Around the world, wildlife species and the ecosystems and their inhabit are evolving and shifting in an attempt to adapt to human influences and environmental change. The factors dictating these changes are diverse and numerous which affects it, making it difficult to separate the effect each has on species survivorship as effecting on large scale. Increased morbidity and mortality of wildlife can be attributed to a variety of factors, including infectious diseases and environmental toxins, as well as exposure to such human activities as land development, predation by domestic pets, and automobile traffic.
As the urbanization of areas with native wildlife continues to increase, numerous pressures are been exerted on the natural structures of those habitats on which that habitat situated. For example, infringing development may not only increase exposure between wildlife species, domestic animals, and invasive species, but May also increase wildlife’s exposure leads to destruction.
Wildlife Death
Animal death is mind-boggling ‘Animals become extinct. They are also killed, gassed, electrocuted, exterminated, hunted, butchered, vivisected, shot, trapped, snared, run over, lethally injected, culled, sacrificed, slaughtered, executed, euthanized, destroyed, put down, put to sleep, and even, perhaps, murdered’
Scientists working at the forensic laboratory of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have found that majority of wildlife killings in India in past 32 years took place just “to fulfil people’s gastronomic desires
Causes of Death in Wildlife
- Natural causes: (Includes deaths attributed to disease, malnutrition, flooding, fire, birthing issues and chronic illness)
- Predators:
- vehicles:
- Hunting:
- Bizarre accidents: (notably a deer that fell down a well and subsequently died)
- Poaching
- Wild fire
- Death by electricity
Natural Death
Wildlife animals are usually died as per their death age but sometimes affected by virus and due not getting proper antibiotics they die.
West Nile Fever, Hendra and Nipah virus and many more diseases, including many zoonoses such as Ebola, are originally found in wildlife
- Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans and leads to shorten of life.
- Ebola
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe in nature, often-fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (some monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Ebola is considered to be a zoonosis.
Predator
Animals who live in the wild are eaten by predators before they die a natural death. As they become older so they become more vulnerable to predation. Predators themselves are actually rare animals and so it would be unusual to see one die a natural death.
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of seeking, pursuing and capturing or killing wild animals as per Wildlife Protection Act. Hunting wildlife is most commonly done by humans for meat, recreation, to remove predators that can be dangerous to humans or domestic animals, to remove pests that destroy crops or kill livestock, or for trade.
Most common hunting causes death of wildlife is Trophy Hunting
Trophy hunting is hunting of wild animal as a game for human recreation. The trophy is the animal or part of the animal kept, and usually displayed, to represent the success of the hunt. Only parts of the animal are kept as a trophies (usually the head, skin, horns or antlers) and the carcass of the animal is used for food or donated to the local community
The most expensive species to hunt are known as the Big Five: the lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros (both black and white)
Poaching
Poaching has been defined as per Wildlife Protection Act as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals
Due to poaching, many countries wildlife have been drastically reduced or even have become extinct.
Some animals, like birds, reptiles, and primates, are captured live so that they can be kept or sold as exotic pets. Slaughtering of animals, on the other hand, have commercial value as food, jewelry, decor, or traditional medicine. The ivory tusks of African elephants, for example, are carved into trinkets or display pieces. The scales of pangolins, small animals that eat ants, are ground into powder and consumed for their purported healing powers. The meat of apes, snakes, and other bush animals is considered a delicacy
This is because due to high poaching numbers and destruction of the environment by human expansion; the animals had previously become endangered species. When one animal population changes or becomes extinct, all other parts of the ecosystem are affected as the rate of specific predators versus prey will change.
Wildfire
Wildfire or rural fire is an unplanned, unwanted, uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation starting in rural areas. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire can also be classified more specifically as a forest fire, brush fire, bushfire , desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. It harms the wildlife by destroying their habitat and ultimate leads to death.
Sources of wildfire which causes death of wildlife’s:-
Natural
Natural fires are generally started by lightning which causes spark with a very small percentage started by spontaneous combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust and leaves
The most common cause of Natural wildfires are
Human
Fire is caused when a source of fire as a human activity like naked flame, cigarette or bidi, electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material.
Human related causes result from human activity as well as methods of forest management.
These can be intentional or unintentional, for example:
- Graziers and gatherers of various forest products starting small fires to obtain good grazing grass as well as to facilitate gathering of minor forest produce like flowers of Madhuca indica and leaves of Diospyros melanoxylon
- The centuries old practice of shifting cultivation (especially in the North-Eastern region of India and inparts of the States of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh).
- The use of fires by villagers to ward off wild animals causes fire in tress as causes destruction
- Fires lit intentionally by people living around forests for recreation commonly known as shifting cultivation
- Fires started accidentally by careless visitors to forests who discard cigarette butts which causes fire in forest
Death by electricity
The increase in electrification nationwide was correlated with an increase in wildlife animal deaths by electrocution, which rose as a proportion of all deaths,
Many wild animals are killed when villagers tap overhead power lines to fence fields to prevent incursions from herbivores. “Not even a tenth of these cases come to light,”
Law in the India Against Animal killing
Indian Wildlife Protection Act
According to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, act was enacted for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants, the act of hunting constitutes “capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring, or trapping any wild animal”. In fact, injuring, damaging or stealing body part of any animal also constitutes in hunting by this act. For wild birds and reptiles, “disturbing or damaging the eggs or nests” is tantamount to hunting. The amendment to the Act was enforced in January 2003 and punishment for offences was made more stringent.
It was the first-time when offender, who hunts animals or alters the boundaries of any reserved forested area, is liable for a minimum fine of Rs. 10,000 and at least three years of rigorous imprisonment. In case of a repeat offence, the term of imprisonment may extend to seven years with a minimum fine of Rs. 25,000. With the insertion of a new section, 51 A, the process of securing a bail has become more difficult. According to this amendment, the accused won’t get a bail unless the court finds “reasonable grounds” to believe that the individual is not guilty.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 was enacted with an objective of preventing infliction of unnecessary pains on the animals. The Section 11of PCA clearly elucidates that causing harm to any animal during transportation is a cognizable offence. Tying up cattle in overcrowded vehicles is illegal, according to this Act. In fact, injecting anything injurious and serving any poisonous food to animals is also illegal. Any such violation of Section 11under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960 invites a penalty of Rs. 100 and/or up to three months of imprisonment.
Indian Penal Code
According to sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, it is illegal to maim or injure any animal. Activities like throwing acid on cows, injuring street dogs and cats also invite punishment, which in a way serves as a caveat for many reckless drivers on the road. The Code also makes it illegal for cars running on the road to injure or kill dogs, cats and cows on the street. Offenders are either handed over to the local animal protection group or a police station. Further, a criminal case is filed against them. A minimum penalty of Rs. 2000 and/or up to five years of imprisonment are awarded to the guilty.
Animal Testing of Cosmetics Banned in India
In 2014, India introduced a nationwide ban on animal testing of cosmetics. The ban on animal testing makes it illegal to use chemicals on their skins of animal or feed them lethal doses for human uses. Moreover, any medical or research institute cannot pick up stray animals from the street for the purpose of experimentation as they require legal permission. To report cases of illegal animal testing, which causes ‘considerable suffering’ to animals, a national helpline has also been launched which will punish on doing this.
Conclusion
Death is a Natural Phenomena but sometimes it becomes murder as due to the greedy nature of human leads to increase in number of wildlife death. As the reports says 60 to 70 percent death in wildlife in due to human activities. Awareness among the human are necessary that destroying the habitat of innocent animals which leads to ultimate death of them causing imbalance in nature
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
Q1 What kind of laws is there for prohibition of animal killing?
Laws that are prohibiting animal killing are as follows:-
- Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960
- Indian Penal Code
- Indian Wildlife Protection Act
According to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, enacted for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants, the act of hunting constitutes “capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring, or trapping any wild animal.
A first-time offender, who hunts animals or alters the boundaries of any reserved forested area, is liable for a minimum fine of Rs. 10,000 and at least three years of rigorous imprisonment. For a repeat offence, the term of imprisonment may extend to seven years with a minimum fine of Rs. 25,000. With the insertion of a new section, 51 A, the process of securing a bail has become more difficult.
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 was enacted with an objective of preventing infliction of unnecessary pain on animals. The Section 11 clearly elucidates that causing harm to any animal during transportation is a cognizable offence. Tying up cattle in overcrowded vehicles is illegal, according to this Act. In fact, injecting anything injurious and serving any poisonous food is also illegal. Any such violation of Section 11 invites a penalty of Rs. 100 and/or up to three months of imprisonment.
- Indian Penal Code
According to sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, it is illegal to maim or injure any animal. Acts like throwing acid on cows, injuring street dogs and cats also invite punishment, which in a way serves as a caveat for many reckless drivers on the road. The Code also makes it illegal for cars to injure or kill dogs, cats and cows on the street. Offenders are either handed over to the local animal protection group or a police station. Further, a criminal case is filed against them. A minimum penalty of Rs. 2000 and/or up to five years of imprisonment are awarded to the guilty.
