Is Nature Healing Itself?: At Least Breathing Peacefully for a While

The coronavirus, needless to say, is proving to be deadly to humanity. However, it did open our eyes to the fact that there are more deadly viruses that we have been perpetrating on the environment. Namrata Gulati Sapra says that we have tormented Mother Earth for a long time, but now due to the worldwide lockdown following the scare of the COVID-19 pandemic the nature is breathing peacefully for a while.

- Namrata Gulati Sapra

Not yet termed as a ‘pandemic’ by the United Nations, global warming, animal exploitation and trade, noise and light pollution, Australian bushfires, locust invasion in Kenya, are some of the greatest environmental pandemics that we have been constantly witness to and responsible for. These emergencies, which call for an equally severe lockdown and restraint, however, have not been able to send a shiver down our spine, because they have had no drastic measurable affects as such on mankind.

While we blamed and cursed COVID-19 for shutting our lives down for a while, we failed to realize that all these decades, we have tormented Mother Earth the same way, not allowing her to breathe in peace, compelling her to slap a mask on her face. But for a change, there was a role reversal due to the outbreak of the virus, which shut us behind doors and let Mother Nature breathe peacefully for a while, and here’s how.

Dignity for Animals

Amid the outbreak, issues relating to animal cruelty and trade, which are conveniently brushed under the rug were finally brought to the surface. The belief that humans are invincible and superior to animals was shaken to the core as the very source of COVID-19 was reportedly traced to a market that slaughtered wild animals live for human consumption. Most of these were exotic animals that were transported in pitiable circumstances. The animals were locked in cages together with barely any place to move. As a result, the animals were stressed and excreted pathogens. Once in human contact, these animal bodily fluids gave birth to new diseases and viruses. Many countries are guilty of following such practices that torment animals. Illegal wildlife trade is a booming industry that is worth huge amount of money today.