By Shabana Muhammad
Hey Human! Let's work for animals' safety...
My kind, the Homo Sapiens, is undeniably extraordinary. Our brains and the ability to process and untangle complexities are also phenomenal. Isn’t it why humans have managed to cross beyond the exceptional spatiotemporal boundaries of outer space? Today’s distance, even in light-years, is merely a mathematical formula to explore and unravel the unknown.
Being surrounded by my kind, I sometimes become heedless of the prevailing sufferings. Occasionally, when hardships are beyond safe processing limits, I associate them with our own choices and decisions.
Being part of the only dominant species on the face of the Earth, one day, I felt utterly misguided by the ubiquitous reality. Strangely, I found myself very small and helpless, as if years of developmental effort were just showmanship.
It was the day I visited an animal shelter for the first time in my life.
While looking at the abandoned and homeless animals, I could help but reflect upon the outcomes of humanity’s collective actions. The animals appeared miserable, destitute, wounded, and most importantly, forgotten. New reality’s blows were strong enough to crumble my human pride and shake my nerves instantly.
When I enquired about the reason behind animals’ wounds, without any substantial pause, caretakers shared an answer for each of the cases,
“We had received them wounded.”
The answer appeared made up because there could be multiple causes of animals’ injuries. They could be fighting over insubstantial food. Claiming over the territory or suitable partners also triggers furious contests. Caretakers might be careless in treating their intrinsic injuries. Whatever the causes are, I wondered if the animals also encounter suffering as a direct consequence of their actions. Well, just one reason was enough to eliminate such a
How can the subordinate species choose and decide their fate?
Humans also have several reasons to do whatever they do. We cannot allow wild animals close to our populations. What if they transfer contagious diseases or viruses? We are afraid they might endanger and harm our little ones.
Coexistence is not on the agenda. That’s why we control movement and population using a variety of unethical and invasive means. A few fortunate only end up getting shelters.
The rest meet their apparent fate — mutilated or poisoned to death. What population left is safe?
We ought to be careful. Who knows, we might end up engaging our kind. Let’s not fail each other. It all depends on how careful we are in our conduct. It is not only mine or yours; ensuring wild animals’ safety is Our responsibility. And rest assured, we all are accountable for their fate. Whatever it is.
