Hamid Zohraei, Deputy of Natural Environment and Biodiversity at the Department of Environment, discussed important points in a meeting about the approach of wildlife to urban life and their habituation to humans. He stated that the duty of this organization in this regard is to inform and educate the public so that they behave correctly with wildlife when in nature.
Factors Leading to Animals Becoming Accustomed to Humans
Zohraei pointed to two main factors that cause animals to become accustomed to humans: the presence of waste and food scraps accessible to animals, and also manual feeding of them. These two factors significantly increase the animals' dependence on human food sources, resulting in them becoming accustomed to the presence of humans.
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The Deputy of Natural Environment and Biodiversity at the Department of Environment, emphasizing the necessity of public participation in preventing this trend, said: "To combat this issue, we need proper information and education. Especially those who frequently go to nature, such as climbers and nature tourists, should be careful not to habituate animals to receive food from humans through manual feeding."
Increase in Urban Cat Population and Its Consequences
Zohraei also referred to the increase in the urban cat population and stated that this increase could seriously harm biodiversity. He emphasized that this issue is not unrelated to feeding urban cats and requires more attention so that these species do not become dependent on human food sources.
The Deputy of Natural Environment and Biodiversity at the Department of Environment deemed it essential to correct human behaviors when interacting with wildlife and urged people to pay more attention to how they dispose of food waste and to refrain from manual feeding of animals in nature. These actions can help maintain ecosystem balance and prevent animals from becoming dependent on humans.
Attention to these points is not only beneficial for wildlife but can also contribute to the health and safety of humans. By creating an empathetic and responsible approach, we can enjoy peaceful coexistence with wildlife and prevent the dangers arising from their habituation to humans.
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