The forest division has banned images within the forest space close to Deulgaon village in Pune district’s Supe area after receiving a number of complaints about unethical hen name playback practices. The restriction, imposed on February 22, warns of stringent motion towards violators.
Not too long ago, a number of photographs of the Mottled Wooden Owl, a protected species beneath Schedule III of the Wildlife Safety Act, went viral on social media. A breeding pair of those nocturnal birds at the moment resides within the Supe forest space. (SOURCED)
Chook name playback is a method used to draw birds by enjoying recorded calls or songs, typically employed by birdwatchers and photographers. Whereas this methodology aids in recognizing uncommon or elusive species, it’s thought-about illegal beneath Part 9 of the Wildlife Safety Act, 1972, as it may be misused by photographers and hunters, in the end harming birds.
In Pune, the follow is often used to seize pictures of migratory or uncommon hen species. Not too long ago, a number of photographs of the Mottled Wooden Owl, a protected species beneath Schedule III of the Wildlife Safety Act, went viral on social media. A breeding pair of those nocturnal birds at the moment resides within the Supe forest space. Nevertheless, over the previous ten days, the forest division has obtained complaints about unethical images practices.
In keeping with NR Praveen, chief conservator of forests, Pune circle, there have been complaints about hen name playback getting used to draw the Mottled Wooden Owl in Supe.
“Several photos of the bird pair have been posted online, showing unnatural behaviour. To protect the species, we have banned photography here. A full-time staff has been appointed in the area to monitor violations, and strict action will be taken against those who flout the rules,” mentioned Praveen.
Anuj Khare, member of the State Wildlife Advisory Board, highlighted the rising curiosity in wildlife images in Pune.
“Protected areas like Bhigwan, Kumbhargaon, and Shirsufal attract many wildlife photographers, which helps in documenting biodiversity. However, areas outside protected zones also host diverse wildlife, and unethical photography practices like bird call playback disturb their natural behaviour. The ban in Deulgaon is essential to protect nesting birds.”
Many hen name playback recordings are sourced from web sites and later used within the area. When requested if any motion could be taken towards such platforms, Praveen mentioned, “Our current focus is to protect the bird species. As of now, we have no plans to act against these websites.”