WILD LIFE CONSERVATION

Swati Mohanty
Wild animals are a treasure of this world, but sadly, are disappearing from it at a quite higher rate;
thanks to the limitless and boundless greed and need of us human beings. Off late the importance of
these wild animals have been realized and several measures have been taken globally, one of which isthe categorization of the animals into various levels of Endangered animals and the extinct animals,
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE, founded in 1964 (one of the worlds most
comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species).
According to the Red-List, formulated by the body, the wild animals fall in to the following categories
indicating their conservation statusa) EX (Extinct)
b) EW (Extinct in the wild)
for the extinct animals and
c) CR (Critically Endangered)
d) EN (Endangered)
e) VU (Vulnerable)
for the endangered animals.

The animals at lower risk of disappearance fall into the category of

f) NT (near threatened)
g) Conservation dependent
h) LC (least concern)
Other categories include
DD (Data deficient) and NE (Not evaluated).
Human activities like cutting down forests and polluting water bodies have mostly led to complete
extinction of many animal species like- Tasmanian tiger, Quagga, passenger pigeon, golden toad and
carribean monk seal; while a lot many are endangered i.e. danger of becoming extinct like- African
elephant, Bactrian camel, Bald eagle, golden lion, tamarin and panda.
Various conservation measures are being adopted to save the endangered animals for instancePROJECT TIGER in India, to save Asiatic tigers launched by the government under its then primeminister
Smt. Indira Gandhi in 1973.

More recently, creating gene-banks for the endangered animals have become a conservation strategy
which also adds to the general strategies like creating National Parks or sanctuaries for animals and
selective breeding techniques.
QUAGGA PROJECT launched in 1986 in South Africa was a unique attempt to recreate the e xtinct
Quagga through selective breeding techniques.
Such conservation measures shall hopefully undo the many wrongs that the human race has committed
and stop the increasing cruelty towards the animals.
CAUSES FOR EXTINCTION FOR ANIMALS
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Natural calamities like meteur strike, earthquake etc.

Relentless hunting by humans
Environmental changes like global warming
Deforestation and habitat loss
Human activities that pollute the natural surroundings or release toxic material to the water
sources

MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Extend support whole heartedly to organizations like PETA

Stop cruelty towards animals
Stop using animal-based products for luxury
Stop destruction of the natural habitats of the animals
Take steps to construct gene banks for endangered animals.