NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, India's environment and forest minister has banned photography of the Great Indian Bustard, an endangered species here, during the breeding season. A statement issued by a ministry of the union ministry for environment and forests (MoEF) has warned that any photography in the natural breeding zones of these animals protected under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act will be charged and arrested. “Unethical photography during breeding season often acts as a constant source of disturbance to the bustards and disturbs breeding patterns,” the statement reads. The strict guidelines are likely to be in force from April to October, which is the whole range of the breeding period of the birds, which are ostrich like in appearance. “With the breeding season setting in, the respective sanctuary managements should issue caution notes to keep over-enthusiastic photographers at bay. This is extremely necessary for healthy breeding,” Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) expert Asad Rahmani said. The nesting sites for the Great Indian bustards are open grassy knolls and pastures in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
