October 4 is celebrated as World Animal Day. It is observed that hunting and killing of animals has become a form of recreation for many people. Murdering humans is considered as a crime. But killing and wiping out an entire genre is hardly given consideration. Powerful people indulge in hunting activities. The Protection of Animals Act only covers captive and domestic animals. High officials, who are supposed to be the guardians of law, often abuse their powers to shield the rich and powerful. We should know that we are not just human beings, but we belong to the same family tree as other mammals, that our physiology and bodily processes are just like theirs, and that our mental processes too are from the same general pattern. Among animals, some are fewer in number than the others. If proper care and security are extended to them, the rare animals would survive. Only the future can tell whether national animals will survive to maintain the much-needed ecological balance. If we fail to act now, it may be too late.
Vinod C. Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
