Shivamogga: Environmentalists sounded the alarm on the growing trend of wildlife exploitation on social media. They urged forest minister Eshwar B Khandre to set up a dedicated cybercell to tackle the issue.Nagaraj Koove, an environmentalist, wrote to the minister, highlighting the problem. “People are creating content at the expense of wildlife, often crossing ethical boundaries. They are capturing, harassing, and even hurting animals just to get a shot or a viral video,” he said.He pointed out that many content creators think they are supporting conservation, but they are actually spreading the wrong message. Cases of elephants being chased, leopards changing behaviour, and birds being disturbed are on the rise, he claimed.The proposed wildlife cybercell should monitor social media, take down exploitative content, and enforce strict laws against offenders. “It’s time to make a change and protect our wildlife,” Koove urged. Chikkamagaluru-based wildlife activist G Veeresh also highlighted the issue and requested the minister to act swiftly.
