Role of Wildlife Sanctuaries in Preserving Wildlife

          You must’ve heard about wildlife sanctuaries. Wildlife sanctuaries are places where animals can live freely. India has 550 wildlife sanctuaries. And quite a bit of them are private sanctuaries engaged in buying, selling and trading wild animals. But are they wildlife sanctuaries in real sense?

          First, let us understand the difference between a wildlife sanctuary and zoo.

          Zoos are places where animals are kept in cages, while the people roam around freely. The zoo keeps animals for their conservation. They’re given food and a safe place to live, but not a free space to roam around, where they can feel free.

          But wildlife sanctuaries are places generally spread over huge areas. The animals are free to roam, but the visitors have to move in a restricted area only.

          Nowadays, many wildlife sanctuaries are becoming places for breeding of animals, and where the paying public is allowed to play with the young ones, like tiger cubs.

          If people are coming and playing with the cubs, will the animals feel safe? Do people feel safe when a leopard enters their village? How do people react? They try to get rid of the leopard as fast as they can. In the same way, the animals don’t feel safe when people are around them.

          A wildlife sanctuary should be a place where animals should feel as if they’re living in their natural habitat. They must have sanitary conditions, roomy enclosures, proper vet care, appropriate feed and the like.

          Visitors shouldn’t be allowed to get close to the animals, let alone playing with them. The sanctuaries mustn’t be breeding places and places for sale of animals. They never should be used as a place of entertainment for people.

          Wildlife sanctuaries must be places for animals, not for humans. That must be their sole purpose. Their environment must be one of complete serenity and tranquillity, so that the animals could spend their lives peacefully and safely.

-         Manas Trivedi

Female Illiteracy

           Female illiteracy is one of the main problems faced by the developing countries in today’s world. Women and girls have often been denied equal opportunities in the field of education. The male dominated societies fail to understand the importance of female education, and hence, arises the problem of female illiteracy.

          The main causes of this problem are gender stereotypes. The girl child is seen as a burden on the family. She is treated unequally, as compared to the boys of the same family. Parents do not consider her education important, as one day she will get married and serve her husband and family. They also believe that their sons are more capable than their daughters. All this results in either denial for her education, or education till the elementary level only.

          This can have wide ranging effects in the society. An illiterate woman does not know the value of education. She does not pay attention to the education of her children. Thus, the vicious cycle of illiteracy gets repeated. She does not understand her own rights, and this makes her a victim of gender discrimination and inequality, once again.

          It is said that “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a family.” An educated woman ensures the education of her children. She is also able to get employment, improving the economic condition of the family, and contributes to the national income. Thus, female education is a must for development.

          The best way to increase female education is by spreading awareness. The media, especially the radio and television, can be used for this purpose. We can also try to encourage parents to educate their daughters, and mention its advantages. Governments all across the world have implemented schemes ensuring female education.

          Today, we see women working as architects, pilots, teachers, doctors, engineers, accountants, and in every other field. This is the result of female literacy. Nowadays, societies are becoming more and more aware about the importance of woman education, equality and freedom. We still need to spread this awareness, to eradicate female illiteracy and to promote gender equality.

-         Manas Trivedi