Nature Welcomes the Change

NATURE WELCOMES THE CHANGE

By: Sara Io

Nature is welcoming the change that will alter the world forever. When an outbreak starts, and slowly becomes a pandemic, it changes the world and becomes a part of history. Humans are the most impacted in the current pandemic of 2020. However, nature is impacted in a positive way. Some people might say nature is restarting and coming into a world where the negativity of human impact is decreasing. Animals have been spotted on roadsides and around cities because humans are now locked at home.

Lions in South Africa has been spotted napping on the road that is usually packed with tourists.  A local park ranger, Richard Sowry states, “Normally they would be in the bushes because of the traffic but they are very smart and now they are enjoying the freedom of the park without us”. Mr.Sowry tells Fox News that it brings joy to the people who are coming to the park and the other park rangers. He says the cases in South Africa don’t seem to be bothering the animals, however with a lot less people, the animals have a lot more places to roam!

In Wales, the United Kingdom, has spotted multiple wild mountain goats roaming the streets. According to the New York Post, they usually live on a nearby hill near the town. But, with the lack of people on the streets, they are on the road and eating the town squares’ bushes! A local resident told CNN that she has lived there for 33 years and this is the first time that the mountain goats came down from the hill. Some residents say they are now a natural reoccurrence and they are getting used to the road without people.

Thailand has had two animal sightings. One on the beach and one on the road. On the beach, Thailand has never seen so many rare Leatherback Turtles’ nests on deserted beaches! They are considered endangered in Thailand because their nests grow in dark, empty places, and without the tourists on the beach, they are coming back out. They have also been endangered because the tourists have dug out their nests and stole eggs.

Thailand has also seen elephants crossing the road! There were about 50 elephants crossing the road with their babies! Local police cleared out the highway so the elephants could cross easily. The locals that were watching the animals said that they were super calm and barely noticed the humans.

Some animals who rely on humans have been negatively impacted. The Nara Deer, for example, in Japan have relied on tourists to feed them and with the lack of tourists, they are sadly, hungry and coming out on the roads to look for food. Some citizens have said that they have seen the deer scrounging around for food, including looking through trash cans!

Nature does not always include animals. Nature is all around us, but we have covered it up with the pollution. In India, people can finally see the Himalayan mountains for the first time in decades. The lockdown has eased the pollution in the air, making the Himalayan mountains a lot more visible. According to CNN, Delhi saw a 44% drop in the air pollution. A local told CNN that they have never seen the Himalayan Mountains peak in 30 years. It was remarkable.

The water in Venice has been clearer than ever. Usually, so many tourists would be on canals creating the traffic, bringing the dirt into the waters. But, with so little tourists, and with Italy’s lockdown, the waters are clear. In an article written by CNBC, the author wrote that the waters were usually dark and murky. Air pollution also contributed to the water pollution, and with lockdown there are less cars, motorbikes, and factories running, making the water, finally, clear.

It is happy to see so many animals coming out into the nature of the world, but it is sad that the humans must go through a pandemic for it to happen. Humans could and are trying to be more nature-friendly, eco-friendly. There are positives as there are negatives in this pandemic. And nature is welcoming this change. But does a pandemic need to happen in order for the world to realize what is important? And what values the Earth has?

Pictures and information sources:

Jayne, Tamara. “Animals Come out of Their ‘Hiding’ Spots Now That Humans Are
Locked Away.” Says, 21 Apr. 2020, says.com/my/news/
all-the-animals-that-are-exploring-cities-now-that-humans-are-locked-away.
Accessed 1 May 2020.

Created : 05/01/20 09:36AM

Picheata, Rob. “People in India Can See the Himalayas for the First Time in
‘decades,’ as the Lockdown Eases Air Pollution.” CNN, 9 Apr. 2020,
edition.cnn.com/travel/article/himalayas-visible-lockdown-india-scli-intl/
index.html. Accessed 3 May 2020.

Created : 05/03/20 09:14AM

Clifford, Catherine. “The Water in Venice, Italy’s Canals Is Running Clear amid
the COVID-19 Lockdown.” CNBC, 18 Mar. 2020, www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/
photos-water-in-venice-italys-canals-clear-amid-covid-19-lockdown.html.
Accessed 3 May 2020.

Created : 05/03/20 09:58AM