ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
Bhubaneswar: As the world celebrates World Animal Day 2025, Odisha stands out as a beacon of biodiversity, sheltering over 114 species of mammals, 537 birds, 131 reptiles, and more across its forests, mangroves, and coastlines. However, this rich biodiversity faces serious threats—habitat loss, poaching, electrocution, and climate change – calling for an urgent need to save animals, which, experts say, is not just an act of compassion but an environmental and survival imperative.
The theme for World Animal Day 2025 – ‘Save Animals, Save the Planet’ – sends a powerful message that the survival of animal species is directly linked to the health of our environment. Animals play vital roles in maintaining ecological balance. As biodiversity declines, ecosystems become weaker, increasing the risk of natural disasters, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks. Thus, saving animals is not just an act of compassion but an environmental and survival imperative.
Biswajit Mohanty, Secretary of the Wildlife Society of Odisha, pointed out that species like elephants and Olive Ridley turtles are vital to the health of the planet. “Elephants help forests grow through seed dispersal and clearing underbrush, while Olive Ridleys act as scavengers of the ocean,” he said. Mohanty expressed concern over the increasing deaths of elephants in Odisha, one of the highest in the country. He stressed the need for stricter enforcement of wildlife laws, especially against poaching, electrocution, and habitat encroachment.
Wildlife filmmaker and founder of ‘Voices for Asian Elephants’, Sangita Iyer, emphasised the need for recognising animal sentience. “There is a significant lack of understanding when it comes to animal sentience. Just because humans don’t fully comprehend animal language, it doesn’t mean animals aren’t expressing deep bonds with their families, or experiencing sadness, happiness, pain, and suffering.” She also said, “When we recognise that animals can think, feel, and grieve and when we begin to treat them like our own brothers and sisters, then we will start to truly love and respect them. So, on this World Animal Day, let us commit to learning and understanding how animals think, feel, and behave. Let us vow to protect every living being, because we are all part of this magnificent, interconnected, and interdependent web of life”.
Purabi Patra, founder of Animal Welfare Trust Ekamra, highlighted how the recent move by the Supreme Court to relocate stray dogs to shelters has had unintended ecological consequences, as dogs help control rodent populations and prevent the spread of diseases. She also criticised the state’s mining boom, which is leading to deforestation and the displacement of wildlife. “There needs to be a balance between development and conservation. We cannot afford to destroy our natural ecosystems,” she said.
Kusal Biswas of ‘Speak for Animals Trust, Odisha’ emphasised the value of every life. “Both humans and animals have the right to live. Unfortunately, the death of animals— especially strays like dogs—is not taken seriously. FIRs are rarely filed, and the laws meant to protect them are poorly implemented,” he said.
PNN
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