Mega Species Myopia

What is the issue?

So many other small animals are on the verge of extinction.
This is due to the flaw in our conservation efforts called, “mega species myopia”.

What is the present condition?

The hog deer were the principal food of the tiger in the grasslands of Corbett National Park in the sixties.
There was an abundance of them.
Now there may be just 20 of them in Corbett.
Great Indian Bustard is the State bird of Rajasthan.
It is one of the rarest species and undoubtedly one of the most endangered.
They are endemic to Jaisalmer and Pokhran, its habitat was severely damaged by the nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998.
The mouse deer can be found in the Sal forests of south India, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
They raise their young in the hollow of the fallen Sal, but unfortunately these trees are used as fuel wood, endangering their survival.
The pangolin is endangered due to supposed medicinal value of their scales and the meat demand in China.
Similarly, so many other small animals are on the verge of extinction.

What is “mega species myopia”?

When a tiger dies in a national park, it makes it to the front pages of newspapers.
Steps are taken to avert another tiger death.
There is similar for death and destruction of habitats of other large mammals like elephants, rhinos, leopards and snow leopards.
However, similar concern is not shown for several smaller species like Great Indian Bustard, the house sparrow, the shy Indian pangolin, the caracal, etc.
Such an attitude is called “mega species myopia”.

Why too much focus is on big animals?

Protecting big animals like, the tiger, leads to protecting an ebtire ecosystem.
They attract tourists.
Much of an outrage is shown immediately by animals in case of threat to these animals due to their popularity.

Why should other species be protected?

Unless similar support is extend to the prey base of bigger animals the ecosystems might collapse.
The big cat only dominates the high grasslands.
So other ecosystems like the dry grasslands, the mountains might be left unprotected.

What should be done?

We have the expertise to save these small species but lack the political will.
It is time we gave priority to animals on the basis of the threat perception to them.

Source: The Hindu