Community wildlife management

Community wildlife management projects

Views on wildlife vary between those who believe that it has a value independent from human interest and that it should be left alone, and those who believe that its survival now will depend on how valuable it is to human society. In the latter camp, there is increasing interest in projects that involve local communities in the care and management of local wildlife. This interest is based on a view that such involvement provides the most realistic hope of ensuring survival of wildlife. Such projects now often include some facility for the care and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wild animals and the development of health services for domestic animals. This is partly because of the risk of disease spread between wild and domestic animal populations, but also because such an approach seems balanced and sensible.