Mother animals play a crucial role in the environment and in maintaining the population of different species. However, persistent threats have devastating impacts on different animals in the wild.
Understanding the impacts of human disturbance is crucial for conservation plans, mitigating the decline of species population. Human activities have caused a significant challenge due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions and widespread habitat loss.
As Mother's Day begins, recognizing the effects of human disturbance can provide new insights into the struggle of many mother animals for survival.
1. Fishing Gear Entanglement
Gray whale. Whales are considered one of the best protective animals, nursing and guiding their young for survival. (Photo : by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
Gray whales are unique animals that can travel in long migrations. Amazingly, new whales can come to earth, as some mother whales can give birth during the migration.
The animal protects her young, nursing their calves to survive. However, a recent NOAA report raised concerns about the impact of illegal fishing practices and gear entanglement, which can kill whales. Other threats to whales are vessel strikes and pollution.
2. Predation and hunting
Elephants are considered among the best mothers. They protect and guide their babies for about two years, and, like any mother, they ensure that baby elephants have sufficient nutrients. However, due to the ivory trade and poaching, predation poses an alarming threat to elephant populations.
3. Habitat loss and deforestation
Tiger moms are known for protecting the welfare of their cubs. Frequently, they stay with their cubs and pause when they need to drink or hunt for food. Despite their intimidating looks, tiger moms care for their cubs by keeping them in secret or safe areas.
Tigress teaches cubs to hunt in the wild and develop skills for survival. However, habitat loss poses environmental issues for the tiger population because their habitats have been degraded by human activities due to agriculture or developments.
Additionally, deforestation is a major problem. For instance, the orangutan in Southeast Asia is in a crucial state due to widespread illegal logging.
4. Plastic and Water Pollutions
Marine animals, from octopuses and sea otters to whales, are also known as protecting mothers. However, human-caused plastic, particularly microplastics, has polluted the oceans and other bodies of water. The increasing production of plastics enters the world's oceans, posing risks to their health and survival.
Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions have helped to exacerbate the effects of climate change, causing increasing temperatures and extreme weather events.
For instance, the warming trend in the Arctic has resulted in massive sea ice, which is challenging for polar bears. Polar bear mothers guide their cubs, teaching them for about two years about survival skills, including hunting seals.
Reducing the impacts of human disturbance is essential to save mother animals from decline or death. Protecting significant habitats can mitigate the risk of extinction and habitat loss.