Wildly Beneficial: Unraveling Bengaluru's Urban Wildlife Impact this World Environment Day

Today, although seemingly another Monday, has brought around something more than just the usual Monday morning blues. Because today just so happens to be World Environment Day. And sure, it hums a tune of celebration of the existence and preservation of the environment but it also poses an important question to every person. How have you contributed towards the environment recently? If you are looking for ways to begin or increase your efforts then you have wound up at the right place. Because there is a goldmine of species in your midst that you could easily aid.

It is often perceived when advocating for a better environment and world for us all, we include certain birds and critters in the bracket of things we need to conserve and protect. But we often fail to recognise how they too aid in preserving the environment and nature in our stead. We are wildly co-dependent on urban wildlife but this fact is often overlooked and as time has gone by, so have the triumphant days of these animals where they were in multitude. Modern inventions, architecture and development has depleted their numbers to a staggering minimum.

Every bird, every critter you see aids in preserving a delicate balance in the environment and their extinction could result in a grave disaster. The term urban wildlife is used to describe exactly these animals. That is, wildlife that live in urban environments and can easily be spotted on a trek or even a trip to the park!

It is our responsibility to look out for the environment and everything in it but it doesn’t mean we are alone in this battle. The very centre of nature, it’s majestic creatures, come to our aid in more ways than we can count . What better time than World Environment Day to evaluate the much-needed contribution of these animals to our environment. Here are just a small percentage of the ways in which urban critters aid in improving your quality of living:

From majestic kites that swarm the sky to snakes that slither on the ground, a group of critters is always on the watch for rats and other pests to prey on. This decreases the pest population by a huge amount and the eradication of these disease-causing pests implies a safer and cleaner disease-free environment.

And the bats you find hanging off trees, that’s right even bats help in keeping you from harm’s way as they help regulate any invasive insect species thus protecting local crops from an outbreak of insects. Certain bat species even pollinate flowers!

Whilst speaking about a clean environment, one cannot stop stressing on the importance of clean and safe water resources that are scarce in the present scenario. Even in this case, the creatures of the environment come to our rescue. Turtles in water bodies play a huge role in maintaining the ecosystem as they can adapt to various habitats and provide for other sea creatures as well. Turtles contribute to preservation of several seagrass in the water that provides a habitat and living for other sea creatures. Along with this, they also help in keeping the water clean as they require a clean environment to reside in, they indirectly help others as well. Most importantly they aid in controlling invasive species harmful to other water organisms hence maintaining a healthy balance.

Saving the best for last, the most crucial part of the environment are our beloved but endangered trees. Although non-sentient beings, trees are full of life and provide fresh air, shade, and selflessly serve as home and anchor to many animals. Standing strong and the entirety of their body being used for one or the other thing by people. Whilst some trees bear fruit that serves as food, others possess medicinal properties. A tree can be completely used from its leaves to its stump yet they are threatened by felling practices.

And if all these examples are not already enough, consider the value of these resources and animals in your day-to-day life. They do not simply pose a materialistic value and provide something much more meaningful just by existing. They have an intrinsic value. Just living in their presence and having them as a part of our lives enriches our value of life too. What more could we ask for? This environment day, let us advocate for those who indirectly just through their nature provide for the environment we live in. Let us help those who help us in conserving our environment. The ones we save today will save our future tomorrow.

Authored by Sathvi G Bhat, Intern at PfA Bangalore