Synopsis
Wildlife management is a vital branch of conservation that is mainly concerned with the three ‘Ps’ i.e., preservation, protection, perpetuation and percipient control of rare species of plants and animals.
The three general approaches that are mainly adapted towards wildlife management are laws restricting the numbers killed, artificial stocking and the protection and improvement of habitats.
Habitat preservation is the most important one. If the habitats are destroyed or drastically altered, protective laws and artificial stocking are useless.
So, the establishment of sanctuaries and game reserves in order to provide protection to a species of plants and animals of rare, threatened or endangered species is crucial.
Wildlife Management
There are different meanings of wildlife; some believe that wildlife just consists of game species (huntable types). Others that wildlife includes only birds and mammals. And even others that believe it even includes all plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates.
However, the clearest definition is that wildlife consists of all terrestrial and marine vertebrates but not domesticated animals like family pets and animals. This includes game species, non-game species, feral animals, invasive/exotic, and native species.
Management is when human beings come into the picture and apply “controls” to the environment, making decisions based upon the existing circumstance. These decisions can be either active or inactive. For that reason, wildlife management is the control between the connection of wildlife populations and the environment the animals live in.
Wildlife management is interdisciplinary that handles protecting endangered and threatened species and subspecies and their habitats, along with the non-threatened agricultural animals and game species. The Wildlife Management program highlights both applied and basic research in wildlife ecology, management, education, and extension. Wildlife management takes into account the eco-friendly principles such as bring the capacity of the habitat, conservation, and control of habitat, reforestation, predator control, reintroduction of extinct species, capture and reallocation of abundant species, and management of “preferable” or “unfavorable” species.
Types of wildlife management
There are 2 basic types of wildlife management:
Manipulative management
Manipulative management includes managing numbers of animals directly by harvesting or by influencing numbers by changing food supply, environment, the density of predators, etc.
Custodial management
Custodial management is preventive or protective and reduces external influences on the population and its habitat. It is done by setting up national parks where environmental conditions are safeguarded and threatened species are conserved by law.
Forms of Wildlife Management
Habitat Restoration and Management
Environment management is the main tool wildlife biologists use to handle, safeguard, and improve wildlife populations. Increased wildlife variety in an area may be a wildlife management objective. It is hard to develop techniques for handling each species independently. A number of wildlife species can benefit when a total environment is enhanced or preserved intact to fulfill the requirements of endangered or threatened species or groups of species.
Endangered Species Management
Endangered or threatened species require intensive management. Crucial environments and places of existing populations need to be recognized so they can be managed effectively. An animal species is considered endangered when its numbers ended up being so low that professionals think it may become extinct unless action is taken to preserve it.
Threatened species’ populations are showing indications of unnatural decline or they are susceptible to become endangered. Lots of threatened or endangered species are those that have really limiting habitat needs and eat specialized foods. The leading cause for a species becoming endangered or threatened is habitat loss.
Species Reintroduction
Another wildlife management objective may be to re-establish species in appropriate habitats. The lost species can be reintroduced from other locations once again in reintroduction programs and management efforts. The research study of the biology and environmental requirements of the species is essential before the introduction.
Gamekeeping
Gamekeeping is the management or control of wildlife for the wellbeing of the game and might consist of eliminating other animals which share the exact same specific niche or predators to maintain a high population of the more successful species, such as pheasants presented into woodland.
Significance of Wildlife Management
Wildlife management is crucial not just for animals found in the location but for the human species and our natural resources. As our species expands and takes a growing number of lands, we must also secure natural deposits and the animals whose habitats surround us. Wildlife management works to keep all parties safe, this is through rules and regulations for individuals, and the care and monitoring of the wildlife, all in the efforts to keep all species safe.
Wildlife management tries to stabilize the needs of wildlife with the requirements of individuals utilizing the very best available science. Wildlife management can consist of gamekeeping, wildlife preservation, and pest control. Wildlife management makes use of disciplines such as mathematics, chemistry, biology, ecology, climatology, and geography to acquire the best outcomes.
Wildlife conservation aims to halt the loss of the Earth’s biodiversity by considering environmental principles such as carrying capacity, disruption, and succession and environmental conditions such as physical geography, pedology, and hydrology with the objective of balancing the requirements of wildlife with the requirements of humans. A lot of wildlife biologists are interested in the conservation and enhancement of environments although rewilding is increasingly being used.
MCQs
- What are the three main aspects of wildlife management mentioned in the text?
- a) Plant protection, preservation, predation
- b) Preservation, protection, perpetuation
- c) Pesticide control, protection, preservation
- d) Population control, preservation, perpetuation
- Answer: b) Preservation, protection, perpetuation
- What is the most crucial aspect of wildlife management according to the text?
- a) Artificial stocking
- b) Protective laws
- c) Habitat preservation
- d) Game reserves establishment
- Answer: c) Habitat preservation
- What is the clearest definition of wildlife according to the text?
- a) All plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates
- b) Only birds and mammals
- c) Terrestrial and marine vertebrates, excluding domesticated animals
- d) Game species and non-game species
- Answer: c) Terrestrial and marine vertebrates, excluding domesticated animals
- How does manipulative management influence wildlife numbers?
- a) By setting up national parks
- b) By protecting habitats
- c) By harvesting or changing food supply
- d) By reforestation efforts
- Answer: c) By harvesting or changing food supply
- What is custodial management in wildlife management?
- a) Active manipulation of animal populations
- b) Preventive or protective, reducing external influences
- c) Setting up game reserves
- d) Reintroducing species into appropriate habitats
- Answer: b) Preventive or protective, reducing external influences
- What is the main tool used by wildlife biologists for handling, safeguarding, and improving wildlife populations?
- a) Gamekeeping
- b) Habitat restoration and management
- c) Species reintroduction
- d) Endangered species management
- Answer: b) Habitat restoration and management
- When is an animal species considered endangered?
- a) When it faces habitat loss
- b) When it is not hunted
- c) When its numbers are too high
- d) When it becomes a game species
- Answer: a) When it faces habitat loss
- What is the purpose of species reintroduction in wildlife management?
- a) To increase the number of species in the area
- b) To establish new habitats
- c) To reintroduce lost species into appropriate habitats
- d) To control predators
- Answer: c) To reintroduce lost species into appropriate habitats
- What does gamekeeping involve in wildlife management?
- a) Managing or controlling wildlife for the wellbeing of the game
- b) Protecting endangered species
- c) Harvesting animals for food
- d) Introducing new species into an area
- Answer: a) Managing or controlling wildlife for the wellbeing of the game
- Why is wildlife management considered crucial for both animals and humans?
- a) To increase hunting opportunities
- b) To protect natural resources and surrounding habitats
- c) To control the population of predators
- d) To create more game reserves
- Answer: b) To protect natural resources and surrounding habitats
- What disciplines are mentioned as being used in wildlife management for obtaining the best results?
- a) Physics, sociology, and psychology
- b) Mathematics, chemistry, and biology
- c) History, literature, and economics
- d) Geology, anthropology, and linguistics
- Answer: b) Mathematics, chemistry, and biology
- What does wildlife conservation aim to achieve?
- a) Increase hunting opportunities
- b) Preserve domesticated animals
- c) Halt the loss of Earth’s biodiversity
- d) Introduce exotic species
- Answer: c) Halt the loss of Earth’s biodiversity
- In wildlife management, what is rewilding increasingly being used for?
- a) Introducing new species
- b) Conserving and enhancing environments
- c) Harvesting animals
- d) Reducing habitat preservation efforts
- Answer: b) Conserving and enhancing environments
- What are the eco-friendly principles mentioned in wildlife management?
- a) Economic development and industrialization
- b) Pollution control and waste management
- c) Carrying capacity, conservation, and control of habitat
- d) Urbanization and deforestation
- Answer: c) Carrying capacity, conservation, and control of habitat
- How does wildlife management balance the needs of wildlife with those of humans?
- a) By eliminating wildlife
- b) Through reforestation efforts
- c) By creating more game reserves
- d) Using the best available science and rules and regulations
- Answer: d) Using the best available science and rules and regulations
- What is the primary focus of the Wildlife Management program mentioned in the text?
- a) Exotic species management
- b) Basic research in wildlife ecology
- c) Preservation of game species
- d) Artificial stocking efforts
- Answer: b) Basic research in wildlife ecology
- According to the text, what is the leading cause for a species becoming endangered or threatened?
- a) Intensive management
- b) Habitat loss
- c) Species reintroduction
- d) Gamekeeping practices
- Answer: b) Habitat loss
- What does habitat preservation aim to achieve in wildlife management?
- a) Increase in game species population
- b) Destruction of habitats
- c) Protection and improvement of habitats
- d) Intensive management of habitats
- Answer: c) Protection and improvement of habitats
- What is the role of laws in wildlife management?
- a) Promoting habitat destruction
- b) Restricting the numbers killed
- c) Encouraging artificial stocking
- d) Neglecting endangered species
- Answer: b) Restricting the numbers killed
- How does custodial management contribute to wildlife conservation?
- a) By actively manipulating populations
- b) By setting up national parks
- c) By reducing external influences on populations and habitats
- d) By introducing new species
- Answer: c) By reducing external influences on populations and habitats
Conclusion
In conclusion, the tutorial on Wildlife Management provides a comprehensive overview of the key principles, types, and forms of wildlife management. Emphasizing the importance of preservation, protection, perpetuation, and control of rare species, the tutorial explores various approaches, including laws, artificial stocking, and habitat protection. Two fundamental types of wildlife management, manipulative and custodial, are discussed, highlighting their roles in directly managing animal numbers or preventing external influences.
The forms of wildlife management, such as habitat restoration and endangered species management, are crucial tools for wildlife biologists. The tutorial delves into the significance of species reintroduction, gamekeeping, and the interdisciplinary nature of wildlife management. Additionally, it stresses the importance of balancing the needs of wildlife with those of humans, utilizing science, rules, and regulations.
Wildlife conservation is presented as a vital goal, aiming to preserve Earth’s biodiversity through considerations of environmental principles and conditions. The tutorial concludes by underlining the dedication of wildlife management to maintaining the delicate balance between the requirements of diverse species and the ever-expanding human presence on the planet.