Seven acts of kindness to animals
World Animal Day is over for another year.
Our guest article suggests ways to keep the momentum going for animals year-round.
October 4 was World Animal Day, when people observe animal rights and welfare across various parts of the world.
These are the living beings that we use for various purposes – for food, sport, work and transport, in science and medicine, textiles and as pets.
However, it is sad that, today, animal populations have declined by almost 70% over the past 50 years, a recent World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2020 says.
This is all because of over-exploiting them, defaunation and defragmentation, and deforestation that results in loss of habitat of the major part of biodiversity – since almost 80% of the terrestrial fauna relies on forests. Many other similar reasons lie behind this global issue.
October 4 every year is the wake up call to protect them and show acts of kindness.
Release wild animals into their natural habitat
Habitat is a place adopted by a particular animal. An animal is unable to live properly when they are out of their natural habitat.
If, as 2020’s Living Planet Report suggests, loss of habitat continues, the risk of future pandemics is highly likely to expand since it leads to a much closer contact with wild animals.
Therefore, to avoid harming ourselves as well as the wildlife, the latter must be taken to their natural habitat.
Place a feeding or water bowl for birds
Birds are one of most loved living organisms on this planet Earth. Their chirping sound and charming look are the qualities we love a lot, and we cannot find such amusing traits in any other living creatures.
However, there comes a time when you need them. You can quench the thirst, as well as sate the hunger of birds, by placing a water or feeding bowl for them.
You can do this anywhere, such as in home or office building, where it is approachable to the birds.
Make your yard wildlife friendly
Certain living organisms, such as butterflies, bees, and other similar creatures, have a routine to search for flowering plants, which is one of their major feeding resources.
For such flying, and perhaps highly economically important insects, planting Butterfly Weed, Autumn Sneezeweed, Yellow Mustard and Blanket Flower throughout the months of July to October can make your yard wildlife friendly. Flowers like Allium, Dicentra and Eremurus are specifically important for some butterflies and hummingbirds.
Plant a tree
It is a myth not to consider a tree as one of the ecosystems. Actually, even a single tree composes a tiny ecosystem.
A tree is a place for bees to make their comb, for birds to nest, for cattle to avoid extreme temperature, and for many other similar purposes.
Thus, it is very crucial to plant at least one tree to make any place even a more wildlife or domestic-animal friendly.
Let them take rest
Pack and draft animals, such as cattle, camel, donkeys, horses, yaks, reindeer, mules and many among others have been used to transport anything heavy.
However, animals are living beings, they do need rest, as we do. Besides, if you find any one of such animals, make them drink water, or even feed them when necessary.
Help young animals find their mother
Some animals abandon their offspring after their birth. However, many (especially mammals and birds) keep nurturing their young ones until they become able to live by themselves.
Therefore, to avoid parental deprivation of such animal babies, help them find their ancestor.
Stop making animals fight each other
Cock, bull, and dogfighting have been more common in our society. This is not a game, this is actually a violence that must be prosecuted and banned wherever this happens, since this leads people to gambling, drugs, or other such similar criminal acts.
If this continues, people will keep harming such innocent animals in the name of game.
Guest article by Iqbal Siyal (Zoology student)