Indiscriminate killing of wildlife

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Many people dislike unnecessary killing of animals. Human, animal and plant are all important elements of the natural environment. But humans are cruelly destroying plants and animals and thereby creating a dangerous situation for us all. The destruction of forests and other habitats is causing the extinction of various plants and animals every day. These losses are particularly sever in the areas of tropical forest which cover only 7.0 per cent of the surface of the globe, but provide the living space for between 50 per cent and 80 per cent of all our wildlife. Many wild animals and birds such as pandas, bears, tigers, alligators, whales, wolves, eagles, falcons, kites and buzzards are faced with the threat of extinction today. Many animals die of starvation due to draught, cold and various other natural climates. Their declines have been accelerated by the destruction of their feeding and nesting places, by the collection of eggs, and above all by the widespread use of chemicals and pesticides which enter their food chains leading to sterility and mass deaths. Hunting of birds and animals is another cause of their extinction. Man kills birds for food and feathers. In fact, indiscriminate killing of animals have already put many animal species to extinction or near extinction. Destruction of natural habitual ads to the misery of the animals and many are forced to leave their dens for unsafe living. Displacement is often accompanied by scarcity of food and enhanced danger of being hunted. These displaced animals are exposed to many new dangers posed by man and other predator animals. We know that all species are important for maintaining ecological balance. If one is lost, the whole natural environment changes. In order to protect the environment from being spoilt, we should therefore protect our wildlife. The good news is that many countries are now taking action to protect their endangered wildlife. We definitely support the proposition that government of our country should enact more strict laws to protect wildlife. Many scientists and researchers have studied wildlife extinction and their effect and our eco via system. Animals and other living species, be it trivial, are often very important for ecological balance. Different species of animal maintain a systematic balance in the wilderness, elimination of a number of species may result into atrophy system. Conservationists are trying to create awareness among people about wildlife conservation. Scientists are warning people of the grave consequences and government is also coming up to protect wildlife species. UNESCO has declared the Sundarbans as World Heritage site. If we understand why people kill wildlife, we will better understand the issue of conservation. Firstly- wildlife killing was a way of life in most primitive societies. Many agrarian and backward societies still view wildlife as sources of food. Secondly -predator animals are viewed as security threat to people and their livestock. Birds, rodents and other creating animals often damage their harvest. Thirdly-poachers kill elephants and rhinos and take away their ivory task. Ivory jewelries and ivory inlaid boxes have a lucrative market in the Far East, especially in Japan. Awareness campaign and laws against killing, selling and trading will help to protect wildlife. For example, conservationist campaigns in the west throughout the 1980's have effectively reduced the use of expensive fashionable fur jackets once popular among women. In the face of international criticism, Japan government has banned whale killing and selling of its meat. Government should not only enact rules to stop killing animals, but also ban illegal trading of animals' meat, skin and tasks. Laws should be enforced strictly and conservationist organisations can be used as ally in their enforcement. George Haycock, author of several books on wildlife, writes: Mankind must develop a concern for wild creatures and determination that these wide species will not perish". We should save the earth's wild creatures to save ourselves. To be kind to animals is to be kind to mankind. (The writer is Librarian of the BGMEA Institute of Fashion and Technology and can be reached at email: atik@bift.info)