Taking A Stand To Protect Goan Wildlife

Amongst all the treasures this world holds, wildlife is a fascinating one. Every corner of the world is home to numerous and unique species. And although we may spend hours trying to learn about it all, its vastness will always exceed the knowledge we’ll have in our hands. While other corners of the world might remain unknown, we are fortunate to catch a glimpse of the unique wildlife in Goa.

Goa may be one of the smallest states in India, yet it is considerably diverse with the plant and wildlife it homes. Its rich forest cover is home to several mammals, reptiles, and over 400 species of birds. Some of the most prominent ones are the gaur, sambar, leopards, langurs, flame throated bulbul, kingfishers, coral snakes, and many more. The list goes on. The depth of wildlife in the Goan environment can leave everyone intrigued, making it all the more necessary for it to remain protected.

(An illustration of the Gaur, which is also the state animal of Goa)

While this spectrum of wildlife calls many to educate themselves, it also finds itself threatened by a cluster of the human population involved in various environmental interferences. Whether it’s through the means of poaching or cutting down forests, these birds and animals either find themselves in the path of losing their homes or losing their lives. An example of such an instance would be the infrastructure projects proposed in the Mollem area. Not only would they lead to a significant loss in forest cover, but they also threatened animal life, many of which already lie endangered. While court rulings on these projects favoured the environment, there is no assurance that similar instances wouldn’t pop up in the future, making it crucial to stand up for those who do not have a voice. And amongst the people choosing to do so is Deepti Sharma, an artist determined to use her platform to help create a better world for the Goan wildlife.

(An illustration of a Black-backed flameback, also known as a lesser goldenback)

Deepti is an illustrator and animator who is passionate about using her work to tell stories. When news of the Mollem projects broke out, she felt it necessary to create work around it to raise awareness about the issues they carried. The process opened her eyes to the vastness of the ecosystem and all the wildlife that existed. It prompted her to create work that brought attention to the animals and birds that could potentially lose their homes and life. “Development should be sustainable, and for the people, and should never come at the cost of precious biodiversity,” says Deepti, and that’s the message she focuses on putting forward through her art.

(Illustration of Sri Lankan Frogmouths, a unique bird species found in Mollem)

Deepti used her work to educate the audience about the impact of the projects that threatened Mollem, and she plans on using more of her art to raise awareness about conservation issues. “Art can be really powerful in making people feel for something,” she says and encourages more artists to use their work and their platform to bring awareness to such issues. She believes that using art, through all mediums, can make a difference in the fight for protecting all life the environment holds.

Unlike humans who can voice their distresses, animals and birds cannot do the same. And this leaves them in an unfortunate and vulnerable spot when distress comes their way. So why not stand with them and use our voices to help them? If we can work endlessly to bring convenience to our lives, why hold back on making it easier for the wildlife co-existing with us? Because as Deepti rightly pointed out, development for us shouldn’t come at the cost of nature and wildlife, and we all need to take a stand to make it possible.