Hunting and loss of ecosystem

Answer: Hunting is a primary activity, but excessive hunting disturbs the balance of the ecosystem.

• Hunting is one of the oldest occupations of man; primitive tribes like Pygmies, Bushmen and Inuits still hunt for food, skins and bones.
• Commercial hunting for fur, ivory, horns, skins and meat has caused large-scale killing of animals such as tigers, elephants, rhinos, whales and seals.
• Many species have become extinct or endangered, so food chains and food webs are broken.
• When predators are killed, herbivore populations increase and damage vegetation; when prey is killed, predators starve. Biodiversity is lost.
• To protect ecosystems, hunting is banned or controlled by laws (e.g. Wildlife Protection Act 1972 in India), and national parks and sanctuaries are created.