Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A message on conservation

Staff Reporter

Films on wildlife screened at two-day event in the city

NATURALIST SPEAKS: World-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall (left) and creative director of Icon films United Kingdom, Harry Marshall, interacting with journalists in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI : Animals including pets can convey their feeling to humans through growls, wagging the tail or other such behaviour, but only a few can understand these gestures, said Jane Goodall, world renowned primatologist, who is in the city to spread her message on conservation.

How animals convey their feelings was best conveyed by her through her film, "When animals talk."

Answering a question during an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday, Ms. Goodall felt that many of the animals would be in no position to keep pace with the changes (in the environment). She, along with wildlife filmmakers Shekar Dattatri, Harry Marshall, Laura Marshall and Jeremy Bristow, answered a volley of questions from the journalists in the city on Tuesday.

Asked about how she developed an intimacy with the chimpanzees in the wild, she said that it took her many years to get close to these wonderful denizens of the wild. Asked to explain her relationship with the chimps, she said the relationship could not be explained in words.

Answering another question on whether wildlife films had an impact on policy makers, Mr. Dattatri said at least on two occasions the authorities concerned had taken positive measures.

A few years ago a section of people in Gujarat indulged in killing whale sharks. A Delhi-based production house Riverbank Studios, filmed it and brought the issue to the fore and this forced the Government to put an end to the slaughter.

Another case was his film on Kudremukh national park, where iron ore was mined. His short film "Mindless Mining" was used as evidence in a case, based on which the Supreme Court subsequently ordered the closure of the mine.

Speaking about the tiger population in the country, Mr Dattatri said: "The situation is really pathetic. The Government establishment is fooling itself as well the people. There is no proper scientific auditing done in our national parks and sanctuaries on tiger population, utilising the services of scientists," he said.

The two-day `Wildscreen' film festival is jointly organised by British High Commission, British Council, Ecotone, Naturequest and Sathyam Cinemas.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu