Our Earth is full of happiness and resources. It’s a blessing for us which we are destroying.
Animals who were supposed to enjoy a free life are by human grace in need of protection and preserved in sanctuaries and restricted areas like national parks. Though it’s a great step, it’s not the natural way the chain of ecosystems deserves. Wildlife has become a piece and pleasure to be enjoyed by many in exchange for some money. A life is living by selling lives.
The story of sorrow is not just this, the poor animals, flora, and fauna have become business strategies. They are being hurt, disturbed, and intruded in their own house and if to be asked who are we to do such a harsh task, the answer is none but an ambitious and heartless soul with a merciful mask. The challenges to wildlife are not bound to just this, in the rainy season land animals have difficulties carrying out their daily routine and predators find it even more difficult to find food.
In dry summers the water sources dry up and not just cause water scarcity but create difficulty for marine life as their living element dries up. Global warming by human activities is one of the factors responsible for it. The wildlife is bullied sometimes for entertainment and sometimes for profit but has ever any living soul asked another life about its choice?
The only way to live and let live is to adapt, respect, thank, and coordinate with Mother Nature. It is high time to support our NATURE and nurture it overcoming the past. Our surroundings are a mystery and the answer to every query and example is India’s proud history.
The great son of my mother land Maharana Pratap when in a fight with Akbar had to live in forests for years to rebuild his army. Nature and wildlife supported him along his journey. The bread was made of grass along with fresh fruits and vegetables straight away from a tree cooked in an earthen pot made by soil and fire burnt using wood, dried grass lighted by stone.
Lake was their source of water. Trees were their cover, and when they accepted the wildlife by heart it became their weapon as well. They tied gunpowder packets with mice tails with a hole and left them in the desired direction. A few of them also dug an underground way. Their path led to the enemy camps and one spark, the enemy was down to ashes. Natural poison was extracted and smeared on the arrows made of strong wood; one attack and the enemy was dead.
The great Indian mythological instance of Ramayana also has a phase where wildlife comes to the rescue. Lord Rama when ordered exile, it was nature that helped survival one of the most prominent of them all was when Lord Rama created his army of monkeys to save his kidnapped wife.
Talking about India where elements of wildlife are worshipped; lion as the vehicle of Goddess Durga, cow as pure and abode of God, animals are worshipped in many ways: as deities- elephant as per Lord Ganesha and fauna like Tulsi. Many avatars were taken by God in the form of wildlife like Vishnu’s fish, tortoise, and boar forms and companions of God like snakes, eagle, swan, etc
The local tribes in many parts of the world know very well the handling of the ecosystem and survive on wildlife. Their tools are made from bones and stones and way of communication is unique and impressive.
It’s high time for us to move from just ourselves and make our planet sustainable. Spreading awareness is the primary step and taking initiative is secondary.
For example, use locally sourced nature-based products like wooden spoons etc for cutlery, don’t buy products like ivory and leather sourced from endangered species, during walking and hiking trails stick to the walking path and don’t trample on the vegetation, try to apply 5Rs and take good care of lives around us considering them as an asset and alive.
Our wild is also a source of the greatest inspiration. One of the fantastic philosophers of India, Vishnugupta Chanakya jotted some of these as a person to work like a lion with full strength and mind and might, control his senses like a heron, waking up early and sharing are the qualities to be adopted by a rooster. Some other qualities like arrogance, collection from time to time, constantly being careful and not trusting anyone are learned by a crow, satisfaction, attentiveness, devotion, and bravery are to be taken from a dog. Risk risk-taking attitude and courage to undergo pain to achieve something great can be learned from an eagle.
It is all around us but may not last so initiating has become a necessity now.
# It Time to Realize # Refuse to be Wild with Wild
By: Ishita Singhal
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