The Human – Animal Conflict

With a human population bursting at its seams, more and more people are settling in areas that were once the habitat of elephants, big cats and other wild animals. This has resulted in human – animal conflicts. Consequently, issues of animal conservation and mitigation are becoming more important.



Some time ago, hundreds of flamingos died of electrocution as they were flying into high – voltage electricity cables passing over their habitat n the outskirts of Bhavnagar city in Gujrat, India. This mass electrocution was apparently triggered by stray dogs as they chased the flamingos and the panic – stricken birds collided with the wires overhead.

We need to save these animals and birds for our own sake, if not out of compassion. Compassion is ruled out for us humans as we have killed and traded our lower cousins, animals and birds, for thousands of years. We talk of love and peace, and in the same breath murder millions of animals everyday to enjoy tasty dishes made out of them. Can we really have love and peace in the world when our whole existence seems to depend on hatred, cruelty and cold-blooded killing of animals? Isaac Bashevis Singer puts it correctly, “There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is”.