How can a rise in animal and bird populations impact the ecological balance of a protected area like Bannerghatta Biological Park?
The news mentions an increase in wildlife numbers at Bannerghatta Biological Park. I wonder what ecological effects such population changes can have on the park’s environment and management.
A rise in animal and bird populations within a protected area like Bannerghatta Biological Park can significantly affect the ecological balance. While increasing wildlife numbers may indicate effective conservation, it can also lead to several ecological and management challenges.
- Resource Competition: Higher populations mean increased demand for food, water, and shelter. This can lead to overgrazing, depletion of vegetation, and scarcity of resources for other species.
- Habitat Degradation: Overpopulation may result in trampling of plants, soil erosion, and destruction of habitat, affecting the park’s overall biodiversity.
- Spread of Diseases: Dense animal populations can facilitate the faster spread of infectious diseases among wildlife, sometimes even to nearby human settlements or livestock.
- Disruption of Food Chains: A sudden rise in certain species can disturb predator-prey relationships, possibly causing population crashes or decline of other dependent species.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Increased animal numbers may push wildlife outside park boundaries in search of food or territory, leading to conflicts with local communities.
- Management Challenges: Park authorities may face difficulties in monitoring, providing veterinary care, and maintaining ecological balance, requiring more resources and planning.
- Loss of Plant Diversity: Herbivore overpopulation can lead to selective feeding and loss of certain plant species, which affects other organisms relying on those plants.
- Impact on Rare or Endemic Species: Dominant species may outcompete rare or endemic species, threatening their survival within the park.
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