WILDLIFE WEEK 2020, ABOUT WILDLIFE AND IT'S CONSERVATION IN INDIA

 

Dear Readers,

                       Welcome to my Blog "Vetcapsule". I have prepared an article on the occasion of Wildlife Week. Which is celebrated every year all over the Country in October from 2nd to 8th of October. Today is 8th October, the last day of wildlife week, I want to share some knowledge about wildlife and their conservation.

" LAND DIVIDES THE NATION BUT LANDSCAPE AND ECOSYSTEM PROVIDES A SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO SPECIES AND THIS CONNECTION IS ABOVE HUMAN DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES." 

 

 

WILDLIFE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION 

 

Why we need to protect wildlife?

         In the present day depletion of wildlife population can be attributed to the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources to fulfill the needs of human beings. Hence the need to protect and conserve of wildlife is a must.When we do so, we parellely enrich our natural flora and promote biodiversity because it is a vital for health and functional ecosystem. 

 

BIOSPHERE RESERVES   

 

 Biosphere reserve is a large protected area serving conservation of wildlife, biodiversity  as well as for  Educational and Research purpose.It is a learning places for sustainable development.It was started by UNESCO in 1973-74 under the man and biosphere programme.
               Biosphere reserve is a coordinated Global network of national parks, biological reserves and other protected areas. Biosphere Reserves also address bio-regional approach to land use and development planning for conservation of flora and fauna in the existing representative ecosystem.

 

   Following are the major objectives of the Biosphere Reserves :

·    To promote ecological and environmental research.

·     To provide facilities for education awareness and training; and

 

·     To prepare a management plan for biosphere reserve and to cooperate between the National and the International networks.

·   To conserve the biodiversity and integrity of biotic communities of plants and animals within the natural and semi-natural ecosystem and to protect the genetic biodiversity of species.

 

 

  A Biosphere Reserve has five essential components these include :

1.   Strictly protected area which is a National park or a National reserve. 

2.   A comparatively large buffer zone surrounding the core area with allowing limited activities and a transition area.

3.   Development of relationship between man and environment through applied and basic research projects.

4.   Trained scientist and managers of protected areas; and 

5.   Contribution of data to the global environmental monitoring system of UNEP  through various monitoring projects.

 

 For proper management the Biosphere Reserve has a different schematic  zone :

    (1) Core  Area:

·        It  is  the strictly  protected  area  of  the  biosphere  reserve. 

·      This is represents  important genetic  reservoirs  having  exceptional scientific interest.

·        It  may  harbour endemic plants  and  animals.

·        A  core  zone  is  a  protected  region, like a  National  Park  or Sanctuary, regulated under  the  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972. 

·        It  is an area where man is not allowed to do any activity.

    (2) Buffer  Zone:

    ·        The  buffer  zone  surrounds  the  core  zone, Where humans can do some activities.        

      ·        Activities are such that  help  in  the  protection  of  the  core  zone  in  its  natural condition.

      ·      It  includes  restoration,  limited  tourism,  fishing,  grazing of animal,  etc;  which  are  permitted  to reduce  its  effect  on  the  core  zone.

      ·        Research  and  educational  activities can be conducted in this area.

       (3) Transition/Manipulation  Zone:

·        It  is  the  outermost  part  of  the  biosphere  reserve Where a man is allowed to do many activities. 

·       It  is  the  zone  where  human  ventures  and  conservation is done  in harmony.

·      Croplands,  Managed  forests  and  Areas  for   recreation and  other  economic  uses are characteristics  of  this region.

National Park And Wild Life Sanctuary

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are large protected areas of land  by the Government. The objective is to preserve Wildlife, save flora & fauna and restore the natural ecological balance. There are 103 National Parks and 544 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India.

 

HISTORY :

              In India,the history of national parks and sanctuaries meant for the conservation of wildlife are well depicted by Kalidas in one of his famous book named "Abhigyan Shakuntalam". During the 3rd century B.C. Kautilya recorded some ideas regarding Abhayaranyas in his widely published book "Arthashastra" and the Abhyaranyas were created for the protection of elephants and other wild animals. The ancient concept of wildlife sanctuary can also be traced in Vana Bhatt's "Kadambari" and other Indian classics.The Vedanthangal bird sanctuary, the first sanctuary in India, was established in Tamil Nadu early in1878. Since then, the country has made an impressive progress in the establishment of National parks and Sanctuaries.

                           Nevertheless, all the National parks and Sanctuaries were not created for the same reasons. Some were created for specific purposes. The Kaziranga National park, for example, was created for the protection of one-horned rhinoceros. The Keoladeo Ghana National park at Bharatpur in Rajasthan was established for the protection and conservation of avian fauna. Likewise,The Gir National park for Asiatic lion, the Dachigam national park for Kashmir stag, and the Keibul Lamjo national park for brow-antlered deer are some widely known wildlife reserves. In India, the Corbett National park which was founded in 1936 is the oldest national park. The Yellowstone National park, the first national park in the world was established in 1872 in USA.

 

 

"National Park" is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of wildlife and maintained by the government, to maintain the wildlife.Habitat manipulation, Grazing, and Harvesting is strictly prohibited.

 

  "Sanctuary" is an area comprising of many reserve forest or any part of the terrestrial water which protects the flora and fauna of that area. Ownership of land, Habitat, Grazing, and Harvesting are allowed.

 

Critically Endangered (CR): Species having an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.Some Critically Endangered species in India are listed below :

1. The Ganges Shark.
2. Gharial.
3. Pygmy Hog.
4. Great Indian Bustard.
5. Slender-billed Vulture.
6. Malabar Large Spotted Civet.
7. Kashmiri Red Stag (Hangul).

Endangered (EN): Species considered to be having a very high risk of extinction in the wild.Some Endangered species in India are listed below : 

1. Indian Elephant.
2. Asiatic Lion.
3. Bengal Tiger.
4. Nilgiri Tahr.
5. Lion Tailed Macaque.
6. Blue Whale.
7. Indian Bison (Gaur).
8. Blackbuck.
9. Red Panda.

 

Vulnerable (VU): Species considered to be having a high risk of extinction in the wild.

1. Barasingha.
2. Nilgiri Langur.
3. Yak.
4. Olive Ridley Turtle.
5. Sloth Bear.
6. Marbled Cat.
7. Red Goral.
8. Indian Cobra.
9. Nilgiri Marten.
10. Rusty Spotted Cat.
11. Four-horned antelope.
12. One Horned Rhinoceros.
13. Snow leopard.
14. Blackbuck.  

Animal  welfare organization

International  organization are :

ICUN – International  Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources.

VSPCA-visakha society for the protection and care of animals.

RSPCA – Royal Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animal.

SPCA-society for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

WSPA – World Society For the Protection Of Animal.

ICBP- International Council For Bird Preservation.

WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature (1996).

FAO- the food and agricultural organisation.

CUPA- compassion unlimited plus action.

The international wild fowl research Bureau and world conservation & monitoring centre.                                                                      

United nation environment programme.

Whale conservation institute.

Green Peace International.

World  Heritage Site .

Wetland international.

The Smithsonian institute.

Indian Organization are :

CZA – central zoo authority of India

ZSI – Zoological survey of India

IDA – In Defence of animal.

WTI – Wildlife trust of India.

 NBWL - National board for wild life

BNHS- Bombay natural  history society.

PAWS-Pet Animal Welfare Society.

ARF-Animal Rights Fund.

Botanical Survey of India.

Wild life advisory body.

Blue Cross of India.

Animal welfare board of India.

Wild life preservation society of India.  

WII - Wild life institute of India (1982),Dehradun

Ministry of environment , forest & climate change.

Indian Institute of Forest Management.( in Bhopal)

Centre for Science and Environment Education.

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. (In Dehradun)

The Centre for Ecological Studies of Indian Institute of Science.(in Bangalore)

Ranthambore Foundation and National Museum of Natural History.