THREATS TO BIO DIVERSITY

      THREATS TO BIO DIVERSITY

EXTENTION is the complete ellemination of wild species. It is a natural but slow process but due to unplanned activities  of man, the rate of decline of wild life has been particularly rapid in the last one hundred years. There are numbers of causes which are known to cause extinction of wildlife:

1.      HABITAT LOSS

It is the most serious threat to wildlife. It is due to :

(a)   Environmental pollution

(b)    Deforestation leads to decrease in the area of movement so decreasing their reproductive powers. Main cause of its facing extinction are :

(c)    Soil erosion.

(d)   Agricultural expansion.

(e)   Overgrazing.

(f)     Increase in urbanisation.

(g)   Forest fires due to certian human activities or by chance.

(h)   Development work like dams, reservoirs,roads, railway lines, cropland industries,mines,etc.

2.      POACHING OF WILDLIFE

Indiscriminate hunting for various uses of animalslike food ,hide ,horn,fur,recreation,etc.

Excessive hunting is known to cause:

(a)   Extinction of dodo bird of Mauritius.

(b)   Extinction of cheetah, the fastest mammal of india.

According to a report of WPSI (wild life protection society of india), more than 60 tigers have been poached in different parts of our country during the year 1994-95 . wild life society of orrisa has reported that 57 elephants have been short dead  by poachers for ivory between 1992-96. Between 1995 and 2000, about 175 lions and 226 tigers died in India zoos as against 46 lions and 142 tigers in the protected areas.

3.      OTHER REASONS

(i)     Introduction of exotic species are known as to threaten the survival of many native species. Eg.

(a)   American cockroaches is threatening is the existence of native oriental cockroaches

(b)   Goats and rabbits introduced in the island of pacific and Indian oceans and destroying the habitats of several plants, birds , reptiles.

(c)    Congress grass has replaced the herbs and sherbs in open spaces.

(d)   Water hyacinth has become dominant species in pools and ponds.

(e)   Lantana, a plant now has entered in to forests and seriously competing with native species growing there.

              (ii)         over exploitation of natural resources .g over fishing , mechanical catching of    

                                          animals species,etc. Is a serious threats to the wildlife.

               (iii)         disturbance in migratory routes of animals like fishes due to construction of                                                                

                                          dams ,etc., so these are not able to reach their destinations and face        

                                            extinction.

                (iv)          international trade in animal products like medicines, perfumes,       

                                             cosmetics, decoration,museum specimens,etc, is the cause of

                                             destruction of many species.

                (v)            highways. A number of wild animals get confused and are run over by the

                                                    Vehicles on the highways so decreasing in their number.

MAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTS

Wildlife protecting bodies and local people have undergone a indirect conflict. Local communities have been affected due to :

(I)                 Loss of wild resources.

(II)               Income has depleted of rural population due to check on  hunting , harvesting and illegal encroachment. Human elephant conflict is an intresting example. Elephants being cute and loveable and cherishable animals. But if they are put next to your house they turn violent leading to conflict with human.