Saving Species
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Project Tiger, which was initiated in 1973, has resulted in the increase of the big cat population to 3,682.
- Much has been said about the importance of wildlife
conservation, considering the varied roles it plays from maintaining the health
of the ecosystem to protecting endangered species to ensuring the food chain,
but the result is pitiable, thanks to human’s greed and indifferent attitude.
As per the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) 2024 Living Planet Report, the
population of monitored global wildlife has declined by a staggering 73 per
cent over the last 50 years (1970-2020), with freshwater species leading the
decline at 85 per cent, followed by terrestrial (69%) and marine (56%). The WWF
also mentioned the decline of three vulture species – white-rumped vulture,
Indian vulture, and slender-billed vulture – in India. This trend is due to
various factors, including habitat loss, climate change, disease, pollution,
invasive species, etc., it stated while expressing concern over the threat this
phenomenon can cause to humanity and calling for a collective effort to tackle
the crisis. The good news is wildlife populations can be revived through
conservation efforts, as seen in the positive outcome of India’s flagship
programmes, Project Tiger and Project Elephant.
-
- According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, the Project Tiger, which was initiated in 1973, has resulted in the
increase of the big cat population to 3,682. It went on to state that the tiger
population witnessed a steady increase from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018. The
wild elephant population has also increased from 26,786 in 2018 to 29,964 in
2022, which reflects India’s commitment to conserving wildlife. This success
story is a result of the government’s proactive approach, community engagement,
strict protection measures and expansion of protected areas like wildlife
sanctuaries and community reserves. Now, similar measures should be taken up to
arrest the decline in the population of many wildlife species. More
importantly, extensive awareness campaigns about the need for maintaining
ecological balance and involvement of the general population in the
conservation effort are a must. Perhaps a unique approach may be necessary for
the tribal communities who refuse to give up their hunting practice. For
instance, in Nagaland, many continue to hunt animals and birds, including the
endangered ones, despite restrictions amid dwindling wildlife. Many have been
penalised for offences under The Wildlife (Protection) Act but that hasn’t stopped
people from hunting, as is evident in the visuals of killed animals and birds
being shared on social media platforms. People in remote regions could be
either ignorant about the existing law or see hunting prohibition as a threat
to their livelihood, making it difficult for the law enforcement agencies to
take strict action against the offenders. In a state like Nagaland, perhaps, a
unique approach like strictly banning hunting during the breeding season and
providing a window period for hunting may prove more effective in controlling
the declining wildlife population than a blanket ban throughout the year.
