The times, they are a-changing
Times are good for wildlife. Even better for deers walking on the street. The sky is clear. The stars are visible and peacocks are roaming the neighborhood.
In the midst of good news emanating from nature, stray incidences of tiger and leopard sightings are on the increase as well. The internet which is the choice of most during these days of isolation is filled with stories of wildlife bouncing back. These positive tales are a silver lining for the warriors of conservation who have had the misfortune of living through bad news for most of their years.
However, does the ever increasing barrage of wildlife-bouncing-back news seek to remind us that our actions had created conditions of wildlife to be marginalized and now that human are in isolation, wildlife will come back strong.
Is this messaging slowly and steadily creating a negative loop where the already guilt ridden humankind has now been saddled by the growing realization that our actions over the past decades had contributed immensely to driving away animals from their erstwhile homes.
The fear that is seeping through is that the now common visuals of nature hitting the reset button may lead to a denouncement of all things natural.
Already we see cases of social media fatigue that seeks to debunk the growing imagery of revival.
Many comment that if the world as we knew it a few weeks back was good enough for their family, then they will be able to tolerate the pollution. So, why risk living in a world where nature is bouncing but humankind is closeted.
Increasingly, people are waking up to the fact that they don't want a world where nature is powerful enough to dominate us. In a perverse cycle, the fear is that humankind will seek a world where they dominated nature and not vice versa.
The feel good news may end up making people distrustful of nature at a time when we are all stressed. As it is, with most of the news turning out to be fake, the fear is that we may start pushing back against the deluge of good news.
And in pushing back, we may end up creating a miracle enemy when none existed.
Coupled with these bits and pieces of good news, is the increasing sighting of carnivores from places as diverse as Pulwama to Chandigarh to Philibit and now a rare tiger sighting in the Kaimur forests. . Why most of these news are true, what is the matter of concern is the fear that human wildlife conflict might be on the rise. And with large parts of the country under lockdown, animals are getting an opportunity to roam without fear and in previously taboo territory.
If cases of conflict increase, man's hitherto impatience with nature in these trying times could lead to more harm for wildlife as retribution during conflict could be high.
News on wildlife needs to be filtered better and human should not be made to feel that they were the causes for the decline of wildlife. On the other hand, increased sounds of birds chirping in the morning and flocking together in the evening should be communicated as the best possible future scenario a world where mankind can coexist other species.
News Agencies and social media influencers must take up this opportunity to bridge the divide between us and them. Instead of creating a sense of competition, the messaging should be loud and clear that our entire community is not a competitor but a species that is missing nature due to our current lifestyle.
Entire society needs to be reminded that nature has always had a soothing experience on us and it is up to us that when things go back to normal, our new-found respect for nature is sustained.
In the midst of good news emanating from nature, stray incidences of tiger and leopard sightings are on the increase as well. The internet which is the choice of most during these days of isolation is filled with stories of wildlife bouncing back. These positive tales are a silver lining for the warriors of conservation who have had the misfortune of living through bad news for most of their years.
However, does the ever increasing barrage of wildlife-bouncing-back news seek to remind us that our actions had created conditions of wildlife to be marginalized and now that human are in isolation, wildlife will come back strong.
Is this messaging slowly and steadily creating a negative loop where the already guilt ridden humankind has now been saddled by the growing realization that our actions over the past decades had contributed immensely to driving away animals from their erstwhile homes.
The fear that is seeping through is that the now common visuals of nature hitting the reset button may lead to a denouncement of all things natural.
Already we see cases of social media fatigue that seeks to debunk the growing imagery of revival.
Many comment that if the world as we knew it a few weeks back was good enough for their family, then they will be able to tolerate the pollution. So, why risk living in a world where nature is bouncing but humankind is closeted.
Increasingly, people are waking up to the fact that they don't want a world where nature is powerful enough to dominate us. In a perverse cycle, the fear is that humankind will seek a world where they dominated nature and not vice versa.
The feel good news may end up making people distrustful of nature at a time when we are all stressed. As it is, with most of the news turning out to be fake, the fear is that we may start pushing back against the deluge of good news.
And in pushing back, we may end up creating a miracle enemy when none existed.
Coupled with these bits and pieces of good news, is the increasing sighting of carnivores from places as diverse as Pulwama to Chandigarh to Philibit and now a rare tiger sighting in the Kaimur forests. . Why most of these news are true, what is the matter of concern is the fear that human wildlife conflict might be on the rise. And with large parts of the country under lockdown, animals are getting an opportunity to roam without fear and in previously taboo territory.
If cases of conflict increase, man's hitherto impatience with nature in these trying times could lead to more harm for wildlife as retribution during conflict could be high.
News on wildlife needs to be filtered better and human should not be made to feel that they were the causes for the decline of wildlife. On the other hand, increased sounds of birds chirping in the morning and flocking together in the evening should be communicated as the best possible future scenario a world where mankind can coexist other species.
News Agencies and social media influencers must take up this opportunity to bridge the divide between us and them. Instead of creating a sense of competition, the messaging should be loud and clear that our entire community is not a competitor but a species that is missing nature due to our current lifestyle.
Entire society needs to be reminded that nature has always had a soothing experience on us and it is up to us that when things go back to normal, our new-found respect for nature is sustained.
