Wild Farming?
Yes, certain species of wild animals are easily bred in captivity — you can
actually farm them. Like crocodiles, and ostriches. There are many very sucessful wild
animal breeding farms in the world. Those in favour of sustainable use of wild species
suggest that it would actually help both people in providing livlihoods and protect their
wild counterparts as the pressure to hunt them will go down.
Unfortunately laws and activists in India do not take kindly to such ideas. So you might
have a very productive croc farm but will end up eating croc egg omlettes for breakfast as
you cannot sell or trade in the animal or its products. |
Everyone loves wildlife, but very few actually study it carefully. Before, we who
live in cities, ended up munching chips in front of the idiot box watching Nat Geo, our
forefathers lived in close contact with actual wild creatures. Majority of Indians still
live like that — as farmers, fisherfolk, herdsmen, hunters. To make a living from
land and nature requires initimate knowledge of plants, animals and their environment. But
as more and more people live in cities they get disconnected from nature. Yet, to protect,
conserve and use our natural resources sustainbly we need both traditional and modern
knowledge of our wild habitats. And there are careers in the study of wildlife.
Wild Scientist
For any conservation program to be effective you need expert advice from those who have
studied wildlife behaviour — migration, population, habitat, breeding. Wildlife
biology is still in its nascent stage in India. Trained wildlife biologists work in all
kinds of conservation and research projects on the field and in laboratories. You may not
become rich earning money but you will certainly be a richer person in terms of job
satisfaction and experience. You could become a forester, dendrologist, ethologist,
entomologist, silviculturists (forest propagation and culture), zoo curator etc.
Wild Guide
Tourists who visit wilderness areas sometimes have very little knowledge about nature and
its ways. Nowadays a lot of tourist agencies employ an expert on wildlife to guide and
educate their guests. So if you are a trained or serious naturalist, love the outdoors and
are comfortable in dealing with all kinds of not-so-informed tourists then you can become
a eco-tourist guide or manager or even open your own travel agency
