Wildlife traditionally refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans.
Moving backwards to the ancient time and the time before that, scientists have proven and also found that there were immense number of species present on earth.
However, Extinctions have become a natural part of a planet’s evolution in history. More than 99% of the 4 million species that have evolved on earth are gone.
At least 900 species have gone extinct in the last five centuries.(Source~Extinctions.
A documentary called our planet on Netflix showed, in tropical forest , Particularly a rainforest which is the richest habitat on earth, exactly the number of species in this region is unknown however it runs into millions and new ones are discovered every week, example clouded leopard.
Although they contain 7% of world area, jungles play a vital role in the health of the planet. Wildlife is having its own significance because of maintaining the ecosystem and the cycle of living creatures. From seed to dirt, trees are again an important element of the landscape for wildlife. A tree’s life cycle moves from seed to seedling to tree a snag to decaying to dirt.
Along the pathway, Wildlife and other plants are depending on tree. Trees outside of woodland enhance wild life by providing resources such as structural cover and shelter and a range of microclimate not present in the wider-farm landscape.
In spite of having such large number of benefits, why does wild life is in danger?
Answer to this can be in varied forms, wildlife on planet Earth is under siege from all sides, facing down habitat loss and impact of climate change. Some of the biggest threats to wildlife include illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution etc.
Illegal wildlife trade:
This is driven by higher profit margins and in many cases, the high prices paid for rare species. Vulnerable wild animals are pushed further to the age of extinction when nature can’t replenish their stocks to keep up with the rate of human consumption.
Over the years illegal wildlife trade has emerged as a form of Organized Transnational Crime that has threatened the existence of many wild species across the globe. In India, it includes diverse products including mongoose hair; snake skins; Rhino horn; Tiger and Leopard claws, bones, skins, whiskers; Elephant tusks; deer antlers; shahtoosh shawl; turtle shells; musk pods; bear bile; medicinal plants; timber and caged birds such as parakeets, mynas, munias etc.
A large part of this trade is meant for the International market. The only solution is to stop all illegal wildlife trade that has threatened and even pushed many species towards extinction. Towards this TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network and a joint programme of WWF, the global conservation organization and IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, established in 1976, works closely with the National and the State Governments and various agencies to help study, monitor and influence action to curb illegal wildlife trade and bring wildlife trade within sustainable levels.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a recognized health hazard for man and domestic animals. Although industrial air pollutants have been known to cause sickness and death of the latter for over 100 years, little attention has been paid to their importance in the decline of wildlife.
This paper reviews the existing information on the effects of industrial air pollutants on vertebrate wildlife. Air pollution have had a worldwide effect on both wild birds and wild mammals, often causing marked decreases in local animal populations.
The major effects of industrial air pollution on wildlife include direct mortality, debilitating industrial-related injury and disease, physiological stress, anaemia, and bioaccumulation. Some air pollutants have caused a change in the distribution of certain wildlife species.
The major effects of industrial air pollution on wildlife include direct mortality, debilitating industrial-related injury and disease, physiological stress, anaemia, and bioaccumulation. Some air pollutants have caused a change in the distribution of certain wildlife species.
Climate Change
Elizabeth Colbert in her book the sixth extinction. Says that “It is estimated that one third of all reef building corals, a third of all freshwater molluscs, a third of sharks and rays, a quarter of all mammals, a fifth of all reptiles, and sixth of all birds are headed towards oblivion.”
47% of mammals and 23% of birds on the IUCN red list of threatened species have been negatively affected by climate change.
A recent review of the scientific literature suggests, in one of the first such attempts at 20 find the number of species whose populations have already been affected by climate change, a collaborative research found out that 700 bird and mammals pieces were affected by climate change.
What’s the need of the hour?
Affirming that climate change is not a future threat anymore, Watson called for improving assessments of the impacts of climate change on species right now.
“We need to communicate this to wider public and we need to ensure key decisions makers know that something significant needs to happen now to stop species going extinct,” he added.
Since climate change is going to get worse, the world leaders need to reduce carbon emissions in and limit global temperature rise to 2°C. Nearly 200 countries committed to do their bit in 2016 Paris climate agreement.
For Watson, “the big thing” is “not making climate change a future threat, but prioritising climate-smart actions now”.
Species Invasion
An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. Invasive species can cause great economic and environmental harm to the new area.
Invasive species can harm both the natural resources in an ecosystem as well as threaten human use of these resources. An invasive species can be introduced to a new area via the ballast water of oceangoing ships, intentional and accidental releases of aquaculture species, aquarium specimens or bait, and other means.
Invasive species are capable of causing extinctions of native plants and animals, reducing biodiversity, competing with native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats. This can result in huge economic impacts and fundamental disruptions of coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems.
These are some of the primary reasons due to which wildlife experiences loss.
However, solutions to all these issues are very necessary in order to maintain ecosystem, wild diversity.
Following solutions can be undertaken by the government as well as citizens in order to conserve wildlife.
Government officials should make strict laws in order to maintain the natural habitat of wildlife.
Officials should also undertake steps in order to control the climate because this has the most crucial effects on wildlife.
There should be restriction on tourism on certain extent. And should also regularly keep on check the everyday activities.
Strict laws should be made on wildlife trading for example stopping the trading of various parts of the animals.
There should be prohibition of bringing invasive species from foreign environment and putting them into another environment where the domestic species gets disturbed.
Alternative method rather than animal testing should be undertaken because more than hundred millions of species have gone extinct due to animal testing.
Well some of the task should also be followed by the citizens like keeping the surroundings clean in order to provide a suitable environment for the animals and plants.
“We don’t own the planet we belong to it, And we must share it with our Wildlife”.
