The world is battling against an undetectable adversary that has constrained us all to press the pause button in our lives. This worldwide pandemic has had a far reaching influence around the world, which has extended to an additional effect on wildlife. While the world has reached a total and utter halt, nature is by all accounts recovering its domain, and the wild creatures close to metropolitan cityscapes are accepting this open door to venture past the solaces of their forested homes. Animals are shaking off the shackles of captivity and the wildlife trade has grinded to a halt...for now.
Pollution levels have dropped, public spaces are lying abandoned and decreased human activity has allowed wildlife a chance to wander past their typical domain. All around the globe, there have been accounts for occurrences of creatures wandering into urban areas as individuals have begun restricting themselves to the security of their homes with an end goal to control the spread of Coronavirus.
But because of the complicated relationship between some animals and humans, wildlife continues to suffer. From videos of monkeys fighting over food scraps due to the drop in tourism to a deer in Japan, making its way to a subway for a meal that would have otherwise been given by a tourist, wildlife is also seemingly struggling with the pandemic in ways one would not have thought of before.
Yet amongst all of these mishaps, there are a few silver lining. The drop in wildlife trade being one of them. Organizations around the world are urging governments to ban live markets, given the pandemic supposedly originates from them and also a ban on the sale of exotic species which are sold in the pet trade.
Elephants in Thailand as well as in other locations are tasting freedom for the first time with many keepers unable to maintain the gentle mammals due to the drastic decline in tourism. After possible years of exploitations these animals too find the silver lining in this pandemic which now seemingly controls all our lives.
However, this may also serve as a double edged sword, the lack of having a constant source of food as no veterinary care, these elephants may have a drastic impact on these animals, but one can only hope for the best.
Taking everything into account, the possibility that wildlife populations might take over metropolitan conditions during this lockdown period might seem unusual at this point, but it does raise a few questions. What will happen once we return to our ordinary lives ? What will become of those animals who have adjusted to their new found freedom ? Will this dawn a new age upon the relationship between man and beast ?