garnering millions of hits and likes. Now, how ethical is it to mob a pair of mating tigers? It’s probably adventurous for the lensmen, but definitely harrowing for the tigers. In most wildlife safaris, the jeeps surround the big cats, restricting their movement to facilitate a close-up and even selfies with the animal. Animal experts say that such insensitivity is making the animals aggressive and restless.

Big animals such as elephants, gaurs and rhinos are chased by vehicles, provoking them to charge and attack, in turn making for a great action shot to be put up on Facebook or sent to competitions. Thankfully, it’s a mock charge most times. And in unfortunate real attacks, it’s always the animal that is culled or suffers a torturous capture. There are also tourists who violate the rules of the forest, get down from the vehicles and go close to wild animals attempting an exhibition of cheap heroism. In case the animal reacts, it gets branded as ‘rogue’ or a ‘man eater’.

Birds are the worst hit. “There are reports of wildlife photographers pruning and clipping tree tops to get a clear view of the nest, thus leaving the chicks exposed to predators,” says ArunSankar of Palani Hills Conservation Council. “Once I saw a group disturbing the nest of a Great Indian Hornbill in Anamalai hills, just for a flight shot.” Smaller mammals like Bonnet Macaques, Lion-tailed Macaques, Chitals and peacocks face a peculiar threat where they are lured by bait — mostly chips and coke for monkeys and puffed rice for peacocks — all for a ‘wild’ experience or a ‘unique’ shot. Apart from losing their natural instincts, the animals pay the dearest price, their life. Monkeys and peacocks can be seen approaching speeding vehicles in the hope of being fed, thus getting hit and killed.

“Animal roadkill is a serious issue, as we have highways and roads cutting across forests,” says H. Byju, member of the PATH (Provide Animals safe Transit on Highways) initiative that undertook a 43-day trip covering 79 reserve forests in the country last year. “On our trip, we recorded 92 animal roadkills, including wolves, mongoose, monkeys, peacocks, a variety of birds and deer. The maximum number was on the stretch from Jaisalmer to Bhuj, which is the extended region of the Thar Desert. Feeding wild animals is the main cause for them to approach the vehicles on the road.” He adds, “Photographers even device newer methods to attract animals. The latest is to leave a bucket of salt and water by the roadsides, attracting elephants and sloth bears.”

Unauthorised adventure tourism on the fringe ranges of forests that don’t fall within designated reserve areas is a flourishing business. “Animals obviously don’t recognise man-made boundaries and those that roam out in the ‘buffer zones’ where patrolling is absent, often fall prey to harassment of various kinds,” says ArunSankar. At a time when our wildlife is facing much pressure from habitat loss due to encroachments, illegal culling and poaching, the surge in irresponsible tourism has only added to their woes, going against all principles of conservation. It’s high time we learn to respect the rules of the wild, observe discipline, exercise restraint and be sensitive towards nature and wild animals.

Big animals such as elephants, gaurs and rhinos are chased by vehicles, provoking them to charge and attack, in turn making for a great action shot to be put up on Facebook or sent to competitions