The guidelines prohibit people from intruding into the habitats of these fast-disappearing birds. This essentially includes a ban on photographing them, particularly during breeding season that begins from April.
The guidelines state that “unethical photography during breeding season often acts as a constant source of disturbance to the bustards". Incidents of such photography have been reported in various grasslands.
Due to the lack of legislative enforcement and protective measures in core breeding areas, such direct threats to the Great Indian Bustard population continues unrestricted, the guidelines observed.
Sources pointed out that the guidelines will be in force for a six-month period from April to October that spans their breeding season. The birds are large and beautiful, thereby very tempting to the lens. But attempts to photograph them often cause enormous disturbance as their movement in breeding and nesting areas is restricted.
“With the breeding season setting in, the respective sanctuary managements should issue caution notes to keep over-enthusiastic photographers at bay", bird expert and director, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Asad Rahmani felt. Read the full report here.
Source: Pioneer News Service, The Pioneer, New Delhi.
