World Environment Day #OnlyOneEarth
This year’s theme for World Environment Day is #OnlyOneEarth. This campaign focuses on the need for humans to take care of our planet consciously and adopt ways of living which not only causes less harm to the planet, but also contributes to the healing and wellbeing of it. So this year, let’s focus on the urban wildlife, which greatly contributes to the wellbeing of the ecosystem. We would also delve into how to take care of our urban wildlife and how we can promote their health in an otherwise encroached environment.
Urban wildlife is highly ignored in today’s scenario. Cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, etc which have organisations or rescue groups for urban wildlife are successful in creating some level of awareness about the importance of birds, snakes and mammals like macaques and bats. However, in most cities and rural areas, people do not realise the critical role that urban wildlife plays in the wellbeing of the planet. In many parts of the country, urban wildlife is still illegally traded for their meat and their body parts. This puts urban wildlife in a very difficult position as urbanisation continues and we encroach their natural habitats, leaving them no place to live their lives peacefully. It then becomes our responsibility to educate and take means to conserve the urban wildlife.
Let’s first know the role urban wildlife plays in the ecosystem.
Snakes, owls and bats are excellent rodent population controllers. We, at PfA Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre, believe that snakes are our friends. Through our workshops, we educate students and professionals about how snakes mean well and do not intend to harm humans unless provoked. There are also many misconceptions about owls and bats, especially in rural areas where they are connected with black magic and are abused. Our awareness programme focuses on shedding light to these stereotypes and educating people on the importance of these creatures.
Rats are harmful if they take over our personal spaces. They cause harm to personal property and can cause severe damage to our living spaces. Some incidents include biting into electric wires, disrupting the transmission of electricity, phone and internet signals and in some cases, causing short circuits. Apart from causing harm to personal property, rats are also responsible for transmitting over 35 diseases to humans. Some of them include deadly diseases like the Hantavirus, tularemia, leptospirosis, and plague. These viruses can be transmitted into our system through inhalation, cuts and scratches, through the lining of the throat, mouth and eyes and even through the pores of our skin. So much as a brushing touch can cause the transmission. Rats multiply exponentially and require an army to be dealt with. Luckily, nature has its ways of dealing with the overpopulation. Snakes kill these rats while hunting for food in underground burrows and hidden holes. Owls and bats swoop at the ones roaming on terraces or in open grounds. Since these creatures are nocturnal, they are able to kill rats during the night time, when rats roam more freely.
Squirrels, small birds and bats are excellent pollinators. These creatures are responsible for burying seeds while doing their daily business of eating and finding food for their young ones. Pollination done by them has ensured the greenery we see today. Sometimes they unintentionally plant these seeds and other times they forget the location of the seeds after planting them. This leads to growth of more trees and keeps jungles and small patches green. And does one need to be reminded about the importance of trees?! Due to the function of pollination performed by these creatures, they are considered to be the farmer’s friends. They protect the crops from rodent infestation, ensure fruit and shady trees are growing around the agricultural land and maintain the quality of the soil and crop. Monkeys, the occasional visitors to our homes, come looking for food. While they are at it, they also act as pollinators, keeping forests alive for generations to come. Farmers, and by extension the rest of the population, are indebted to these wonderful creatures. With every plate of food we have, let’s thank these animals and birds for being responsible for providing us with it!
Kites have become optimum scavengers due to urbanisation. Previously, these majestic birds used to hunt rats and small birds for food. Due to lack of open spaces, these birds have started scavenging for food. Kites are now responsible for keeping our city clean by consuming carcass of dead animals. These birds act as natural decomposers and prevent the spreading of diseases.
Turtles and water birds play yet another important role by keeping water bodies clean from algae and bacterias. Overgrowth of algae and bacterias can kill the life of any lake or pond. They stop oxygen from entering the water, making it difficult for the creatures to breathe and survive. Turtles, some water birds, and some fishes consume algae and seaweeds and continue to keep the lakes alive and healthy.
Slender Loris, though not found in all states, are commonly seen in southern states of India. These mammals are nocturnal and have big eyes which makes them look adorable! They are hunted for their medicinal properties that can cure leprosy, wounds, and bone injuries. Sadly, these remain superstitious beliefs with no scientific evidence to back up these claims. Slender Lorises live in jungles and some urban spaces and they consume a wide variety of insects, even poisonous ones. This helps in pest control as these harmful insects can bring down trees and infest on human infrastructures, making the whole foundation weak.
Now that we know the importance of a wide variety of urban wildlife, here is what we can do to conserve them:
Urban wildlife is highly ignored in today’s scenario. Cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, etc which have organisations or rescue groups for urban wildlife are successful in creating some level of awareness about the importance of birds, snakes and mammals like macaques and bats. However, in most cities and rural areas, people do not realise the critical role that urban wildlife plays in the wellbeing of the planet. In many parts of the country, urban wildlife is still illegally traded for their meat and their body parts. This puts urban wildlife in a very difficult position as urbanisation continues and we encroach their natural habitats, leaving them no place to live their lives peacefully. It then becomes our responsibility to educate and take means to conserve the urban wildlife.
Let’s first know the role urban wildlife plays in the ecosystem.
Snakes, owls and bats are excellent rodent population controllers. We, at PfA Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre, believe that snakes are our friends. Through our workshops, we educate students and professionals about how snakes mean well and do not intend to harm humans unless provoked. There are also many misconceptions about owls and bats, especially in rural areas where they are connected with black magic and are abused. Our awareness programme focuses on shedding light to these stereotypes and educating people on the importance of these creatures.
Rats are harmful if they take over our personal spaces. They cause harm to personal property and can cause severe damage to our living spaces. Some incidents include biting into electric wires, disrupting the transmission of electricity, phone and internet signals and in some cases, causing short circuits. Apart from causing harm to personal property, rats are also responsible for transmitting over 35 diseases to humans. Some of them include deadly diseases like the Hantavirus, tularemia, leptospirosis, and plague. These viruses can be transmitted into our system through inhalation, cuts and scratches, through the lining of the throat, mouth and eyes and even through the pores of our skin. So much as a brushing touch can cause the transmission. Rats multiply exponentially and require an army to be dealt with. Luckily, nature has its ways of dealing with the overpopulation. Snakes kill these rats while hunting for food in underground burrows and hidden holes. Owls and bats swoop at the ones roaming on terraces or in open grounds. Since these creatures are nocturnal, they are able to kill rats during the night time, when rats roam more freely.
Squirrels, small birds and bats are excellent pollinators. These creatures are responsible for burying seeds while doing their daily business of eating and finding food for their young ones. Pollination done by them has ensured the greenery we see today. Sometimes they unintentionally plant these seeds and other times they forget the location of the seeds after planting them. This leads to growth of more trees and keeps jungles and small patches green. And does one need to be reminded about the importance of trees?! Due to the function of pollination performed by these creatures, they are considered to be the farmer’s friends. They protect the crops from rodent infestation, ensure fruit and shady trees are growing around the agricultural land and maintain the quality of the soil and crop. Monkeys, the occasional visitors to our homes, come looking for food. While they are at it, they also act as pollinators, keeping forests alive for generations to come. Farmers, and by extension the rest of the population, are indebted to these wonderful creatures. With every plate of food we have, let’s thank these animals and birds for being responsible for providing us with it!
Kites have become optimum scavengers due to urbanisation. Previously, these majestic birds used to hunt rats and small birds for food. Due to lack of open spaces, these birds have started scavenging for food. Kites are now responsible for keeping our city clean by consuming carcass of dead animals. These birds act as natural decomposers and prevent the spreading of diseases.
Turtles and water birds play yet another important role by keeping water bodies clean from algae and bacterias. Overgrowth of algae and bacterias can kill the life of any lake or pond. They stop oxygen from entering the water, making it difficult for the creatures to breathe and survive. Turtles, some water birds, and some fishes consume algae and seaweeds and continue to keep the lakes alive and healthy.
Slender Loris, though not found in all states, are commonly seen in southern states of India. These mammals are nocturnal and have big eyes which makes them look adorable! They are hunted for their medicinal properties that can cure leprosy, wounds, and bone injuries. Sadly, these remain superstitious beliefs with no scientific evidence to back up these claims. Slender Lorises live in jungles and some urban spaces and they consume a wide variety of insects, even poisonous ones. This helps in pest control as these harmful insects can bring down trees and infest on human infrastructures, making the whole foundation weak.
Now that we know the importance of a wide variety of urban wildlife, here is what we can do to conserve them:
- Plant more trees so that they have habitats to live in
- Learn about their needs and behaviours and let them be
- Do not be fearful of them and attack them in self defence. These animals do not attack unless they sense danger
- If they seem injured or displaced, reach out to urban wildlife rescue groups and organisations
- Make sure they have spaces to take cover in during adverse weather conditions
- Lastly, remember not to interfere with their routines and welcome what they have to offer to nature’s health and wellbeing!
We have #OnlyOneEarth and animals and birds are the reason it survives. We hope this helps you understand just how important urban wildlife is and why efforts are being made today to conserve them. Urbanisation is making their survival difficult and we need to be mindful of their habitats while proposing any urban development. Mindful urbanisation will help keep our planet healthy and our animals safe. Wellbeing of the planet means wellbeing of humans too!
Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer at PfA Bangalore
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