My Science School

The day

On December 20, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as UN World Wildlife Day "to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's wild animals and plants". March 3 was chosen because that was the day way back in 1973 that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was signed. The theme for 2022 is "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration". The day aspires to "drive the debate towards the imperative need to reverse the fate of the most critically endangered species, to support the restoration of their habitats and ecosystems and to promote their sustainable use by humanity".

Recovering key species

The day aims to turn the spotlight on "the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora". Small or large, each and every creature on the planet has a unique function. No matter which part of the world we are in, as humans we are dependent on animal and plant biodiversity for our very existence. We rely on them for everything from food and medicine to clothing and housing. So, a species going extinct affects not just the species, also us humans. This is because when species disappear, ecosystems too disappear. How does that happen?

Ecosystem restoration

 As mentioned earlier, every organism has a vital role to play in an ecosystem Any ecosystem is carefully balanced and is a web of interconnected species of animals and plants. When one of them goes extinct, animals and plant dependent on that species in some way-for food, shelter, nest. etc. - will have to find a new place for these benefits or suffer. Eventually, if the earlier balance cannot be achieved the ecosystem collapses. Take the case of the bees. Bees play an important role in pollination, because of which new plants are born. If bees go extinct, gradually most plants will disappear, and along with them the herbivores that eat the plants, the carnivores that eat these herbivores, and so on. Further, humans too will be left without plant-based and animal-based food. No honey, for sure! This is why it is important to protect species, especially critically endangered ones, from going extinct. When such species are protected, the ecosystems are protected too. Several aspects, including deforestation and habitat loss push species to extinction, and by protecting our environment, we protect the species around us, ourselves, and the planet itself!

Threatened Species In Numbers

• According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered.
• Close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable.
• Based on these estimates, it is suggested that at least one million species are threatened with extinction.

Picture Credit : Google

A lush green rainforest surrounded by towering limestone mountains and cliffs, the Khao Sok National Park was established in 1980. Located on the southern part of Thailand, this Park is spread across nearly 650 sq.km, and is dominated by spectacular waterfalls and caves. The Park is part of the Khlong Saeng-Khao Sok Forest Complex, the largest contiguous forest block in southern Thailand. A veritable fertile forest, it's no surprise that the region boasts a variety of flora, which, in turn, supports many types of birds and mammals. However, the key attraction of the Park is a flower (see box)! It is the flower of Rafflesia kerrii, belonging to the Rafflesia family of plants.

Wildlife

Some of the birds that can be spotted here are hornbills, terns, herons, kingfishers, kites, eagles, hawks, waterhens, lapwings, sandpipers, pipits, pigeons, doves, parrots, coucals, malkohas, owls, trogons, bee-eaters, rollers, barbets, woodpeckers, broadbills, swifts, swallows, wagtails, leafbirds, bulbuls, drongos, babblers, munias, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, sunbirds, flycatchers, thrushes, and robins. Among the many mammals that have made the Park their home are tiger, leopard, bear, the Malayan tapir, gaur, deer, wild boar, porcupine, macaque, gibbon, langur and the Asiatic wild dog. in addition to a large variety of reptiles and amphibians.

Rafflesia

• Rafflesia is a parasitic flowering plant and includes several species such as Rafflesia kerrii and Rafflesia amoldi. Rafflesia kerri is the symbolic flower of Surat Thani Province in which the Park is located
• The plant bears the largest flowers in the world - they can grow to have a diameter of more than three feet and weigh up to even 10 kg! Interestingly, the five-petalled flower is the only visible part of the plant
• The flower emits a foul smell that of rotting flesh- to attract insects such as flies, giving it its popular name "corpse flower".
• These flowers are said to be in full bloom between October and December and are believed to have a very short life span. Rafflesia are threatened by habitat loss and human interference, among other factors.

Threats and concerns

Logging: More than 30 years ago, illegal logging was made unlawful in Thailand. The problem has been curtailed since then. However, it continues to this day in a few remote areas with the help of armed gangs. Also, it is important to note that logging is integral to people in some remote villagers, since it actually forms a basis of their income.

Plantations: Plantations, including rubber, cover large swathes of land. But then when demand for such plantation increases, it is possible that the areas expand to include natural forest environment, resulting in natural habitat loss. More and more loss of natural green cover means the chance of soil erosion too increases in these rainforests.

Poaching: Illegal wildlife trade is one of the causes for poaching in the region. Animals such as tigers constantly face this threat because their body parts are valued in traditional medicine in other countries such as China.

Tourism: Tourism can both be a blessing and a bane. Income generated by tourists keep national parks and wildlife sanctuaries going. They also help in the conservation of widlife. But unsustainable tourism can have an adverse impact on the habitat. Insensitive human behaviour towards wildlife, altering habitats to accommodate tourists, etc. add to human-related problems in natural wildlife habitats.

Picture Credit : Google