Madhya pradesh: Birds

The shooting of Hollywood movie Singularity starring statuesque Bipasha Basu opposite Abhay Deol and Hollywood hunk Josh Hartnett at Orchha has courted controversy. Situated in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, the historic place is abode to some 60 vultures whose numbers are depleting. Following the shooting vulture experts have cried foul in the state.

They have yet to figure out how the government allowed the production crew to shoot at a time when the nesting period of vultures was on. Reportedly, one chick even died as a result of the film production with the shoot being held on the top of the cenatophs, right next to ‘nest 7G’. At the time of shooting that went on for over a week some 30 nests were there in the area. In India, vultures that have been included in Schedule I are endangered species. Also, they are dying fast. Of the estimated eighty lakh vulture population in the country only a few thousand have survived. The birds have been worst hit in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Birds that are under threat include slender–billed and long–billed vulture. 

To save them from further extinction the Madhya Pradesh government has taken many positive steps like setting up conservation centres. One such captive breeding centre is being set up in Kerwa area on a five-acre. Though the government seems to be serious in arresting the fast decline in vulture population but its handling of the Orchha saga has not been satisfactory.  Some vulture experts strongly feel that the production crew should have not been allowed in the area that too at the time of nesting.

But officials brushed off their concerns saying that experts were consulted. Vulture expert Dr Vibhu Prakash told TSI: “Vultures can stay anywhere. They are least disturbed by activities and other things.” However, many experts are not ready to buy his argument.

They pointed out to the fact that during the shooting vultures came to their nests only four times whereas in normal days they visit 20 times. They felt that the shooting will have a long impact on the vultures' living style. They requested the government to make sure that the environment in which the vultures grow should not be disturbed by any human activities.

Dr. Amita Kanaujia, associate professor Lucknow University and member of UP committee set to preserve vultures, said: “Though the government is spending crores of rupees in saving the vultures but it is not preserving the birds' environment in which they grow. If we pay attention to this then a lot of birds could be saved. And this can be done without forking out money.” Are the government officials in MP convinced?