M.A. Leo Anand S. J.
Image: Deepthi Ghoyal via Unsplash
We see in nature that everything has its place; nothing is extra or unnecessary. “The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects” says Thomas Berry. Each creature has its own way of balancing in the ecosystem. Some pious believers, when faced with the ant-bite and poking of the thorny plants, might think that they were not created by God.
We cannot eliminate anything which has evolved in its natural way and taken its place in the biosphere. Just as in the living system each organ is important, all organs have their significant role in the growth and survival and propagation of the individual organism. The functions of some organs, which are named as vestigial, are yet to be brought to light.
The ecosystems are varied and have their own specialities. The Western Ghats in the Indian sub-continent is rich with its flora and fauna and is the habitat of many wild lives. Blessed with mountainous ranges which become the birth place of many south Indian rivers, the dense canopy becomes a niche for many plants and animals to live in the optimum climate in a natural habitat.
At present based in Mettupalayam — an elephant corridor area, and having been in Makkampalayam in Kadambur hills of the Sathyamangalam reserve forest, I have heard and experienced how elephants and humans are in constant conflict. The forest department tries to drive them back into the forest as they visit the vicinities for their basic needs which results in conflicts. From human point of view elephants are a threat. But they have a wider role in balancing the forest ecosystem when looked at as a environmental activist.
Over the years we see that the forest land is shrinking due to the climate change, reduced rainfall and in the name of industrial development, the forest land is encroached by human activities. The human- wildlife conflict has risen and is very much apparent in the case of Elephants and other wild animals regularly venturing into the so-called human habitats.
In the recent times we hear much about humans and elephants intersecting with conflicts in the forest land and in the elephant corridors of the Western Ghats. Being the largest terrestrial mammal, elephants are known for its strength, intelligence, loyalty and community living which protects the forest from the human invasion.
Apart from being domesticated and trained to help the humans they also serve as a religious symbol with a cultural significance. Being a tourism magnet, they exhibit strong emotions. Being characters of sensitivity and determination elephants are gentle giants and are known for their peace and stability. Poachers, though it is a criminal offence, hunt them down for its ivory tusks which has commercial value.
Due to the lack of food and water they emerge out of the forest and venture into the agricultural lands — which were originally part of the forest zone, and come into direct confrontation with the human habitations which results in casualties and destruction.
Any attempt to eliminate them for human convenience only disrupts the natural balance of the diverse ecosystem initially leading to the slow depletion of the forest flora which in turn affects the fauna leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem and then effecting reduction and elimination.
Extinction of any species in the past might have occurred catastrophic or as a gradual elimination. Every extinction arises from the lack of in vivo habitat. We cannot create invitro habitat to all living being. Allowing them to live in the natural atmosphere is a way of conservation and preservation.
About the Author:
Fr. M. A. Leo Anand SJ, is a naturalist and eco enthusiast. He has done his Licentiate in Spiritual Theology and directs one-month Retreats and does Spiritual animation for Priests, Religious and Laity in India.
