Wildlife refers to all living creatures that grow or live in a wild environment free from human interference. This includes plants as well as animals. It is a major part of the natural world that provides boons to people like food, medicinal value, scientific research opportunities and esthetics.
Earlier, the number of wildlife was quite high, but with increasing expansion in the fields of agriculture, settlement, industry and other developmental activities and largely due to human greed, the animal population started declining. Several species of animals have already become extinct while many others are on the verge of becoming so. This is why wildlife conservation has become so important now.
Several governments as well as non-government agencies are taking steps for the protection of wildlife. They are implementing different wildlife protection laws to safeguard the animals and their natural habitat. However, these efforts go in vain if the people don’t understand the importance of wildlife.
In order to make wildlife a national resource, it is essential to educate people about its benefits and significance. This is the only way that they will support these efforts and protect wild animals from being hunted and killed for their meat, bones, fur, skin, teeth, horns, hair, etc. It is also important to educate people on how wildlife can be beneficial to them and their livelihood.
Wildlife can be found in all the ecosystems of the earth including deserts, woods, rainforests, plains and meadows. It is vital for the balance of nature and the preservation of our planet. In addition to this, wildlife plays an important role in pollination and seed dispersal. Without these services, many of the world’s crops would not be able to grow.
Billions of humans, both in developed and developing countries, rely on wild plants and animals for food, energy, medicines, building materials, recreation and much more. The accelerating global biodiversity crisis, with millions of species facing extinction, threatens these important contributions to our daily lives.
The emergence of new diseases, climate change, water pollution and over hunting are some of the threats to the wildlife. Some of the threats are more serious than others. Those species that are confined to islands or those that are isolated in a small area face greater risks of being hunted or wiped out entirely by predators.
Besides protecting the animals, it is essential to provide them with a safe home. This can be done by ensuring that their natural habitat is protected and the animals are not harmed or disturbed in any way. In addition to this, it is essential to ensure that all the resources of nature are used in an environmentally and developmentally wise manner. This will help the animals and their natural habitat to thrive and at the same time it will benefit the economy as well. It is important to note that both economic and ecological growth should go hand in hand. The exploitation of natural resources should be done carefully so that the wildlife can thrive as well.