Under the influence of social media, the natural lives of many rare animal and plant species are being “disturbed” by tourists, curious onlookers, and… professional photographers. Experts even suggest that the rarer the species, the greater the risks they face.
From the Case of the Capercaillie
The Capercaillie is well-known throughout Scotland for its giant size and striking plumage. They have a fan-like black tail and are particularly fond of dancing exuberantly during the breeding season. This humorous creature now has only about 530 individuals left in the wild, most of which “reside” in Cairngorms National Park.
The private and peaceful life of the Capercaillie has been unexpectedly… disrupted in recent years as more people become aware of their beauty. Despite the “no disturbance” regulations during the breeding season (which lasts from March to August each year), many birdwatchers and photographers still flock to Cairngorms to… “sneak a peek” at male Capercaillies displaying; or attempt to capture footage and photographs of a bird that is on the brink of extinction.
In the spring of 2022, 17 people were caught trying to approach the “lek” – the display area during the “mating season” of the Capercaillie. That same year, surveillance cameras even recorded a birdwatcher chasing away six Capercaillies from their breeding site. This man was arrested but was quickly released afterward with… a warning.
Ms. Carolyn Robertson, Director of the Cairngorms Capercaillie Conservation Project, expressed concern that human presence has increased stress levels for the Capercaillie, causing them to avoid returning to breeding sites for many days afterward.
“Any disruption, no matter how small, can make a difference in whether the birds breed or not,” Ms. Carolyn stated, emphasizing that human disturbances are a real disaster for this already sparse bird population.
The director of the Scottish Capercaillie conservation program noted: Preventing enthusiasts from seeking out and photographing Capercaillies is a significant challenge. “When people take pictures and post them online, the posts receive thousands of likes. When we request they be removed, they disagree, as there have been too many… compliments.”
Social media – in this regard – has become a new threat to rare animal species worldwide.
… To the Tragedies of Nature
A recent article published in the journal Science of The Total Environment highlighted the negative impacts of social media on biodiversity.
According to this report, posting images of rare animal and plant species, even disclosing their exact locations online, has created real-life “frenzies.” Hundreds of people have flocked to designated locations, employing “unethical” methods such as playing bird calls or using bait… to attract species just to… film and photograph them for personal use.
Robert Davis, the author of the article, analyzed: “Never in human history has information been shared with so many people so quickly. This creates tremendous pressure on nature.”
Enthusiasts gathering to photograph an endangered bird species in wetlands in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China. (Photo: NurPhoto/Getty Images).
Experts believe that many species have fallen into tragedy when facing this new wave of threats. This is the case for the green-headed songbird population, which is only found in a small area of Jiangxi Province, China. Due to the influx of photographers, this endangered species has altered its nesting habits.
A similar situation has been observed with the whimbrel in Shetland (Scotland) and the Capercaillie, as mentioned above. In August of this year, a photographer was fined over £1,600 for… disturbing a nesting European honey buzzard in Wales.
Massacres for Likes on TikTok is the title of a shocking article published in The Guardian in mid-July. The article reported on the hunting and killing of millions of migratory birds each year in Lebanon. Many poachers have posted clips of bird massacres on TikTok just to… gain likes.
In 2008, a white-crowned sparrow, native to North America and rarely seen in Europe, attracted a large number of birdwatchers to a garden in Cley, North Norfolk. (Photo: David Tipling/Universal Images Group/Getty Images).
Not only animals, plant species are also seriously threatened by social media. Belinda, a biologist in Scotland, cited: “When images of a rare orchid in bloom are posted, it immediately raises the risk of them being damaged, even… disappearing in nature.”
For instance, the orchid known as Queen Sheba takes up to ten years to bloom. To protect it from “hunters,” authorities have had to install fences, equip cameras, and deploy security forces.
“The rarer it is, the more people want to see it in person. Therefore, just one small action, even you alone can push rare species closer to the brink of extinction,” Belinda lamented.
Using Social Media Correctly for Conservation
James Lowen, a nature writer in Norfolk (USA), believes that: “There needs to be a cautious and reasonable approach to posting images of rare flora and fauna online.”
Recent discoveries of the Norfolk butterfly, believed to be extinct, and the “Holy Grail” orchid in Britain have created significant public excitement. However, their exact locations have been kept secret.
Lowen himself removed the section on the Capercaillie from the latest edition of his book 52 Weeks in the Wild to minimize human impact on this beautiful woodland bird.
A warning sign advising visitors to stay away from nesting areas in Thornham, Norfolk, England. (Photo: David Tipling/Universal Images Group/Getty Images).
Meanwhile, the Cairngorms Capercaillie Conservation Project has even sought to harness the power of social media to… save this species. In 2023, the project launched the “Lek It Be” campaign, urging people to stop seeking out Capercaillies or at least limit posting photos on social media platforms. During this time, the project even shared a video depicting two men attempting to approach the Scottish Capercaillie in a prohibited area.
“Our goal is not to shame them but to develop a social norm,” the project director stated.
This measure has initially yielded positive signals, with the number of birdwatchers/photographers decreasing by up to 55% during the 2024 breeding season.
