WILD LIFE PRESERVATION

WILD LIFE PRESERVATION

 India's flora and fauna are matchless. In richness, variety and abundance it has hardly any parallel. India's great latitudinal spread encompassing a wide range of temperature conditions makes it rich and varied in flora and fauna.

 The Western Himalayan region, extending from Kumaun to Kashmir, is made up of three zones – alpine, temperate and lower. The temperate zone is rich in chirping, deodar, spruce, silver fir and forests of conifers. The alpine zone, which extends from the upper limit of the temperate zone about 4,750 meters or even higher, is characterized by high-level silver fir, the silver birch and junipers.

 The eastern Himalayan region (Darjeeling Tea) has about 4000 species of flowering plants along with several varieties of palm. Many laurels, maples, alders, birch, conifers and junipers also flourish the Rhododendrons, dwarf willows and bamboo abound. In the Gangetic plains forests of widely. different types occur but sal forests predominate T vegetation of Brahmaputra valley of Assam intervening hills is luxuriant and is characterized by tall grass, broad-leaved forests and thick columns of bamboo.

 Palms of many kinds are endemic to the entire tableland of the Indian peninsula. The Malabar area covering the west coast and the mountains of the Western Ghats is rich in tropical vegetation. These forest areas abound in such hardwood as rosewood, ironwood, teak and also in numerous kinds of softwood and bamboos. In the outlying Islands of Andamans and Nicobar, there are a variety of forests.

 The number of species of flowering plants in the country is about 15,000. There are about 35,000 non-flowering plants. The rich variety of fauna is in direct relation to the abundance and opulence of the flora. Both are interlinked and interdependent in many ways. The flora depends on the fauna for its action, propagation and spreads while the latter's existence and survival depend on the 10

 There are about 350 species of mammals and 1,200 species of birds. More than 30,000 species of insects, apart from a great variety of reptiles and fishes are also there.

 The mammals include elephant, the Indian Indian Buffalo, the blue-bull or nilgai, four antelope, black-buck, Indian wild ass and ved one-horned rhinoceros and many varieties of deer. Under the big game category come the Indian lion, the tiger, the panther, the leopard and various species of smaller cats.

 Many types of bears roam the Western Himalayas, but only a single species of Panda is found. Several species of monkeys and apes are common. The wild yak inhabits the uplands of Ladakh.

 India is very rich in birdlife also. The Indian peacock, with its splendid blue plumage, is the national bird. Several other species such as duck, pheasants, partridges, jungle fowl, quails, green pigeons, mynahs, bulbuls, parakeets, hornbills, herons, cranes etc. are a familiar sight. The rivers and lakes harbour crocodiles, gharials and a large variety of indigenous fish. Trout is common in hill streams and the masher in most of the large rivers.

Sometimes it is fondly asked why should we preserve wildlife and conserve forests when we ourselves need more land for agriculture, housing and industries. Moreover, they argue, the wild beasts and birds destroy our crops and gardens. The wild beasts also pose a threat to our domestic animals and livestock. Why then should there be reserved forests and sanctuaries? Why should our scarce money and resources be spent on protecting lions, tigers, musk deer, crocodiles, cranes or swans? What do we lose if already some species of wildlife are extinct and some others are on the verge of extinction?

 Obviously, these questions and queries betray our ignorance and wrong priorities. Wildlife is an essential and integral part of nature. The wild birds, animals, insects and reptiles help to maintain a balance in nature and conservation of the environment. God has not created them without purpose. All these species have their respective and definite roles to play in the scheme of things. We should not forget that man is also an animal but social, intelligent and rational. We share many things in common with them. Our kinship with them is very long and established. They are there to enrich and make our life more enjoyable and meaningful.

 The decrease in their number is bound to influence the ecology and quality of our life adversely. They are as good and essential a part of nature as we human beings are. They are a constant and renewable source of food, medicine, decoration and protection of the environment. Nothing is useless in nature.

 That is why they find such an important place in our art, culture, religion, literature and mythology. Without them, more than half the charm of human life would be destroyed. They all are our great friends without which we cannot do. For example, snakes protect our crops by destroying rodents; vultures, kites etc. do our scavenging work, lions, tigers etc. the deer, the population in check and the birds and insects help in the fertilization of fruits, flowers and crops.

 Fish, deer, fowls, pheasants, rabbits, partridges, wild buffaloes, hogs etc. provide us meat and cats, musk deer etc. with perfumes and medicines. If there were no birds life world will be without much sweet music, colour, diversion, solace and beauty. In other words, wildlife is really precious and it is our bounden duty to preserve and protect it.

 From a tourist's point of view, our wildlife is a great attraction. Foreign tourists come here to see the royal tiger and lion, the majestic elephant, the magnanimous one-horned rhino, the colourful peacock, the wonderful birds of paradise and to angle the trout and the masher. They help us in earning our precious foreign exchange Moreover, their bones, skins, hair, tusks, horns, hoofs etc. are valuable and useful.

 A number of beautiful and useful articles are made from them. They supplement our national income in many ways. There are many things in life that are indispensable but we are seldom conscious of their importance. This applies to wildlife as well. These birds, beasts, insects and reptiles form an integral part of nature, human life, and national wealth.

 The extinction of many species of wildlife in India has sounded the warning bells. Thank God that we have not turned a deaf ear to these warning bells and signals. We have the zoological Survey of India (ZSI) with headquarters in Kolkata and 16 regional stations spread all over the country for surveying the faunal resources of the country.

 The wildlife protection act, of 1972 governs the wildlife conservation and protection of endangered species both inside and outside the forest.

Under this act, trade in rare and endangered species has been banned. It is a cognisable offence to kill these species. There are presently 75 national parks, 421 wildlife sanctuaries and 35 zoological gardens in the country, covering nearly 4.5 per cent of the geographical area. But still much remains to be done to protect and conserve the wildlife in?