The COVID-19 pandemic positively and negatively impacted both wildlife and domestic animals. Positively, animals benefited from reduced human activity, pollution, and noise. Wildlife relaxed in human habitats with less roadkill. However, some pets and zoo animals contracted COVID-19 from humans. The pandemic also highlighted the health risks of human exploitation of wild animals. Both humans and animals suffered psychological and physical impacts from the pandemic. Moving forward, experts recommend fundamentally changing relationships with wildlife and farm animals to prevent future pandemics.

1. COVID-19 AND NATURE
RAJESHWARI JAGADISH
BANGALORE UNIVERSITY

2. As we all know that, the covid-19 (corona virus) was started on
March of 2020, it has been well over a year since we all had to
stay at homes due to lockdown, many people dying due to covid,
and people not able to go out of the house without mask and face
shield.
Many people due to covid pandemic have lost their jobs,
had to close their businesses and had to stay unemployed for the
time being and the jobs opportunity was very less and they had to
work from home.
This pandemic and lockdown has not only affected us human
beings, it has also affected the wildlife and other animals who are
stray.
The stray are not given food and the wildlife had to hunt
other animals for their survival.
Introduction

4. During the lockdown last year, the scientist said that the earth
is slowly healing by itself and there was longer over pollution
and no global warming during the first 3-4 months of
pandemic.
It has affected the animals a lot because there was no one to
feed and they (animals) also contacted covid-19 and few of
the animals have died due to covid.
The scientists are now researching for the perfect antidote for
the animals to not contact covid-19 and had to stay away
from human beings.

5. Effect on the environment :
Though Covid-19 is nothing pleasant and has led us into this
pandemic, lockdowns and rules and restrictions, the
environment, as I believe has turned out to have
benefited. In these circumstances, there was a study
conducted, intended to explore the positive and negative
environmental consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and
propose possible strategies as future guideline for
environmental sustainability. Overall, the pandemic has
caused huge global socio-economic disruption, which directly
or indirectly affected the environment like improvement of air
and water quality, reduction of noise and restoration of
ecology.

6. Moreover, the increased use of personal protective equipment such as
face mask, hand gloves, gowns, goggles, face shield, etc., and their
haphazard disposal creates environmental burden. The global disruption
caused by the COVID-19 has brought about several effects on the
environment and climate. Due to movement restriction and a significant
slowdown of social and economic activities, air quality has improved in
many cities with a reduction in water pollution in different parts of the
world.

7. Some positive effects have been :
1.Reduction of air pollution and GHGs emission :
as industries, transportation and companies have closed
down, it has brought a sudden drop of greenhouse gases
emissions.
2.Reduction of water pollution :
Water pollution is a common phenomenon of a developing
country like India, and Bangladesh, where domestic and
industrial wastes are dumped into rivers without. During the
lockdown period, the major industrial sources of pollution
have shrunk or completely stopped, which helped to reduce
the pollution load.

8. 3. Reduction of noise pollution :
Noise pollution is the elevated levels of sound, generated
from different human activities for e.g., machines, vehicles,
construction work, which may lead to adverse effects in
human and other living organisms which has gradually
decreased over a period of time due to the lockdown.
4. Ecological restoration and assimilation of tourist spots :
Over the past few years, tourism sector has witnessed a
remarkable growth because of technological advancements
and transport networks which contribute significantly to
global gross domestic product (GDP). It is estimated that the
tourism industry is responsible for 8% of global GHGs
emission.

9. Animals suffered both by becoming sick
with the virus and from the
socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic.
The pandemic also highlighted the deadly
costs of animal exploitation. Experts warn
that we need to fundamentally change
our relationship with animals, especially
wildlife and farm animals, to prevent
future pandemics.

11. And some negative effects have been :
Increase of biomedical waste generation : Since the outbreak of COVID-
19, medical waste generation is increased globally, which is a major
threat to public health and environment. For instance, collection of the
suspected COVID-19 patients, diagnosis, treatment of huge number of
patients, and disinfection purpose lots of infectious and biomedical
wastes are generated from hospitals.
2. Safety equipment use and haphazard disposal : To protect from the
viral infection, presently peoples are using face mask, hand gloves and
other safety equipment, which increase the amount of healthcare
waste. It is reported that, in USA, trash amount has been increasing due
to increased PPE use at the domestic level. Since the outbreak of COVID-
19, the production and use of plastic based PPE is increased worldwide.

12. 3. Municipal solid waste generation, and reduction of recycling :
Increase of municipal waste (both organic and inorganic) generation has
direct and indirect effects on environment like air, water and soil
pollution. Due to the pandemic, quarantine policies established in many
countries have led to an increase in the demand of online shopping for
home delivery, which ultimately increase the amount of household
wastes from shipped package materials.
4. Other effects on the environment :
Recently, huge amount of disinfectants is applied into roads,
commercial, and residential areas to exterminate SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Such extensive use of disinfectants may kill non-targeted beneficial
species, which may create ecological imbalance.

13. Positive impact on animals :
The corona virus is said to be originated with a wildlife
market, but now that it’s a potential threat, it is affecting so
much more.
Humans are not the only victims of this decease. However,
the current pandemic and lockdown have proven to be
beneficial to a certain extent to both the wildlife and the
domestic animals.
Due to the decrease of movement of the human beings, and
the restrain of the desire of a man to expand the land, making
it suitable for human living has made the wildlife more active.
Wild animals have been observed relaxing their avoidance of
human habitats while COVID-19 lockdowns are in effect.
Decreased roadkill incidence have been reported during the
lockdown.

14. Wildlife also benefited from reduced air and noise pollution
as industry, natural resource extraction, and manufacturing
declined.
As of the domestic animals, it’s a heart-warming sight to see
ourselves caring for the animals around us, now that we have
the time.
The company of animals such as dogs, cats, etc. gives us
immense joy, which probably we weren’t able to notice due
to our busy schedule. COVID-19 is spread from person to
person, the risk to animals is very low and the risk from
animals is even lower.
There is no reason to harm wildlife or abandon a pet out of
fear.
The relationship with a pet can be a great source of comfort,
helping to decrease depression, anxiety, and stress.

15. Negative impact on animals :
We are still learning about this virus, but we know that it can spread
from people to animals in some situations, especially during close
contact.
A small number of pet cats and dogs have been reported to be infected
with SARS-CoV-2 in several countries, including the United States.
One ferret was reported positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Slovenia.
Several animals in zoos and sanctuaries have tested positive for SARS-
CoV-2, including big cats (lions, tigers, pumas, cougars, snow leopards)
and non-human primates (gorillas) after showing signs of illness.
It is suspected that these animals became sick after being exposed to
an animal caretaker with COVID-19.
Animals suffered by becoming sick with the virus and from the
socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. The pandemic also highlighted
the deadly costs of animal exploitation.

16. Experts warn that we need to fundamentally change our
relationship with animals, especially wildlife and farm
animals, to prevent future pandemics.
The current pandemic is far from the only public health crisis
traced back to wild animals.
All these apart, we see a few daily activities around us. There
is a change in the number of domestic animals lately
(increased).
On the other hand, there have been a few heart wrenching
events where the people beat the animals.

17. The Covid-19 has been really difficult upon us. Most of them
might have lost their loved ones or probably someone they
might have cared for. Many people are suffering from
depression.
The least anyone can do is to have slight bit of empathy but
not only towards our species, but also the animals and the
environment since we are not the only victims of this
frightening disease.
The animals have been going through just as much, some
might be lacking food and shelter. People are nearly killing the
animals, out of fear? – Yes might be, but that’s no excuse for
taking a life. Their life is just as precious as ours, they also fear
us.
The environment might not be getting as polluted as before,
but there are a lot of wastage and disposal.

18. There has been a drastic increase in the number of cases after
the relaxation of the first lockdown.
The people have been breaking rules, going out, not
maintaining social distance, all these things which will lead us
absolutely nowhere. As once said – “It is our attitude at the
beginning of a difficult task, which more than anything else,
will affect its successful outcome.”
This is a difficult time and I hope for everyone to be
supportive of each other and spread love, as I believe that the
comfort one can provide can take us a long way through the
run in these difficult times.