About Wildlife Conservation

Why are Endangered species so important?

Wildlife conservation is important for several reasons:

1. Biodiversity: Wildlife plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of nature and the diversity of species. Each species contributes to the ecosystem, serving a specific purpose and impacting the lives of other species in the environment. By conserving wildlife, we ensure the continued survival of many species and the biodiversity of our planet.
2. Environmental Health: Wildlife and their habitats provide essential ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and carbon sequestration. By conserving these species, we help to maintain the health of our environment and protect the ecosystem services that we rely on.
3. Economic Value: Wildlife and their habitats provide us with a wide range of ecological, economic, and cultural benefits. They serve as sources of food, medicine, and other resources, and provide essential ecosystem services that support our economies and well-being.
4. Cultural Heritage: Wildlife also has significant cultural and spiritual value, inspiring us with their beauty and majesty and serving as an essential part of our cultural heritage.
5. Endangered Species: Many species of animals and plants are facing extinction due to human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and overexploitation. By conserving wildlife, we can help to ensure the survival of these species and protect them from extinction.

Altogether, wildlife conservation is important because it helps to maintain the balance of nature, protect our environment, support our economies and well-being, preserve our cultural heritage, and ensure the survival of endangered species.

Take a look at the  list of a few animals that are endangered:

• The lion-tailed macaque is an ecologically significant species, endemic to western Ghats and endangered.

Lion-tailed macaques have black hair. It is easily recognized by its silver-white mane that surrounds the head from the cheeks down to its chin. Its face has no hair and is black. Head-to-body length is about 61 cm and weighs about 10 kg, making it one of the smallest among the macaque species. The black tuft is more prominent in males than females with the tail being about 25 cm in length.

As per the assessment carried out by the International Unit for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) it was reported that 3000-3500 of the lion-tailed macaque population was dispersed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Its red list categorizes it as ‘endangered ‘.

Conservation of Lion-Tailed Macaque

Their population range is becoming significantly limited due to the spread of agriculture and commercial farming. Construction of new dams and irrigational facilities are also a factor in their decline.

• Asian Elephant. Elephants are an important part of an ecosystem that contributes to conserving nature. They make a pathway in dense forest habitat that not only allows passage for other animals but also creates micro-ecosystems. One of the main reasons we are endangered is from poaching us for our ivory. Asian elephants mostly eat grass and also bark, roots, and leaves. These great herbivores roamed vast ranges in large family herds, ensuring the propagation and diversity of future generations of plant life. Unfortunately, the arrival of humans spelled the beginning of their exploitation.

There is an urgent need to protect these important Keystone species.

• The Nilgiri Thar is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri hills and the southern portion of the western and eastern Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. These are found at high elevations on cliffs, and grass-covered hills. Eravikulam National park is home to its largest population. Their present distribution is limited to approximately 5% of the Western Ghats in Southern India.

Habitat loss ( mainly for domestic livestock and spread of invasive plants which leads to diminishing grazing land) and poaching.

• Malabar large-spotted civet: Endemic to western ghats of India, the Malabar large-spotted civet also known as the Malabar civet, is critically endangered with a population of fewer than 250 mature individuals.

It is among the 15 most threatened mammals in the world today. things were quite different before 1978 when Malabar civets were widespread in that region.

This small carnivore forages almost entirely on the ground and their diet includes small animals, eggs, and some vegetables.

Threats:

Habitat loss: Extensive deforestation has reduced the forests to isolated patches of habitat for this species.

The surviving population of Malabar civet survives around the cashew plantation

• Tigers are not social animals, the only social bonds are those of a mother with her offspring. Tigers are known for their climbing ability, the success of these species and their spread in various areas of the world is attributed to their opportunistic hunting habits and ability to adapt to different types of climates and habitats.

Why are tigers important?

Tigers maintain the integrity of their natural habitat by stabilizing the numbers of fast breeding animals such as deer. These herbivores overgraze and disrupt the natural environment if their numbers are not checked.

• The Endangered Indian pangolin ,also known as the thick - tailed pangolin , is found in Bangladesh, Nepal, India , Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The larger scales differentiated them from the rest of Asian pangolins. Fitted and generously- side claws, the Indian pangolin is well equipped for its terrestrial lifestyle that includes intensive burrowing. These pangolins even have the ability to claw through concrete.