Holistic Education for Integral Human Development
Wildlife needs adequate space, too
Wildlife needs adequate space, too
The spooked mountain goat drowned at sea because it was prevented from getting back on to shore by gawking tourists.
A mountain goat in Alaska leaped into the ocean and drowned after photo-taking onlookers crowded the wild animal in the harbour town of Seward, 209km south of capital Anchorage. The goat’s appearance at the harbour was unusual and caused a stir, said an Alaskan Department of Public Safety spokesman. Mountain goats are often seen in the cliffs above the tourist town, but not in the town itself, he added.
The spooked mountain goat swam out into the sea but was unable to climb back onto the shore due to many people standing there gawking at it, which led to its tragic drowning. The incident occurred on Saturday, 16 July.
“It is imperative that wildlife is given adequate space to be able to leave a congested area like downtown Seward,” the dispatch from Alaska State Troopers said. It added that the mountain goat’s body had been recovered.
A Malayan tapir wandered into a village and got injured; fortunately, it was rescued by firemen and returned to the forest.
In Malaysia, we occasionally have wildlife such as tapirs, deer and wild boar wandering into villages and housing estates. Please take care not to spook them as they might already be unnerved in strange, unfamiliar surroundings. Give them a wide berth and allow them to safely return to the forest where they probably came from.
Let us respect the needs of our wildlife and give them adequate space to live freely. The world is big enough for all of us – humans and wildlife.