Urban Wildlife and a Pandemic

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The Coronavirus epidemic has not been easy on any of us, and it most certainly has not been easy for animals. How? It all began with some rumours that emerged claiming pet animals spread the COVID-19 virus. Then there were rumours that bats transmit the virus and people were ready to go to great lengths to destroy their habitat. All around the world (before the laboratory theory), animals were being tortured.

Animals are now being portrayed as carriers of deadly diseases and the doom of humankind. This fear is giving us reasons to either kill them or be so far away from them, that we do not have to worry about their conservation at all. Due to just one apprehension, we chose to forget their role in the ecology.

Animals are the most significant species of the life cycle. We can say that they are the chain and wheels and it is because of the presence of these animals that we have a healthy environment to live in. The worst image hit has definitely been of the bats. Probably the most gentle creatures in the wild, they are now being criticised for something they did not even do! How is that? Let us tell you.

There is no confirmed evidence that bats can transmit diseases to humans. People often use bat guano for agriculture. Increase in such human activities which increase the exposure to bats might cause the transmission of diseases. Another important reason is the fact that bats transmit these diseases only when they are undergoing physiological stress due to habitat loss or alteration.

Bat population is declining day by day due to human intervention in their habitats. Loss of vegetation, increased hunting for meat, increased use of pesticides, depletion of caves, are some of the reasons contributing to their decline. It is becoming extremely necessary to conserve this species. Let us now know, why.

Bats are of utmost importance to us, because of the role they play in ecology. They are great pollinators and seed dispensers – something which helps not only the ecology but the economy as well because of their role in pollinating commercial crops. They help in soil fertility and nutrient distribution, helping farmers and bringing down the need of extensive technology. To top it up, they are also biological pest controllers as their diet consists of insects and rodents. They also act as bio indicators – giving information of the ecological habitat around them!

Yet, instead of valuing such an important animal, people are panicking in their presence. Our organisation receives calls from Bangaloreans stating that they have a bat in a tree which is in their house and asking for the removal of the creature as well as the tree branches. Rescue volunteers are functioning as outreach volunteers now, explaining such complainers the importance of bats and clearing up their wrong assumptions about the creature. 



Like bats, the other animals also perform important and necessary tasks to keep the ecology in equilibrium. Every animal wants to live peacefully, benefiting themselves as well as other creatures around them. But increase in human – animal conflict is disturbing this equilibrium and in the end, it is the animals who are the ultimate sufferers.

If you come across a Bat that is injured or displaced, please feel free to call our 24-Hour rescue helpline +91 99000 25370 / +91 99803 39880.

For more details, log onto - www.PfAWildlifeHospital.org


Author - Praanjali Shukla

Comments

  1. Suresh MenonJuly 14, 2020 at 3:07 PM

    Let us know and remember that human is not all on our Earth. We are just only one among a million species on our planet Earth. Care for our Earth, care for our coming birth.

    ReplyDelete

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