Protection of animals and wildlife

Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals, and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative. But unfortunately today wildlife faces threats from habitat destruction, pollution and other human actions, such as global warming.

Threats to wildlife:

• Habitat Loss: Due to growing population, cities are expanding into the countryside, and as a result fewer natural wildlife habitat areas are left each year. Some wildlife species, such as deer, rabbits and chipmunks, are adaptable to many conditions, but other creatures have very specific plant, moisture and temperature requirements. These are the endangered species which we risk losing if we don't preserve adequate amounts of habitat for their survival.

•  Climate Change: Some plants and animals have specific habitat requirements; climate change could cause disastrous losses of wildlife species. A one or two degree change in average annual temperature will affect snow cover in the winter and excess heat in the summer causing a detrimental effect to the animals.
• Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals: Pesticides are deliberately spread to make the environment toxic to certain plants, insects or rodents, so it shouldn't be surprising that other plants and wildlife are often harmed at the same time. While many of the worst pesticides have been banned, scientists have found numerous worries with several pesticides which are still legal and commonly used.
• Non-native Species: Over the past 150 years, many non-native plants, molluscs, insects, fish, birds, mammals, and diseases have found their way. These "aliens" are often aggressive competitors with native wildlife, or predatory, especially after they've left their own natural environments and controls.
• Mismanagement: Some native wildlife can become a problem when released from their natural population controls. When wolves are scarce and hunters too few, white-tailed deer will often strip the woods of native wildflowers (such as Trilliums) and even certain tree species (such as Hemlock), when their populations are allowed to become too high.

Protect animals: Even you can make small efforts to protect small animals around you.

• Children need to learn that wild animals are not playthings and should be allowed to go about their lives without being touched by humans. Children should also be told not to destroy nests, burrows and other wildlife homes.
• Be alert when driving, especially near wildlife refuges and in rural areas, to avoid hitting or running over wild creatures.
• Leave infant wildlife alone, since they are not always truly orphaned. A parent may be nearby or will return soon. And if you take them to have a look at them and then return them they could die/
• Place caps over all chimneys and vents on your roof to prevent birds, ducks and raccoons from taking up residence and becoming a nuisance or getting trapped.
• Before mowing your lawn or rototilling your garden, walk through the area first to make sure no rabbits or ground-nesting birds are in harms way.
• Check trees to make sure there are no active nests or residents of cavities before cutting them down.
• Do not attempt to raise or keep wildlife yourself. Not only is it illegal, but wild creatures do not make good pets and captivity poses a constant stress to them.
• Create wildlife friendly areas in your backyard. When choosing your lawn and landscaping, chose native plants that can provide food and shelter to native wildlife.
• By conserving water and fossil fuels, you will be helping to protect the wildlife around you.
• Buy products that are wildlife friendly. Avoid products that are made from threatened or endangered animals.

There are many organizations who are working for the protection of wildlife. One of the Australian, non-government, community-based organization, which focuses specifically on wildlife protection issues, is The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. Their aim is to conserve, protect, and preserve the wildlife of Australia by all lawful means. Most of their work is in Australia, but they do assist with overseas wildlife matters.

Issues handled by the organization to protect wildlife:

• They encourage the implementation of appropriate and enforceable land clearing controls.
• They are opposed to wildlife culling and poisoning, and work with many other groups to stop the destruction.
• They have lobbied for years to prevent duck and quail shooting seasons. Gradually this 'sport' is being seen by the broader community to be cruel and undesirable. Queensland has recently banned it, only Tasmania and Victoria remain with duck and quail shooting seasons.
• They remain strongly opposed to farming and harvesting wild life, including working towards the closing the dreadful Tasmanian commercial possum kill.
• They help and support local Tasmanian groups who are lobbying the Tasmanian Government to close the Tasmanian mutton bird kill.
• They lobby hard for increased protection for marine animals, including whales, dolphins, dugong, turtles, and other marine life.

No doubt the subject is very complex and requires everyone's interest. By learning more about wildlife and supporting management programs, including protection of habitat, we can greatly help all the wild life resources. Only with public support, governments will be able to protect wild life, so that future generation can see them in the wild and not only in the zoos.

(Sources: cwac.net, wildlifeprotectaust.org.au, ehow.com, chattanooganaturecenter.org)