Environmentalists Call for Action Against Wildlife Abuse on Social Media
Environmental activists in Shivamogga have raised serious concerns about the increasing exploitation of wildlife on social media platforms. They are demanding immediate government intervention to address this disturbing trend.
Growing Problem of Wildlife Harassment for Content
Nagaraj Koove, a prominent environmentalist, recently wrote to Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre about this issue. He described how content creators are crossing ethical boundaries in their pursuit of viral videos.
"People are creating content at the expense of wildlife," Koove explained. "They are capturing, harassing, and even hurting animals just to get a dramatic shot or a popular video."
He noted that many creators mistakenly believe they are promoting conservation when their actions actually spread harmful messages about wildlife interaction.
Specific Examples of Wildlife Disturbance
Koove provided concrete examples of the problem. He mentioned cases where elephants are being chased by people seeking footage. He described how leopards are changing their natural behaviors due to constant human interference.
Bird populations are also suffering significant disturbances from these activities. The environmentalist claimed these incidents are becoming more frequent across the region.
Proposed Solution: Wildlife Cybercell
The activists propose establishing a dedicated wildlife cybercell within the forest department. This specialized unit would have several important functions:
- Monitor social media platforms for exploitative wildlife content
- Take down harmful videos and posts that show animal abuse
- Enforce existing wildlife protection laws against offenders
- Create awareness about ethical wildlife photography and videography
"It's time to make a change and protect our wildlife," Koove emphasized in his appeal to the minister.
Support from Other Activists
Chikkamagaluru-based wildlife activist G Veeresh has also highlighted this growing problem. He joined the call for immediate action from forest authorities.
Veeresh stressed the urgency of addressing social media-driven wildlife exploitation before it causes irreversible damage to animal populations and their habitats.
Both activists agree that without proper monitoring and enforcement, the situation will continue to worsen as more people seek online fame through wildlife content.
