As per legal definition, wildlife includes any animal specified in Schedules I -IV and found in the wild. This is clarified in Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Almost all the animals of Indian soil are included in this definition. Practically, there is no Vermin in the nature which becomes a nuisance.From October 2 to 8 every calendar year is observed the Wildlife Week in India. It begins with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Similarly October 4 is observed as World Animal Day to create awareness on preservation and conservation of animals. So every individual should take the responsibility of protecting the wild animals. Gandhi himself had told that every human being should be compassionate towards the animals.
There are 15 geographical divisions where different races of animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, carnivores, herbivores, omnivores and insectivores etc. are found due to variable habitats and habits. (1) Tropical wet evergreen. The plant and animal diversifications here are very rich. (2) Tropical semi evergreen forest, where the crop composition is evergreen to semi evergreen in nature. The diversification of animal and plant is as good as tropical wet evergreen forest. (3) Tropical moist deciduous (Sal) forest. Sal itself is a semi- evergreen plant and its associate plants are also deciduous and semi deciduous. The soil profile is also very rich.
Similarly, the biodiversity of the region is also equally rich like wet evergreen, and semi evergreen forests. (4) Tropical moist deciduous forests with or without Sal trees. The deciduous trees mean the trees that remain leafless for conservation of moisture in the plant bodies. (5) Tropical dry deciduas forests. In such forests the trees are completely deciduous and the soil is dry. So the ground flora is not as rich as other four categories of forests. (6) Tropical dry evergreen forests. Such types of forests are found in semi hilly areas where the soil is not so rich as compared to other five types of forests. Such types of forest are definitely better than dry deciduous forests and the plant and animal compositions are better than dry deciduous forest. (7) Sub- tropical wet forests.
The type of forest is a better habitat of plants and animals. The forests are also found in Odisha. (8) Sub- tropical dry forests. The crop and animal composition are not rich like other types of forests. (9) Tropical thorn forests. (10) Sub – tropical pine forests. (11) Wet temperate forests. (12) Moist temperate forest. (13) Dry temperate forests. (14) Alpine forests. Alpine forests are not found in Odisha. So the wild lives of these bio- climatic zones are quite different than tropical zones. The temperate and alpine zones have poorer bio- diversities compared to the tropical zone. (15) The tidal forests of river mouths are extremely rich in biodiversities. The river mouth forests or the tidal eco- systems are seen only in tropical lands. So the most richly diversified ecosystems in respect of plants and animals are seen in tidal eco- systems.
Other than 15 distinctive biological systems, there are coastal and peninsular eco systems. As Odisha is a State of rivers, streams and ocean, they influence the climate of Odisha. So the peninsular cum riverine ecological systems are prominent in the State. Especially, different kinds of mammals of herbivores and carnivores are noticed in the regions.
There are a large number of plant and animal communities in the ocean itself and also in the trans– zones of land and ocean. These are mostly polluted and decayed due to pollution of river systems in Odisha. A large part of plants and animals are noticed within the shallow parts of the sea than the deep sea. Sadly, all the oceans in the globe are becoming mega garbage bins of human beings. So the flora and fauna including the avifauna are under threat.
The main peninsular wetlands of Odisha include Chilika lagoon, Bhitarkanika, Hadagarh, lakhari valley, Ansupa lake, Satkoshia, Chandaka – Damapada. Among the peninsular hubs, the Chillika lagoon and the Ansupa lake are major eco- diversified spots. These areas are very eco- sensitive which need preventive, protective and conservative measures under the principle of sustainable development.
The large scale cultivation of prawn within the lagoon lands of Chillika is a threat to its very existence, which should be restrained very soon. The Environment Protection Act 1986 and the Biological Diversity Act 2002 should be enforced strictly as curative measures in case of Chillika and Ansupa. The Ansupa lake is shrinking very fast due to siltation and grabbing of lands for cultivations.
The original shape of the lake is much reduced for improper management of the lake by the authorities. So the sustainability of the lake is at stake.Indiscriminate waste disposal by the residents, industries and civic agencies have become a cause of concern for sustainable maintenance of river systems.
All the Hindu festivals generally fall during winter months of the year. The winter months are also the period of harvesting of different agricultural crops. This is also the period of breading season of different birds, animals, amphibians and reptiles. The idols of gods and goddess are immersed in the water bodies as a custom which pollute the water systems and water sources and pose a threat to the their ecosystems.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)