Oscar is still considered the most coveted award in the world by moviemakers, although it is largely a platform for the propagation of the western North American worldview. Should the Oscar stage be a platform to celebrate accomplishments or be a forum to raise issues that the world needs to take notice of, this is a topic that has been up for debate for decades.
Even then, many filmmakers & actors choose to talk about socio-political issues that are close to their hearts.
This year, Indians who are tuned to revel in any form of recognition from the white western world rejoiced in the winning of not one, but two Oscars.
ELEPHANT WHISPERERS was one of them. The winning speech even though short, covered animal-human bonds, women empowerment & small filmmakers getting a chance to win such a big recognition.
While Indians are super-thrilled about this win, the filmmakers, Bomman & Bellie are getting all the recognition and felicitation they deserve, let’s listen to what the Elephants of India had to say…
“ELEPHANTS ARE TELLING HUMANS: LEAVE US ALONE”
Yes, you heard it right. They are asking humans to leave them alone. The biggest point everybody missed in the documentary is that these elephant calves had to be hand raised solely because humans gave their parents the gift of death by electrocution.
Here are some numbers:
According to the Ministry of Environment & Forest Information, just between 2019 – 2020 & 2021 – 2022, 198 elephants were killed by electrocution alone. These are reported cases only, there could be many cases that might have gone unreported. Special mention of death on railway tracks cannot be missed.
Many state governments have also accepted that there has been an increase in land owners running illegal homestays in eco-sensitive zones, thereby leading to illegal electric fencing, unscientific waste dumping & heavy liquor consumption.
The state governments are yet to take stringent and tangible actions on these encroachments, at times fearing a dip in tourism revenue.
Let’s take a quick look at how each of these points is harming Elephants as well as other wildlife species [Flora & Fauna].
- Illegal resorts/homestays – The mushrooming of illegal resorts/homestays is not merely an encroachment of forest land dedicated to animals but also further worsens the man-animal conflict. Rare plants/trees are axed unknowingly leading to insects, birds, and organisms going extinct disturbing the delicate natural ecological balance.
- Unscientific waste dumping & even relocating dogs to the forest instead of conducting ABC & ARV – Helps dogs thrive on garbage. Their pack behaviour can eventually lead to attacks on wildlife & spread of contagious diseases that could have been controlled in the cities through ABC & ARV.
- Overcrowding homestays – This doesn’t even need data as many places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Ladakh, Western Ghats, Joshimath, etc. are already showing mirror to mankind through floods, landslides & cloudbursts.
- Mindless tourism – Humans need not explore or visit every nook & corner of the world as casual irresponsible tourists. They are not entitled to do so. It is high time they understand their intrusive nature disturbs many species whose habitats are sensitive to nature.
- Liquor consumption in forests – I wanted to take this topic last as it is very important. Humans are capable of doing a lot of irrational things while being inebriated and this is a big danger to the lives of animals.
- For example: After Elephant Whisperers won the Oscar, 3 events occurred & very few media portals covered or even asked humans the right questions.
- A few inebriated tourists chased elephant calves Raghu & Ammu back to the forest & the forest department has been searching for them.
- Tourist inflow to see the elephants increased & has been making the elephants in the camp uncomfortable. Obviously, too many tourists mean new shops, more noise, and lots of irresponsible littering.
- Three more elephants died due to electrocution & the calves came to the camp for hand-raising.
- For example: After Elephant Whisperers won the Oscar, 3 events occurred & very few media portals covered or even asked humans the right questions.
All animal lovers are not activists & at times all activists are not animal lovers. I know this statement is hugely controversial, yet it is true. It is 2023, it is high time, animal lovers start raising their voices on forest encroachment, unscientific infrastructure development & dangers to wildlife.
A consistent effort must be made to review research reports, actively question the government & be the POLICE that animals need. An animal lover is empathetic & educated. All they have to be now is BRAVE & CONSISTENT in questioning as a CITIZEN rather than dumping this responsibility on NGOs & activists.
What can be done to fix this?
- Write to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change asking for immediate attention to strengthening Wildlife Protection Laws & Animal Cruelty Laws. This reform is long pending.
- Educate your family & friends about the need to curb mindless tourism just because they can afford it.
- Know the laws, spend time reading animal laws & raise your voice through government channels wherever injustice occurs or conviction doesn’t happen.
Oscar awards could have been the best platform to raise this issue & ask the Indian government to prioritize animals & strengthening their law & right to live. ALAS… the opportunity was missed.
I am wrapping this article with the final question from the ELEPHANTS…
IF YOU WANT US TO LEAVE YOU ALONE, NOT DESTROY YOUR CROPS OR ENTER YOUR PROPERTIES THEN WHY, WHY CAN’T YOU LEAVE US ALONE?
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO VISIT US, RUIN OUR HABITAT & ACT ENTITLED? … THINK HUMANS THINK.
