To her fair work did nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
-William Wordsworth.
Nature is very clear and full of miracles, it maintains and manages each and everything (living & non-living) on this planet earth very wisely, nicely, smoothly and systematically in course of time, many plants and animals originated and other vanishes as a natural phenomenon. Presently the supreme creature ruling the planet and manipulating the ecosystem deliberately or ignorantly as per his own will to fulfill his selfish and short sighted desire. Since immemorial time, man has been pursuing such activities to option his comforts but mostly to achieve his desires on unscientific pattern without thinking of the consequences. Wildlife is one such victim which is suffering a lot.
Nature has been our best companion and neighbors since time immemorial and wildlife is one such which plays a pivotal part of it. It is worth mentioning to eulogize the importance of wildlife on this occasion of wildlife week which is celebrated on 1st week of October. Wildlife provide rich heritage and add to our country assets in the form of tourisms, recreational and aesthetics values and in the field of professional course such as scientific study, wildlife photography, etc,.
Nagaland is one such richly blessed State with different kinds of wildlife species. Some important species such as hollock gibbon, hornbill, blyth tragopan, etc, are on the verge of extinct and many are in the endangered lists. Since generation they are being hunted for fun and pleasure due to which their numbers has dwindled greatly, another main factor responsible for the decrease of wildlife species in the state is due to excessive felling and logging of trees leading to degradation and fragmentation of forest land. A few decades ago we find the elegance of wildlife presence as we step out in the forest, village, town and city and even around our house compound. But in present scenario, animals and birds are hardly seen and we rarely hear the sound of birds chirping in the woods which is a very sad and inevitable truth but due to the unscientific management in the past, deforestation, merciless and reckless hunting’s, smugglings, greed for making easy money, illiteracy, poverty, tremendous growth in the human population and simultaneously the unawareness among the people about the benefits of wildlife have depleted the wildlife-population, bringing it to an alarming stage.Nature has gifted a rich heritage of wildlife to our country and we are very fortunate in this field but today, several species of our wildlife are facing the threat of extinction in such a state of affairs; the country must earnestly take appropriate steps to increase them at the least up to optimum level. For this; protection, prevention and propagation are indispensable. Though National and International rules and regulations in the field are operative, no doubt; more strictness is required in this regard, especially from the functional point of view. ‘To save Wildlife is to Save our Country’, as it is a renewable natural heritage in bountifull, beautiful and glorious forms. It is the need of the hour and we must realize it before it becomes too late and the wildlife reaches the stage of annihilation at which neither nature nor the coming generation will forgive us. Particularly educationist, intellectual and governing bodies have to come very forward to bring a revolution of awareness among the masses to conserve the wildlife so that the human race may live in a healthier environment leading to eco balance. Love and care of wildlife, should be a part and parcel of life and a sense of these things has to be instilled in every persons mind; otherwise, the day is not far when the whole system be ruined, and all our efforts’ will go in vain.
Forestry Graduate Association of Nagaland (FGAN)
