Wildlife Conservation | Efforts, Importance, Facts

Protecting Animals in National Parks

One of the main ways governments can help conserve wildlife is by helping to protect wildlife habitat. Many governments have national parks where activities such as hunting, mining, farming and fishing are illegal. Most of the time, development is prevented or very limited in these areas.

The first national park was Yellowstone National Park in the United States. President Ulysses S. Grant made it a national park in 1872. Today, there are 58 national parks covering more than 200,000 square miles of land in the United States. Worldwide, more than 100 countries work together to protect more than 1000 national parks and wildlife reserves.

Captive Breeding

In some cases, the habitats of some species have been destroyed to the point where the animals can no longer survive in the wild. Fortunately, in some cases, zoos have maintained the species and helped it increase its population in captivity.

Tracking Animal Populations

An important part of animal welfare is monitoring animal populations. This helps scientists know whether the population is growing or decreasing. Scientists use a number of methods to try to understand animal populations.

Sometimes, scientists monitor populations by sending several people to visit an area and examine physical evidence such as animal tracks, burrows or burrows, and feeding sites. This method can take a lot of time and manpower, but sometimes it is the only option available. It can also be dangerous to try to track animals like tigers or rhinos.

Another way to track animals is to tag them with a transmitter. With the transmitter, scientists can track the animals’ movements, including migration patterns. Today’s technology has enabled much smaller transmitters. They can be placed under the animal’s skin or even swallowed. Some advanced tracking technologies use GPS and allow scientists to track an animal’s exact location.

Remote control cameras are also used to track animals. These cameras are housed in a transparent, weather-resistant housing and are usually attached to a tree near a wildlife feeding or trail. They use motion sensors to take pictures of animals as they pass.

Laws to Protect Animals

Governments can also help protect animals by passing laws that prohibit the killing or harm of endangered species. There are many international laws and treaties that protect animals. Those who injure or kill these protected animals can face lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines. Unfortunately, there are still countries that have not signed treaties or failed to enforce laws with heavy penalties.

Interesting Facts About Wildlife Conservation

There are more than 1,000 endangered species in the world.