There have been cases of birds’ nests being destroyed by ‘photographers’ for the sake of the perfect picture; 40 safari jeeps surrounding a hapless tiger for a calendar shot, and animals being chased down until they’re so tired that they collapse — all for that one glorious image. Unethical wildlife photography has been on the rise, but no preventive methods have being taken.
In light of this, wildlife conservationists and filmmakers Shekar Dattatri and Ramki Srinivasan have brought out a book called Stop! Don’t Shoot Like that — A Guide to Ethical Wildlife Photography. Published by Conservation India, the book has been launched on e-commerce platforms. The authors speak to us about why they felt it was necessary to bring this book out.
Q: What do you think is the biggest threat to flora and fauna?
Shekar and Ramki: There are several major threats to wildlife in India. Apart from outright habitat loss, which is happening on a daily basis, another serious problem is habitat fragmentation — the breaking up of large blocks of natural habitat into several smaller ones, due to incursion of roads, railway lines, mining and other forms of human encroachment. Adding to these is the pressure from hunting, which now feeds a huge illegal international trade.
Q: What prompted you to collaborate on a book about unethical photography?
S and R: Over the last decade and a half, India has seen a huge spurt in wildlife photography by serious enthusiasts. These are hobbyists who have invested in sophisticated equipment, and frequently visit natural landscapes across the country. When thousands of people practice such a hobby — which had just a few adherents 20 years ago — it creates problems. One of those problems is the fact that some photographers are willing to go to any lengths to get the perfect picture, even if it means disturbance to wildlife or destruction of habitat.
While there are photographers who care deeply for wildlife and act responsibly, there are also many who treat wild animals simply as ‘models’ that exist for their photographic pleasure, and often behave in a callous and irresponsible manner towards them.
This can involve crowding an animal, chasing it till it is exhausted, feeding animals or their cubs to get them habituated, and intruding into their nesting or denning areas. It was this trend that prompted Ramki Sreenivasan and I to consult widely with practitioners and come out with a simple guide to ethical wildlife photography.
Q: Wildlife photography does play a role in conserving species, but where does one draw the line?
S and R: Documenting wildlife through photography definitely has a tremendous value if the photographs are used for education and conservation. However, it is extremely important that every photographer takes a pledge not to cause harm to his or her subjects. It is vital that we respect wildlife, and pursue photography in a way that does not harm them or disturb their habitat.
Q: While many photography workshops are conducted, do you think it is important that students be educated about ethics, in addition to the technique?
S and R: Today wildlife photography workshops conducted by seasoned veterans have become very popular. We are appealing to veterans who take workshops to teach their students not only the aesthetic and technical aspects of nature photography, but also about ethics and responsible photography. We believe that new entrants to the field need good role models and a set of guidelines to ensure that they enjoy their hobby without harm to nature.
Q: In this sense, what makes a good wildlife photographer?
S and R: A good wildlife photographer is a person who puts the well-being of the subject first, and who is willing to forego a shot and move away if an animal shows signs of being distressed by his or her presence.
