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Owners and users of drones could no longer use the device to take photographs of wildlife at the scenic Qinghai Lake, the largest inland lake in China. The ban, made by the lake's administrator, was caused by a public outcry after a local daily reported that use of the drone scared sleeping swans.
The drone flew only a few centimeters away from the heads of the sleeping bird, causing the swans to fly away shocked. The incident scared the avian that the number of swans dramatically dipped after that, reported Xihai Metropolis Daily.
Smartdrone reported that almost 300 swans were perched on the lake's Quanwan Bay when one photographer used a drone to take pictures. In the ensuing online debate, some people blamed DJI, maker of drones that are easy to maneuver. But Yin Yuping, commentator of Nanning Radio, pointed out that the threat to the birds comes from people, not drones.
Although He Yubang, director of the Qinghai Lake National Reserve Administration, debunked the Xihai report that the incident caused the decline in number of swans, which he blamed on weather and climate change, he nevertheless agreed that the use of drones disturb local wildlife.
The administration then posted warnings in the area that the photographers must keep a distance of 500 meters away from the animals. Found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the lake hosts over 100,000 birds such as swans, gulls, ducks and geese.
He stressed that the birds are also very sensitive to the cold and winter weather that keeps on changing. Birds scarred by drones are especially vulnerable during the mating season which could result in the birds failing to tend their eggs.
To ensure photographers and visitors comply with the new rules, the administration deployed more patrols around the lake. The patrols would not only watch out for drones but also visitors who use the horns in their vehicles and firecrackers to scare the birds and take good photos of the avian in mid-air flight.
