“We don’t own the planet Earth; we belong to it and we must share it with our wildlife.” – Steve Irwin
Every year on the 4th of December we celebrate Wildlife Conservation Day. This is an extremely important day since it aims at protecting and preserving the natural world and its inhabitants. It works and aims at spreading awareness about the protection of the flora and fauna of nature. In addition, the observance of this day aims to end the wildlife crimes that take place.
MEANING OF ‘WILDLIFE’ :
Now that we have known about Wildlife Conservation Day, there is a need for us to delve into what we actually mean and understand by the term ‘wildlife’. By wildlife, we mean undomesticated animal species which includes all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. It basically means the wild, that is, flora and fauna which lives independently of people in natural conditions.
HISTORY OF THE DAY :
The call for the conservation of wildlife began in the 1900s. At that time, the bison nearly became extinct, and the passenger pigeon disappeared. These two events introduced the public to the concept of extinction.
Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State of the USA, raised awareness regarding the conservation of wildlife. A call to action was put and awareness was raised and conservationists were engaged on the day, 4th of December in 2012. This day was celebrated as Wildlife Conservation Day and thereafter it has been celebrated every year on the very same day with the same views and aims to protect and conserve precious wildlife.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY :
The day acts as a facilitator to spread awareness and contribute towards the protection and conservation of wildlife, including both flora and fauna. It also brings to our notice the need to conserve endangered animals like rhinos, elephants, tigers and even birds like vultures. This global occasion provides an opportunity for everyone to get to know about wildlife and contribute towards the conservation of the species of wildlife. It spreads awareness towards illegal and immoral wildlife crimes like poaching, trading, trafficking and others. Therefore, this global occasion is laden with profuse significance.
When we save wildlife, we save ourselves - Collin O’Mara
HOW TO CELEBRATE THE DAY :
1. SPEAK FOR THE WILDLIFE - Speaking about a cause is a civic responsibility of everyone in a democracy. Raising awareness about the importance of endangered wild flora and fauna in an ecosystem is as important as the importance of drinking water for our bodies.
2. INFUSE NATURE INTO KID's LIVES - Today our kids spend an average of 40 hours a week on some screen. The closer they are to the screen, the less connected they are to nature. One hour of green time will bring one less hour of screen time - Collin O’Mara. Reducing screen time and increasing outdoor activities is the best thing a parent can do in the current scenario to save future wildlife. When we allow kids to spend most of their time outdoors like fishing, hiking, gardening, camping etc. we allow them to develop more compassion towards wildlife, and they will be less scared of the animals around. They will be more connected to nature and will always be attentive towards nature even if their profession is not so related to wildlife conservation as doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers etc.
3. DONATE TO ORGANISATIONS - Donating a part of your savings to charitable organisations will give you inner satisfaction and will help wildlife conservationists to work for the cause. You can donate to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
4. PLEDGE - On the 4th of December, you can take a pledge to take action against illegal poaching, preventing habitat loss, and protecting endangered as well as species that are in verse of extinction.
TYPES OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION:
IN-SITU CONSERVATION (WITHIN HABITAT) - This is achieved by protecting wild flora & fauna in nature itself.
a. HABITAT CONSERVATION - Destruction and loss of natural habitat is the single largest cause of wildlife loss. Human intervention converted billions of hectares of forests and grasslands into agricultural lands, pastures, settlement areas and developmental projects. It is very important for wildlife conservation.
b. RESTORATION - This involves restoring habitats that once existed but are now disrupted due to human intervention. This requires huge manpower, scientific knowledge, time and money. Difficult to achieve requires patience for years but once achieved it is a boon to us.
c. ENDANGERED SPECIES AND KEYSTONE SPECIES CONSERVATION - Endangered species are the ones which are in immediate danger of extinction if timely action is not taken. Keystone species are the ones which top the food chain and play crucial roles in sustaining the ecosystem. Conserving these two plays a vital role in wildlife conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) publishes the Red Data Book which includes a list of endangered plants and animals.
d. PREVENTING POACHING - Poaching is another threat to wildlife. The illegal trade of wildlife products by killing prohibited endangered animals is termed poaching. Despite the international ban on trading products from endangered species, smuggling of wildlife items like furs, hides, horns, tusks, live specimens and herbal products worth millions of dollars per year continues. The trading of such wildlife products is highly profitable for the poachers who just hunt this prohibited wildlife and smuggle it to other countries through a mafia. The cost of elephant tusks can go up to $100 per kg; the leopard fur coat is sold at $100,000 in Japan while bird catchers can fetch up to $10,000 for a rare hyacinth macaw, a beautiful coloured bird, from Brazil. The worst part of the story is that for every live animal that actually gets into the market, about 50 additional animals are caught and killed.
EX-SITU CONSERVATION (OUTSIDE HABITATS) - This is done by establishments of gene banks, seed banks, zoos, botanical gardens, culture collections etc. This ex-situ conservation method varies with the region's requirements. These will prevent extinction and will be very helpful for our generations to witness the distinct flora and fauna of our nature.
CURRENT STATUS
The sad reality is that the world's most beloved, beautiful, and fascinating species are being slaughtered by vast and dangerous criminal networks willing to go to any length to get what they want. And what they want are animal parts and products that are worth a lot of money for reasons no sane person can fathom.
There are numerous synthetic substitutes for things like ivory and fur that do not necessitate the brutal slaughter of an animal, not to mention how difficult it is to distinguish between high-quality synthetic substitutes and the real thing. And do you mean to tell me that there is no other dish on the planet that tastes as good as shark fin soup and that we really have to mutilate live sharks before throwing them back into the ocean to die? To cut a long story short, there is simply no excuse for the number of animals poached yearly.
And it's not just the animals who are in pain. Park rangers are routinely killed by poachers they are attempting to stop, and the local economies of entire towns and villages suffer tremendously when enough wildlife is wiped out to render them irrelevant as wildlife tourism destinations. Law enforcement efforts are hampered by corruption and intimidation. Unscreened wildlife and wildlife parts raise the possibility of human health pandemics like bird flu. Everyone involved is in pain.
Here are some facts about the species that are currently designated as Critically Endangered
1. Western Lowland Gorilla
This species is native to Africa and lives in the most remote and dense rainforests, so its exact number is unknown. This species' decline is due to poaching and disease, and it will most likely take nearly a century to recover.
2. Sumatran Elephant
This species is endangered due to habitat threats, with a global population of less than 3,000.
3. Amur Leopard
This rare subspecies of leopard is native to Asia and is also called the Korean leopard and the Far East leopard.
4. Black Rhino
In the 20th century, the black rhino population decreased by 98%. Though still critically endangered, this species is up to 5,600 today from a bleak 2,500 due to efforts to deter poaching.
5. Yangtze Finless Porpoise
The Yangtze River was once home to two species of dolphins, the finless porpoise and the Baiji dolphin. The Baiji dolphin is fully extinct, and less than 2,000 of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise remains.
Wildlife Conservation Projects
Thirty Hills
WWF and partners are securing protection for a critical rainforest in Sumatra. Thirty Hills is one of the last places on Earth where elephants, tigers and orangutans coexist in the wild.
Wildlife Crime Technology Project
Over four and a half years, Google. org-funded Wildlife Crime Technology Project (WCTP) provided WWF a platform to innovate and test a number of innovative technologies, many of which have the potential to change the course of the global fight against wildlife crime.
Stopping Ghost Gear
Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, commonly referred to as ghost gear, contributes significantly to the problem of plastic pollution in our ocean. These gillnets, traps, and other types of fishing gear are particularly harmful because they can continue to catch target and non-target species indiscriminately for years. This impacts important food resources as well as endangered species. Because of this, ghost gear has been coined as the most deadly form of marine plastic debris, damaging vital ocean habitats, aquatic life, and livelihoods.
Environmental DNA
By taking samples of soil, water, snow, or even air, we can access the environmental DNA (or eDNA) that animals naturally shed—like hair, skin, and faeces—as they move through their environment. DNA can then be used to detect endangered species, study the impacts of climate change, alert us to invisible threats such as pathogens, and assess the overall health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Conserving Wildlife and Enabling Communities in Namibia
Namibia is home to an array of wildlife, from ostriches and zebras roaming the gravel plains to penguins and seals chilling in the Atlantic currents. It was the first African country to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution. With WWF’s help, the government has reinforced this conservation philosophy by empowering its communities with the right to manage and benefit from the country’s wildlife through communal conservancies.
WAYS FOR PROTECTION
The Earth's population exceeds 7 billion people. Imagine if each of us committed to doing something – no matter how small – to protect wildlife every day. When we all work together, even minor actions can have a big impact. Here are some ways you can help:
1. Adopt : There's something for everyone, from wild animals to wild places. Adopt an animal from a wildlife conservation organisation such as the World Wildlife Fund with your classmates (WWF). Symbolic adoptions aid in the funding of organisations.
2. Volunteer : Donate your time instead of money if you don't have any. Volunteer programmes are available at many organisations and zoos. You can help clean up beaches, save wild animals, and educate visitors.
3. Visit : Wild animals can be found in zoos, aquariums, national parks, and wildlife refuges. Experts will teach you more about our planet's species. Get up close and personal with some of the most amazing creatures on the planet.
4. Donate : Pay the recommended entry fee when visiting accredited zoos and nature reserves in your area. Your contributions aid in the preservation of these vital conservation areas.
5. Raise your voice : Share your enthusiasm for wildlife conservation with your loved ones. Inform your friends about how they can assist you. Solicit pledges from everyone you know to do whatever they can to put an end to wildlife trafficking.
6. Buy With Caution : You can make wildlife trafficking less profitable by not purchasing products made from endangered animals or their parts.
7. Take part : Trash is not only unsightly; it is also hazardous. Plastic rings can trap the heads of birds and other animals. Fish can become entangled in nets. Trash also pollutes natural resources of everyone. Do your part by putting trash where it belongs.
8. Reuse and recycle : Find new uses for items you already own. If you can't reuse something, recycle it. The Minnesota Zoo encourages visitors to recycle cell phones in order to reduce the demand for animals.
9. Restore : According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, habitat destruction is the primary threat to 85 per cent of all threatened and endangered species. You can help to mitigate this threat by planting native trees, restoring wetlands, and cleaning up local beaches.
10. Join : Find an organisation that speaks to your passion, whether it's protecting natural habitats or preventing wildlife trafficking, and get involved. Join the club. Keep up to date. Support the organisation of your choice actively.
REFERENCES:
● BOOK BY KAUSHIK & KAUSHIK- PERSPECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
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