World Animal Day on October 4 :

Focus on saving endangered species

By Pramod DE SILVA

It is easy to think that the world belongs to us - mankind. We dominate the planet to the extent that we do not even think about the existence of other species.

Yet, the stark reality is that we are just one life form out of the millions of species existing on Earth. We have to share the Earth and its resources with these plant and animal species.

While not ignoring or belittling the enormous contribution made by plants to the very existence of life on Earth, it would simply be impossible for Man to live without animals. They add diversity to our Earth and yes, to our lives.

The animal kingdom is so vast that many species have still not been catalogued or discovered. Animals can be broadly classified into a few groups – mammals (that’s where we too belong; Man is an animal), birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects.

We have a very close relationship with a few animals (especially cats and dogs, pet birds and fish to a lesser extent). In fact, these are the only carnivores that we have ‘tamed’ during a relationship that spans thousands of years. All the other animals that we have domesticated are herbivores. We do have an uneasy relationship with certain animal forms such as snakes.

However, in the grand design of life and evolution, all animals are equally significant. The Earth’s ecosystem depends on this delicate balance. Unfortunately, many species are being driven to extinction because of Man’s activities. We will lose a vital part of the cog of life - and a part of our collective souls – if more species are allowed to fade away.

It is imperative to protect the animal species currently inhabiting our planet. Animal life on our planet is a treasure worth celebrating. This is precisely what millions of people will be doing on October 4, World Animal Day (WAD).

Diverse roles

Observed all over the world by animal lovers, the WAD aims at celebrating animal life in all its forms; celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom; acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives – from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives; acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives.

World Animal Day was launched in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life.

October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It is intended as a day of celebration for anyone in the world who cares about animals. It is not restricted to any nationality, creed, religion, political belief or ideology.

The special day is aimed at encouraging everybody to commemorate their love and respect for animals by doing something special to highlight the importance of animals in the world.

Thanks to initiatives such as the WAD, the rise of animal welfare organisations, the increasing popularity of vegetarianism and an overall increase of knowledge about the animal world, most people are now aware that animals have rights of their own and that they should be protected.

The Internet too is playing a big role in the sphere of animal welfare. An act of cruelty to animals even in the remotest corner of the world gets a lot of attention on the Web, thanks to the power of social networks, blogs and news sites.

Online petitions

Online petitions have led to the stoppage of many acts of cruelty to animals. One recent example is from China, where the authorities stopped a planned “dog-eating carnival” in the Qianxi Township after online outrage exploded about the killing and skinning of hundreds of dogs right on the street.

In another victory for animal rights, Spain’s autonomous Catalonia region has banned bullfighting, the world’s most brutal blood sport, from January 2012.

Love and affection for animals should begin at home. When your dog wags his tail to welcome you home after a hard day’s work and when your cat jumps on to your lap for a nap, that is heaven.

The simple act of petting a household pet can lower blood pressure and stress and make you relax totally. In turn, they give you a lot more love and years of fun.

Dogs actually love humans more than they love themselves and as for cats, they are fiercely independent creatures whose wild streak may be the very reason we love them so much. As the saying goes, dogs have masters and cats, servants – that’s us.

Children and pets are a remarkable combination. Having a pet or two at home will teach children the value of sharing their lives (and their food!) with animals.

Spare a day to visit the Zoo and learn more about the animals in our countries as well as those found in other countries. This is bound to open your eyes to the wide world of animals. Read books and articles on the animal world. Do watch some good documentaries about animals on TV and you will learn things you never knew even about ‘familiar’ animals.

Familiar or exotic, a large number of animals that share our living space are threatened with extinction. These animals have been hunted incessantly for sport, body parts or skin or Man has invaded their habitat. We have experienced the latter in this country vis-à-vis the human-elephant conflict.

Just last week, we celebrated the World Rhino Day, which highlighted the plight of just one species out of the millions; poachers have killed 287 rhinos in South Africa this year, including 16 critically endangered black rhinos, the World Wildlife Fund reported.

Traditional medicine

South Africa is home to the majority of the world's rhinos, and the 271 African white rhinos killed there this year represent 1.3 percent of the entire population of the animals, the conservation group said.

The rhinos are killed for their horns, which are used in traditional medicine in Asia, including a misplaced belief they can cure cancer. Only around 28,000 rhinos are left in the world.

Worldwide, many other animal species are about to be lost forever, unless drastic action is taken. One glaring instance comes from Ecuador, which has the last remaining 47 Floreana Mockingbirds. You read that right, 47.

‘Drastic action’ is the key word here. That is what saved the Arabian Oryx. During the 20th century, hunting took a heavy toll and when the last wild individual was shot in 1972, the species was declared 'extinct in the wild'. A few animals, caught as wild numbers dwindled, were brought together with oryxes from royal collections in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Successful breeding programs saw the captive herd grow.

In Oman in 1982, the first oryx were reintroduced to their traditional lands. In June 2011 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said that the number of wild oryx had hit the 1,000 mark and that the species was well on the way to recovery.

That is the kind of success story that the world needs to protect its animals. And everyone can contribute – by caring for animals and standing up for their rights. And the WAD is an ideal way to start.