Different professionals, amateur groups, individuals and the community at large variously understand the term 'Wildlife'. However, there is a definite tendency among certain professionals and amateur groups to consider wild life as the so - called "higher
forms of life "particularly
birds and
mammals. This attitude might have given an opportunity for mammals to attract more attention of humankind for their conservation, although mammals predominant in brainpower and survival in varied environments. However, mammals are less diverse than other most animal kingdoms. For example, Insects alone comprises about 750,000 species, while all vertebrates together number less than 44,000 species: Fish 20,000, Amphibians 3,000, Reptiles 6,000, Birds 9,000, and mammals 4,000 species.
Up on a time in the United States wild life was considered "All living things that are neither human nor domesticate especially mammals, birds and fishes
hunted by man". Some countries define "Wild life "in the same sense as game" and therefore exclude fish. Others defined wildlife as all free ranging vertebrates in their naturally associated environments. Therefore, it is clear from the above definitions that there is no precise and universally agreed upon definition of the word wildlife. In addition, there are no clear taxonomic or even behavioural boundaries defining wildlife. But, the national and international wildlife federations have similar tendency in a term " wild life", that include all living things that are living outside the direct control of man i.e. non-cultivated plants and non-domesticated animals. They do give coverage to plants, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. However, in view of the changing definitions of wildlife, it is not surprising that debate continues about the proper body of knowledge and the principles of wildlife management.
| Author: Nebiyou Masebo |
| Publisher: Independently Published |
| Publication Date: 41243 |
| Number of Pages: 324 pages |
| Binding: Education |
| ISBN-10: |
| ISBN-13: 9798757233970 |
