Whether you enjoyed the infamous love story of Jane and Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan, profusely cried when the king of the Savanna, Mufasa, died in The Lion King or sang along with Mowgli and Baloo in The Jungle Book, the film industry has imprinted the existence and lives of wildlife in our minds. In light of World Wildlife Day (3rd March), we took the liberty to understand who and what exactly wildlife represents in the biological community that is the world.
Wildlife is defined as any non-domesticated animal and life such as microorganisms, vegetation and fungi. Different animals, plants and microorganisms are found all over the world for different reasons. For wildlife to thrive, it is imperative that they live in their respective habitats; a natural environment that is uniquely suited to a certain species’ needs. For instance, gorillas thrive in tropical and subtropical climates that are filled with abundant succulent vegetation however, moose inhabit mixed deciduous forests in temperate to sub-arctic weather to survive.
Apart from how distinctively designed each animal is physically, wildlife serves human beings in
a number of ways. Plant fibers and trees are used to make a variety of necessities such as clothing, paper and wood for housing. Plants also ensure the cleanliness of the air, i.e. phytoplankton, a type of microalgae, eradicates carbon from the atmosphere. Certain mushrooms have been found to prevent and treat cancer. The migration of wild animals and changes to their behavioural patterns act as a sign of climate change and indicate the health of an ecosystem. Therefore, when lands are simply left barren, it tends to signal a lack of support of life.
All life forms on Earth are interdependent in sustenance of a balanced ecosystem. In short, we are all in this together. So, the next time you see a member of the wildlife community, you might want to give it an imaginary high-five in appreciation and support for all it does for the world and always having your back!
For more information on World Wildlife Day
https://www.wildlifeday.org
https://www.wwf.org.uk/wildlife
https://outofafricapark.com/educate-conserve2/importance-of-conservation/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&page=2&sort=extinction_status
By Lela Pea, Editor