"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One of these places is none other than the Asian continent.
When it has the opportunity, nature flourishes. This is something that can be accepted with great certainty, and this is true in regards to Asia. Amongst the mountains and through the skies the birds of the continent soar, from the Japanese tit to the White-rumped vulture to the Indian peafowl. And upon the land move a variety of creatures; whether in the open areas or amongst the forests or even the deserts and mountains. Predators such as the Snow leopard in the mountain ranges and the Tigers stalking the forests, while the Orangutans and the Giant panda go searching for their meals amongst the trees.
Asia is also the dwelling place for a wide variety of lizards and snakes. From the venomous King cobra and Indian cobra to the Burmese python, they are everywhere. Who can forget the Komodo dragon? However, like other continents, so many of these animals are at risk. Due to the growth of cities, much of the native habitats are slowly dwindling away. Yet poaching is one of the greatest risks that these creatures face. From the Snow leopards to the Javan rhinoceroses, the Malayan tiger to the Borneo elephant, they are being hunted for their prized and treasured body parts and even for medicinal purposes. In order to protect these creatures, we must look deeply on who we are as humans.
The continent of Asia has many wondrous creatures that call it home. The sounds echo throughout the mountains and valleys, constantly reaffirming that life is bountiful there. Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of Australia.
“Wildlife needs wilderness-not just to survive, but also to live freely. Sadly, many species struggle to survive due to increased human activity and expansion into habitats they call home.”
- Zoe Helene
More in this Series: Part 1: North America | Part 2: South America | Part 3: Europe