Essay on Wildlife Conservation - Essays for Class 9

Introduction

Wildlife conservation is the phenomenon of protection and management of wildlife facing the danger of extinction. Wildlife is an important feature of our ecology. They are the animals or plants which are the supporting systems of our ecosystem. They are living in wilderness in some forests or jungles. They are helping in maintaining our ecological balance. The inhuman practices are leading wildlife creatures to become endangered or extinct. India is rich in biodiversity, but there are many factors leading to the loss of the same.

Factors Leading to Wildlife Destruction

• Overexploitation of resources
• Habitat loss
• Pollution
• Habitat fragmentation
• Hunting and poaching
• Climatic changes

Types of Wildlife Conservation

• In-situ Conservation: In this type of conservation, species of plants and animals, and their genetic material are protected or conserved within their habitat. The areas are termed as protected areas. They are national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves.
  
• Ex-situ Conservation: This conservation technique involves conservation or protection of the species of plants and animals and also the genetic material outside their habitat. This is done in form of gene banks, cryopreservation, tissue culture, captive breeding, and botanical gardens.

Importance of Wildlife Conservation

• Ecological balance
• Aesthetic and recreational value
• Promotes to maintain biodiversity

Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India

• Project Tiger: This project was launched by the Government of India in 1973, with an initiative for protection and management of the reducing population of the tiger. The Bengal tigers were reducing drastically in their numbers and their habitats too as a result of increasing human activities and advancements. Therefore in order to protect their habitat and their numbers, project initiative was taken. The project was administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
  • The main objective of the project was to maintain the habitat of the tigers from destruction. Secondly, ensuring a rise in the number of tigers.
  • The project had a positive approach in saving our Royal Bengal Tigers, as their number increased from 1000-5000 approx. At an initial level, there were 9 protected areas which came up to become 50 till 2015. This was really a successful attempt towards the conservation of the Tiger our national animal.
• Project Elephant: The increased developmental activities like construction of roads, railways, resorts, buildings are leading to the clearing up many forests and grazing spaces which results in the destruction of the habitat of different wild animals. The same was observed with elephants too. Project elephant was launched by the Indian government in 1992 to conserve the number of elephants, maintenance of their habitat, reduce human-animal conflicts, as well as reduce hunting and poaching.
  • This project was launched at the central level, but the initiative was taken up by the states, funds were also provided to different states according to the requirements. 16 states were mainly implementing the act.
• Crocodile Conservation Project: This project was launched in 1975, at different state levels. The objective of the project was to prevent the habitat destruction of the crocodiles and thus helping to increase their numbers. The hunting and killing of the crocodiles should be monitored. As a result of this initiative, the numbers have been increased from 100 to 1000 till 2012.
• UNDP Sea Turtle Conservation Project: This project launched by UNDP, aims at properly managing and conserving the reducing numbers of the turtle population.

Conclusion

The results of population explosion and urbanization have to lead to an increase in the activities of cutting down forests and turning them into buildings, hotels, or places of human settlements. This results in a reduction of the habitat of different forest-dwelling species. They have to leave those places and search for new habitat which is not very easy. The search for new habitat, a lot of competition for food, carries many of the species towards the verge of extinction.

Wildlife animals and plants are important aspects of nature. A loss at any level may lead to unnatural consequences. They are responsible for the ecological balance and for the sustenance of mankind, the balance must be maintained. Therefore along with the conservation efforts by the government, it’s our social responsibility, to individually put our efforts in conservation of the wildlife.