Wildlife refers to the plants and animals that live in the wild. It can be found in various ecosystems like woods, forests, deserts, wetlands, plains, etc. Wildlife is vital to the balance of nature as it provides food, shelter, and other essential services to mankind. But with growing human population, there is a threat to the habitats and existence of wildlife around the world. The major threats to wildlife are hunting, poaching, pollution, climate change, and deforestation. Wildlife conservation is an important part of the environmental movement, as it focuses on protecting animal and plant species from extinction.
Human activities are the main causes for wildlife’s decline. With the expansion of agriculture, settlement, industrial and other developmental activities as well as mainly due to man’s greed, the number of wild animals has decreased tremendously. As a result, several animal species have already become extinct and many are on the verge of becoming so.
Besides this, wildlife is also in danger from natural hazards like floods, droughts, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and others. In addition, there are a few other factors that can affect wildlife which include, hunting and poaching, environmental pollution, habitat degradation, overhunting and overfishing, habitat fragmentation, unsustainable development and tourism.
The occurrence of invasive species from other countries is another major factor in the decline of wildlife. Invasive species can cause damage to native populations by taking over their habitat, introducing diseases and competing for resources. Wildlife is also in danger from global warming which causes climate change, which can lead to a rise in temperature, altering weather patterns, and changing the availability of resources.
It is also a concern that people do not take the responsibility of destroying and polluting wildlife habitats. This can lead to the destruction of their homes and natural habitats, which in turn can cause harm to the animals as well as humans.
Moreover, there is a need to educate people about the importance of preserving and conserving the wildlife. People must realize that a healthy environment is beneficial for everyone.
As the need for more and more housing, industry, infrastructure and transportation increases across the globe, it is becoming increasingly difficult for wildlife to survive in the wild. As a result, several animal and plant species are becoming extinct every day.
This is because, when the habitats of these animals and plants are destroyed, they cannot get what they need to survive. For example, the trees are removed to construct houses or set up industries, which in turn leaves wildlife without a place to live in. Similarly, the animals are hunted or poached for their meat, skin, horns, and other parts that are considered to be valuable. The animals are deprived of their natural habitat and the food they need to survive. This is why it becomes necessary to protect the wildlife in order to preserve the world’s biodiversity. The protection of wildlife is the responsibility of each individual and not just governments.