Do we really need wild animal Conservation? How is it related to your ecosystem?

Introduction:

This planet is gifted with a precious wildlife. The term "wildlife" just simply does not mean the wild animals; it caters to all the undomesticated life forms such as birds, insects, plants, and even microscopic organisms. For a healthy ecological balance to be maintained on the planet plants, marine species and animals play an equally important role as humans. Each organism on the earth is somehow related to the food chain which balances the eco-system of the planet. 

Sadly enough, many of the animal and bird species are endangered nowadays. Humans are taking up the natural habitats of birds and animals for land development purposes and farming purposes. Wildlife extinction can be caused by poaching and hunting animals for fur, meat, and leather etc.Stringent steps are needed to be taken to save wildlife before it's too late and many of the species are found on the list of extinct species. The wildlife extinction can cause a fatal impact on human's life as well.

Here are few significant roles that the wildlife plays in balancing the ecological equilibrium of this planet. 

Eco-system and Wildlife:

The ecosystem is made up by the relationship between different organisms via food chains and food webs. A minute disturbance in the ecosystem such as the extinction of a species can disrupt the whole chain which may lead to disasters. 

For instance, Extinction of bees can result in the decrease of food crops as the bees have an ability to carry pollen. The extinction of bees implies less pollination which directly affects the food crops. 

Similarly, the increase in the number of a species can have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. Consider the simple case of carnivores; they are getting reduced on a daily basis as a result of poaching and hunting for trading and other requirements. This results in the increase of herbivores that are dependent on forest vegetation for survival. 

Increase in the herbivores demands for more vegetation (that is lacking in today's forests), It would be no long before the herbivores come to the farms and village lands in the search of food.  In the both cases, it is proved that saving wildlife will eventually save the ECOSYSTEM.

Medicinal values of Ecosystem:

A large number of plants and animal species are helpful to humans and benefit them in one way or the other. Medicines such as aspirin, penicillin, morphine, and quinine are derived from uncultivated plants. 

Ayurvedic Medicines are such a huge milestone for mankind and they are the extracts and juices of various plants and herbs present in the wildlife. They have been solving problems like Blood pressure, Diabetes and many more health-related issues since ages.  

It's not just the plants that are used for medicinal purposes but there are a lot of animal extracts that are rich in nutrients and anti-oxidants. For example, the oil extracted from the lever of codfish is highly rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 anti-oxidants that are useful in avoiding aging.

Fungal infections can be treated by the chemicals derived from shrimps and lobsters. The venom of the cobra is the most significant cure for leprosy. Researchers are finding a way to cure cancer using different species and their extracts and there is a high chance of finding a cure for deadly diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's in the near future. 

This once again proves that saving wildlife can save the human race from getting into great danger. 

Creates a healthy environment:

To keep the environment clean and healthy, Wildlife is very important. Micro-Organisms such as bacteria, fungi, slime molds and earthworms feed on the wastes of plant and animals. By decomposing them and releasing their chemicals back into the soil these Micro-Organisms help in the replenishing of nutrients which are further taken up by roots of the plants which help them nurturing and growing. 

The likes of Eagles and Vultures play the role of a scavenger here. By removing the carcasses and dead bodies of small-scale animals they help in maintaining a clean and healthy ecosystem. Just can't imagine a life where there are dead bodies lying around, thanks to the animals such as Vultures and Eagles.

Wildlife for recreation:

Forests safaris and bird watching are a lot of fun activities which cannot be done without wildlife. Ever wondered where can you safari if there is no forest? The thought of forests getting extinct is scary itself. Fishing won't be the same without fishes in the lakes and rivers and in the worst case scenarios lakes may dry up due to the warmer climates caused by deforestation. 

There will be only limited options left available for recreational purposes in nature if human beings continue to disturb the nature in such a fast pace. This generation should have a goal of showing their kids the biological parks and taking them to the zoo rather than showing them the pictures of how beautiful our nature was a few years ago. The book bearing "extinct species" on it must not have any further additions to it. 

Economic value:

This might sound surprising but the ecosystem can contribute to the economy of the country. A well maintained ecological system can become a tourist attraction that draws tourists from various parts of the world. Safari that includes rare and endemic species can be great for foreign exchange which increases the country's GDP. It's not just about the safari or bird watching, nature activities such as trekking, River Rafting, and fishing need government approval and licenses (the cost of which goes to the government's account).

Not only these, the tourist's travel expenses, local transportation, food, and accommodation indirectly contributes to the country's economy. Job opportunities for the localities residing in that area will increase as there are many kinds of jobs that can be done in a tourist attraction.

For instance, a person well known about the place can become a tour guide. This is one of the few reasons why promoting wildlife conservation is important in today's life. 

Countries such as Singapore have less wildlife around them, but still, they created an artificial habitat for wildlife by importing flora and fauna from different parts of the world. 

Source of Income:

Wildlife is the source of income for many families; nature helps them fulfill their basic needs such as bread and butter. A fisherman's livelihood depends upon the catch he gets on a daily basis whereas a Farmer's livelihood depends on the yield of a crop.

There are a number of industries based out of wildlife, such as:

• Textile (cotton).
• Paper (tree bark).
• Timber.
• Rubber.

The conservation of wildlife helps an individual's livelihood has another classic example; the resorts and hotels on the hilltops will only earn when the nature around it is protected and kept beautiful.  

So this proves that conserving the wildlife helps in the livelihood of such individuals. 

The Aesthetical Values:

It's just the human nature that we love it when there's a lot of greenery and colorful flowers around us. Our planet is imparted with beautiful aesthetics in which wildlife and nature obviously play an important key role. The art of beautification of this planet is done by the forests, rivers, oceans and different species of animals and birds. 

Imagine a world without forests; there would be no greenery and the planet would just be a barren land without a trace of life whatsoever. In order to live in a beautiful planet bustling with life and happiness, the conservation of wildlife should start NOW!

Conclusion:

There is a lot of research going into preserving the plants and animals through ‘Gene Banks’, where the cells and tissues of wildlife species are stored. With these cells and tissues, the original wildlife species and plant species can be recreated in case of any extinction and wildlife epidemics. Not only recreating the original species, they can be used to breed new varieties of animal and plant species which will be more strong, healthy and resistant to diseases.