The Hindu Business Line : Problem of numbers

Robert Malthus, famous for his pessimistic predictions on the future of humanity, warned of the consequences of a reckless population growth. But man was, and is, quite undeterred, with the result that we are six billion today, and growing. Oddly enough, we seldom see this problem of plenty in the animal kingdom. Perhaps it is because Nature has a way of steadying the balance, such as in the large-scale perishing of animals/birds in relation to the scarcity/availability of food.

Still, on occasions animal population explosions have warranted human intervention. For instance, in 2005, Australia had to put down a section of its camel population to bring the numbers under control. In 2002, South Korea tackled its exploding pig population in the same way. The fate of `surplus' elephants in Africa has been less gruesome. The authorities are contemplating `elephantine' relocation to forests across Africa.

Another reality is also somewhat peculiar to the animal kingdom. Unlike in human beings, whenever animals are afflicted with fatal diseases, particularly infectious ones, the only solution seems to be mass slaughter of the infected species. This is what is happening with avian flu. A few years earlier, in 2001, authorities ordered the killing of thousands of cattle in Europe over fears about the foot-and-mouth disease.

An economist would see a lot of economic issues in all this. For instance, the avian flu affected the supply of chicken, pushing up the demand for other meat. When there is a shortage of eggs, more vegetables are required. Foot-and-mouth disease affects the availability of meat for export, disturbing the balance of payments situation of the country concerned. And so it goes on...

K. Gopalan

More Stories on : Animals & Livestock | Health | Economy | Impressions

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Much hard work lies ahead

Problem of numbers

FOODGRAIN PARADOX

Budget needs a people orientation

Chidambaram's focus on stability and growth

How has the tax-GDP ratio gone up

Implications of capital gains giveaway

The Howard visit

Excise duty cut