http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12746

Gir National Park in Ahmedabad, an Indian state, houses the only Asiatic lions surviving in a natural habitat. However, in the last two months, more than a dozen lions have died, seven of which had been the victims of increased poaching. The state has been asked to relocate its lions to a reserve in a neighbouring state, Madhya Pradesh, deemed the most suitable site as an alternate home for the lions. Conservationists say keeping all the big cats in Gir is also a serious risk as a single epidemic or natural disaster could wipe out the entire population, which was 359 in 2005.

The locals are refuse to, though, as they say the lions are the pride of their state. The federal government is instead asking for an expedited move and have prepared the sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh for the lions.

The increase in poaching is indeed a huge threat to the lions, considering that half of the lions lost in two months were poached. And it is obvious which lions were poached, their claws, teeth, and some bones are removed from their carcasses.

Indeed, with globalisation, the black market for rare animals has increased. This of course leads to people turning to poaching to make a living, especially in the region of Africa and its surroundings, where the world’s poorest are and will do anything to make some money. If there is no market for these poached animals, there would not even be any poachers. Another example is whaling, which is a very big thing happening, and greenpeace being one of the leading organisations stopping it. Also, the culling of sharks for their fins. These are leading to imbalances in the ecosystem, due to global demand.

Thus, the effect of globalisation on the environment, this time on the ecosystem.

Nathaniel