Wildlife plays critical role in maintaining ecological balance: Tathagata

Wildlife plays a critical role in maintaining environmental balance as well as humans, and only humans can correct their own mistakes, said Dharitri and Orissa POST Editor Tathagata Satpathy while addressing the audience at the 71st National Wildlife Week celebration at the Keonjhar district auditorium, Wednesday.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

Dharitri and Orissa POST Editor Tathagata Satpathy addressing the audience in the presence of dignitaries at the 71st National Wildlife Week celebration at the Keonjhar district auditorium, Wednesday

Gracing the occasion as the chief speaker, Satpathy said rapid human expansion has endangered even the mighty elephants. “Raising awareness and staying aware about our environment is our foremost duty as responsible citizens,” he noted.

Sharing his experiences from attending various “Hati Sabhas” (elephant awareness meetings) across Keonjhar district’s rural areas, Satpathy said he was moved to see that villagers living in elephant-prone zones do not harbour hatred toward the pachyderms. “Patience and mutual trust among villagers have helped reduce human-elephant conflict,” he added.

This planet belongs equally to humans and all living creatures, Satpathy said, emphasising that it is still not too late to protect wildlife. He illustrated the point with an example: In one country, people consume snakes. They did it to such an extent that none were left to control the rat population, disrupting ecological balance. As a result, an increase in rodent population caused concern among the residents. Similarly, elephants being massive wild animals often break high branches and feed on leaves, which in turn helps regenerate forest growth by allowing sunlight to reach the ground. Such natural processes contribute to future afforestation, he said.