 Involve
Locals in Conservation |
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For a considerable period of time, excessive exploitation
of animals for food and other products has caused the extinction of many species. The
uncontrolled killing of whales for meat and oil has brought them to the brink of
extinction. The African Rhinoceros killed ruthlessly for its horn is also endangered. The
Great Auk (a sea diving bird with a heavy body, short wings and black and white plumage)
became extinct in the 19th century because of over hunting and the Carolina Parakeet
perished because of habitat destruction.
From the above cases it is evident that protection of wild
species is necessary but to a certain extent. Excessive protection of prarie dogs, for
example, has almost eliminated one of their natural predators, the black-footed farret.
Another issue to be considered is the people of the rural
areas of the world, fishermen and tribal people, depend on animals for food. The recent
ban on about 60 species of marine life caused a great agitation among the public. Banning,
I think, is not the solution. Banning does not work because public involvement is
completely absent every time a ban is induced. It becomes difficult to validate to the
people whose livelihood depends on the protected species, and ultimately ends up
alienating the people from playing an active role in wildlife conservation. What we should
do is make the locals responsible for protection and sustenance of species seen as
valuable and endangered.
Sowmya Balachandran
Sanjaynagar, Bangalore |
 Strict Laws are Needed
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Fishing is probably the oldest occupation.
poaching and whale hunting developed as a sport in Europe and North America in the 19th
century. Whales, sharks, rays, sea horses, sea turtles, sea cucumbers are in the list of
conservationists. Indians in general and fisherfolk in particular, know little about the
ocean and its ecosystem.
The fisherfolk are to be provided with other
profitable activities like oyster culture, shrimp culture and fish seed production. This
gives a break in regular fishing and helps in quick regeneration of fish in seas. Though
difficult to accept, strict laws are to be enforced against fishing to save endangered
species. Fishermen should be asked to use such nets from which sea turtles can escape. If
they catch sea horses, they can leave them again in the sea. They should be asked to
conserve sea life for their own children. The government should consult conservationist,
marine biologists and ecologists to devise laws in such a way that it keeps the economic
interests of the fisherfolk as well as conservation. It cannot implement total ban by
simply attacking the livelihood of the fisherfolk.
S M Sandeep
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh |
