World Wildlife Day 2020
On March 3rd, 2020, we celebrated the World Wildlife Day with the theme “Sustaining all life on Earth” while urging everyone to ‘Do One Thing Today to help conserve the world’s biodiversity.’
How did you celebrate this day? What is that one thing that you did to conserve biodiversity? Do you value wildlife? How do you interact with flora and fauna?
Reflecting: Biodiversity loss- My Village
Reflecting on the significance of this day takes me back to my formative years, growing up in the village, walking to school through a thick forest rich in biodiversity. We could come across different types of snakes and birds. We crisscrossed with hares, dik-diks, and porcupines.
Zebras at the Tsavo National Park- Enviro Wild
Talk of the wild fruits, they were in plenty. We did not struggle to locate them. We could find them in our backyards “Lalyek, lamaek, Sundop koko,” to name but a few in my mother tongue. You can hardly find any of these fruits now. They have disappeared. Where did they go? Extinction?
From my experience, the disappearance of such animal and plant species is directly linked to anthropogenic activities. Clearing forested areas for agriculture use, livestock grazing, charcoal burning, timber harvesting, logging, and land for settlement are some of the primary agents of biodiversity loss.
As the population grew and the needs of my village people went up, the more the pressure inserted on the natural resources. They destroyed natural habitats, in the process, forcing animals to migrate, others dying while crushing rare plants.
What should we do to conserve wildlife?
Thus, humans should be more concerned about the loss of biodiversity. Having seen the slow but drastic change in the composition of plants and animals, I worry for future generations not being able to see the kind of animals and plants we see now. They will only read about them.
Several animal species are regularly added to the list of those endangered. Many plants are getting extinct. Can we now learn from our mistakes and correct them for the sake of nature?
We have the solution to wildlife conservation. We have the power and authority to protect, preserve and conserve by not encroaching, stopping poaching, not hunting, not destroying forests, limiting developments in parks, and controlling pollution on land, water and air.
Rothschild’s giraffe at the Giraffe Center Nairobi- Enviro WIld
We can promote wildlife conservation giving the existing animals a sense of comfort in their natural habitats. If we want to see these animals in our parks, forests, and conservancies, then we have to do something- that something is engaging in activities that ensure protection, conservation, and preservation of wildlife and their habitats.
Further reading
Elephant Conservation in Thailand? Chaining, Torture and Riding
Hikers and Climate Change are a Threat to Mt. Kenya
Protected and Preserved Old Bagan Archaeological site, Myanmar
