It has been reported by scientists that 1.7 million of the world’s species comprise of animals, plants and algae, as at 2010.
Humans and animals are two entities that seem immeasurably different, but who history has been closely knotted since dawn of human evolution.
Animal worship, also known as Zoolatry, refers to religious rituals involving animals. This was mostly witnessed in ancient civilizations such as the veneration of animal deities and animal sacrifice.
The cult of the Leopard is widely found in West Africa.
In Thailand, a white elephant is believed to contain the soul of a dead person.
The cult of the wolf is commonly found among the tutelary deities of North American secret societies.
The monkey-servant of God, Hanuman, is a prominent figure in India. He is a deity born as the reincarnation of Lord Shiva, the God of destruction.
The Raven is the chief deity of the Tlingit people of Alaska.
North Borneo treated the hawk as a God, but wit was technically the messenger of the people’s Supreme God (Waterbury 1952, p.62)
The worship of snakes in India refers to the high status accorded to snakes in Hindu mythology.
The Canaanite God Dagon was a fish god, according to the Jewish scholar Rashi.
Unfortunately, animals are no more accorded such significances in our contemporary world. Enormous cruelty, untold suffering, pain and death for individual animals, family, groups and social networks are actually prevailing in the wildlife.
Yes, the wildlife is being exploited. I would say over-exploited!
Two forms of wildlife exploitation include over harvesting and poaching.
Over-harvesting refers to uncontrolled hunting or fishing of a species while poaching refers to illegal hunting.
It’s a pity to witness the civilized animal, human, inflicting pain on the uncivilized animal of the wild.
Media reports indicate increasing amounts of elephant poaching is Zimbabwe.
October 2001, 11 elephants were killed in Chizarira National Park. January this year a further 17 elephants killed in the Hwange National Park.
The largest Rhino population in the world is found in South Africa. The international demand for rhino horn has leverage the killing of rhinos by poachers in South Africa.
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a non-governmental conversation group, reports that rhino population in that country has declined rapidly in recent years due to heavy pouching.
Even circuses are using wild animals for entertainment but the cruelty behind this glamor and business is huge.
The evolution from animal worship in ancient civilization to wildlife over-exploitation in our contemporary world holds mankind as the main cause. Yes, we are responsible for this situation – you and me!
It is of utmost essence to comprehend why wildlife exploitation has upsurged significantly. The reasons have been clarified below:
1. Consumptive use context
This refers to the belief that animals are a resource to be used rather than protected. The core of this problem is that animals are viewed as a property – property of landowner, of governments or of rural communities.
2. Inadequate leadership from government as insufficient priority is being given to wildlife crime
3. Weak, ambiguous and contradictory wildlife laws
4. Low levels of staffing and capacity
5. Lack of effective anti-poaching strategies
6. Lack of effective public awareness-raising campaign
If you feel awakened by the facts provided above and want to eradicate wildlife exploitation, start now by making everyone aware of the actual situation – it’s a real crisis.
I request all social organizations in the world to include concrete projects on wildlife protection as part of their project proposal.
Even as an individual, if you feel concerned about the untold suffering of animals, start now By creating awareness campaigns on wildlife exploitation and protection on social networking sites, through your personal websites or blogs and others.
Let’s act! If you have come across this post, then it’s surely for a reason. If you are still reading this line, this shows your interest in this subject.
The animals need us!
