Wildlife

Wildlife refers to undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species living in their natural habitats. This definition includes all organisms that grow or live wild without being introduced by humans. While popular culture often portrays wildlife as something untouched by people, most scientists agree that human activity affects much of it. Wildlife exists in every ecosystem on Earth, from vast deserts and grasslands to dense forests. Even highly developed urban areas contain distinct groups of wildlife. Some species, such as feral cats, dogs, mice, and rats, have even adapted to living in suburban environments.

Humans have interacted with wildlife for a very long time. Since the exodus of humans from Africa between 130,000 and 70,000 years ago, people have exploited wild resources. In many parts of the world, hunting, fishing, and gathering remain significant food sources. In other regions, these activities are viewed as sport or recreation. Some meat sourced from wildlife is specifically called bushmeat when it is not traditionally considered game. The international trade of wildlife is a massive industry. According to CITES, this trade is likely worth billions of dollars and affects hundreds of millions of individual specimens annually.

Wildlife also holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. Many religions declare certain animals to be sacred. For example, Native Americans may find great spiritual value in eagles, hawks, and their feathers. In Hinduism, the cow is regarded as a sacred animal. During the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, Muslims may offer sacrifices such as camels, sheep, or goats. Christianity also uses various animal symbols in its teachings. The New Testament assigns specific animals to the Gospels, such as the lion for Mark and the eagle for John.

Our interest in the natural world has also created a massive media industry. Wildlife is a common subject for educational television and documentaries. In 1963, the program Wild Kingdom debuted on NBC with host Marlin Perkins. The BBC natural history unit also pioneered wildlife series, such as Zoo Quest, which featured David Attenborough. Today, the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet dominate the market. Specialized documentary filmmaking is now a multimillion-dollar industry spanning many countries, including the UK, US, Japan, and Australia.

Despite our fascination, global wildlife populations have decreased significantly. Since 1970, populations have dropped by 68% due to human activities like overconsumption, population growth, and intensive farming. This decline is so rapid that many scientists believe we are in a sixth mass extinction event. The 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services stated that roughly one million species face extinction within decades. Furthermore, research shows that 48% of 70,000 monitored animal species are experiencing population declines due to human industrialization.

Several specific processes drive this loss, a phenomenon known as defaunation. One cause is overkill, which occurs when hunting rates exceed a population's reproductive capacity. This is especially dangerous for slow-growing species, such as large fish. Another major cause is habitat destruction and fragmentation. This happens when human habitation, such as forest clearing for timber or draining wetlands for cities, breaks the landscape into small, disconnected patches. This reduces the carrying capacity of the land, meaning it can support fewer animals.

Other factors include the impact of introduced species and chains of extinction. Introduced species are organisms that move into a new habitat and become invasive. While most species fail to reproduce in new areas, some populations take hold and cause destructive effects on the native environment. Finally, there are chains of extinction, which are secondary effects caused by the loss of one species. Because all wild populations are linked in complex ways, the disappearance of one animal can trigger a series of changes throughout the entire ecosystem.