Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.
What is Anthropause?
Also called as the “Great Pause”, it is a term coined by the researchers in the UK.
It refers to the coronavirus-induced lockdown period and its impact on other species.
How curbs imposed during this period led to unusual animal behaviour?
There were pumas sighted in Chile’s Santiago, jackals in the parks of Tel Aviv in Israel, dolphins in the waters of Italy and even a monkey fight on the streets of Thailand.
Why study this period?
As a result of the lockdown, nature appears to have changed, especially in urban environments, since not only are there now more animals, but also some “unexpected visitors.”
On the other hand, there are some animals for whom the lockdown may have made things more challenging.
- For instance, for various urban-dwelling animals, such as rats, gulls and monkeys who depend on food provided or discarded by humans, the lockdown would have made life more difficult.
The researchers believe studying this period will provide valuable insights into the relationship between human-wildlife interactions in the 21st century.
It might also be useful in preserving global biodiversity, maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and predicting global zoonoses and environmental changes.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Locate the following on map: Tel Aviv, Santiago and Thailand.
- Dolphins species in India and their habitats.
- What is Anthropause? Who coined the term?
- Zoonoses
Mains Link:
Write a note on Anthropause.
Sources: Indian Express.
