Why Wildlife Conservation Is Paramount Today?

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Our world has gifted us with such a fascinating array of wildlife, it’s easy to take it for granted. Birdlife, animals, insects, sea life… species that are special to specific areas, creatures that thrive in urban areas, in the country, and more. The wildlife we see every day for free; the world is our own personal zoo. If this is the case, we need to all think and act as a zoo – look after our precious wildlife and preserve them and the habitats where they live. So others further down the line can marvel at them like we do now. This is the essence of wildlife conservation; to look after all life on earth.

We tend to think of conservation as an action we apply to species that are rare or endangered, but it’s more than that. It’s a way of thinking that should be directed at all wildlife because nature is a chain connected to and driven by cycles. Today, our wildlife is entering a phase in which these cycles are becoming more vicious, and this poses not only a threat to the animals themselves but also our own lives. So the importance of wildlife preservation isn’t just for the good of the wildlife but for us too.

Factors to consider

The overriding reason to conserve wildlife is to maintain our world’s biodiversity. That is to protect every species due to the roles they play in our ecosystem. It’s been said so many times before, that nature around us has a balance between the different species and how they instinctively live. In Europe, a family of foxes will hunt rabbits for food, helping to control their numbers that, in turn, stops those rabbits from eating all of Farmer Joe’s crops which he hopes will find their way to our table.

Conservation isn’t only about animals in the wild, it’s also about the ethics of keeping animals in captivity. For example, the keeping of bears as ‘attractions’ is hugely traumatic for these intelligent animals who instinctively want to roam free. Or elephants used as part of tourism in parts of Asia. It’s a long list but we can all agree that every animal has a right to live as nature intended.

Our own survival also benefits from wildlife conservation. As we mentioned in the case of the fox, if we upset the ecological equilibrium, it’s us who will ultimately suffer from loss of food and water supplies. Because, when an animal is deprived of its primary source of food, and habitats, they adapt to find new sources. Much of the time, this brings them closer to us and our lives. This is something which brings with it a host of problems for mankind. Aside from being eaten by predators, the spread of diseases carried by wildlife is something of a larger issue, which we’re now experiencing first hand with the Covid-19 and Ebola outbreaks in Africa.

If animals have a right to a free life, we can extend this line of thought to our own lives too – by conserving wildlife, we’re also conserving our human existence.

What can I do to preserve wildlife?

There are loads of things we can all do to help preserve the beauty of our biodiversity.

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Bin your trash, and even the stuff others leave behind if you’re out and about.

Cut down your plastic use. There are really no excuses these days to be letting plastic run your life.

Go plant-based. It’s tasty, it’s good for you, it’s even better for the environment.

Read the small print. Lots of the things we buy, especially pharmaceuticals, are tested on or contain animal products.

Volunteer. Get out there and join an organization that helps animals for a real feel-good experience.

Be smart. Keep yourself informed on conservation and environmental issues locally and on a wider level. Knowledge is power, and reading is sexy.

Donate. There are countless grassroots organizations that are working towards the conservation of wildlife. This can be powered by small regular donations.