Wildlife conservation

Today, let me blog on a very important topic, wildlife conservation.

Throughout history, wildlife has suffered because of human beings and their activities. Increasingly efficient weapons, such as bows, rifles, and shotguns, enabled people to kill game with growing ease. With such weapons, hunters have killed off some species of animals. People also have cleared forests, drained swamps, and dammed rivers to clear the way for agriculture and industry. These activities have seriously harmed or destroyed large areas of plant and wildlife habitat. Human beings may also disrupt the natural processes of the habitats that remain. These disruptions affect the diversity and size of living populations in the habitats.

If people ignore the need for wildlife conservation, today's endangered species will soon become extinct. Many other species will also face extinction. If this happens, human beings will lose much of great value that cannot be replaced. Wildlife is important to people for four main reasons: (1) beauty, (2) economic value, (3) scientific value, and (4) survival value.

Beauty

Every kind of animal and plant differs from every other kind and thus contributes in a special way to the beauty of nature. Most people feel that such beauty enriches their life. It also heightens the enjoyment of camping and other forms of outdoor recreation.

Economic value

Wild species of animals and plants provide many valuable substances, such as wood and other plant products, fibres, meat and other foods, and skins and furs. The financial value of wild species is important to the economies of many nations. In industrialized nations, the recreational viewing of animals at zoos and wildlife refuges is also a source of revenue.

Scientific value

The study of wildlife provides valuable knowledge about various life processes. Such study has helped scientists understand how the human body functions and why people behave as they do. Scientists have also gained medical knowledge and discovered important medical products by studying wildlife. In addition, by observing the effect of environmental pollution on wild animals, scientists have learned how pollution affects human life.

Survival value

Every species of wildlife plays a role in helping maintain the balanced, living systems of Earth. These systems must continue to function if life is to survive. Thus, the loss of any species can threaten the survival of all life, including human beings.

Having said that, I will now proceed to elaborate on the methods of ensuring the conservation of wildlife.

Many species of wildlife are threatened because human beings have destroyed their habitats. For example, people have drained swamps and marshes and converted them into farmland. The wetland habitats that remain have been further degraded due to factors caused by human activity. These factors include the redirecting of surface water away from wetland sites, reduction of ground water levels, sedimentation, toxic chemicals, and isolation from other wetlands. Poor farming practices also may destroy land, or the spread of cities and industries may pave over former wildlife habitats. Pollution may poison the air, water, plants, and animals. To save wildlife habitats, people must control pollution and set aside areas in which wild animals and plants can survive.

An animal threatened by too much hunting can be protected by laws that forbid or regulate such killing. These laws may specify when a certain species may be hunted or how many of the species may be killed. Laws can also protect plants endangered by over collection. If an entire habitat requires protection, the area may be made a national park or wildlife refuge. In some cases, predatory animals that kill an endangered species must be controlled until the endangered animal has increased in numbers. On the other hand, a species may become too numerous. When this happens, the animal may threaten its own survival—or the survival of other species—by eating too much of the food supply. This problem has occurred with elk and hippopotamuses in national parks. The numbers of such a species must then be reduced, either by controlled hunting or by restoring its natural enemies where they have become scarce.

If a species can no longer survive in its natural environment, it may be raised in captivity and then released into a protected area. This method saved the Hawaiian goose. Likewise, conservationists hope to save the black-footed ferret. This small mammal once lived in the Great Plains, but its population declined sharply during the 1900's. Scientists captured all known ferrets in the 1980's and began breeding them in captivity. In 1991, they began releasing the ferrets into the wild, where these animals have established new breeding populations.

Public awareness also plays an important role in the conservation wildlife. The various animal welfare organizations can act as a platform to educate the public. If the community is educated correctly, they will not become litterbugs or illegal poachers of endangered animals. They will become responsible citizens and care for both the wildlife and the environment. Schools can also play a part in the raising the awareness of the public. They have their eyes on the people of the community at a young age and thus it is easier for the school authorities to instil this awareness on the conservation of wildlife as young people tend to be more receptive.

In conclusion, the conservation of wildlife is extremely important. It is also something that we, as responsible citizens should play a part in. Therefore, after reading this blog post, I hope that all of you can try, as far as possible to play a part in the conservation of wildlife.