Science and religion may defer almost every aspect but not on the place of humans among other living things. The evolution and creation stories adopted by science and religion are evidence of the superiority of humans over plants and animals. In the creation story, humans were made to rule over the earth since they are the closest to God, whereas in the science humans are more intelligent thus cementing their place as the superior species. However, does this superiority mean that humans do not need other species and can destroy anything on their path?
The last few decades human activities such as deforestation, poaching, over-consumption of animal products, science experiments and other hostilities towards other species is a depiction of misuse of power and the failure to use the higher intelligence to care for other species. Global warming, pollution, and overconsumption of meat and animal products leading to further degradation of the earth and global warming. The irresponsibility and destruction perpetrated by humans are destabilizing the ecosystem without understanding that without these animals humanity would be extinct. It is evident that humans comprise 0.01% but their destruction of more than 83% of wild mammals (Carrington, 2018). The extinction of more than 1000 species over the past half-century depicts the irresponsible nature of humans.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Animals Regulate and Balance the Ecosystem
According to Gascon et al. (2015), animals play the role of regulating natural resources thus enhancing health, water conservation, soil erosion, climate, and other regulations of nature. The authors depicted that rodents would devour all plants if left uncontrolled. Therefore, the competition for food between rodents and larger animals reduces the multiplication and domination of the rodents in the ecosystem (Gascon et al., 2015). According to the documentary, the beauty of snakes, it is evident that even dangerous animals such as snakes are important in rodent control with the main meal of snakes being rodents and amphibians (Kinetic Sand. 2017). Some humans may argue that modern scientific innovations can help humans control rodents, but it is evident from genetics, animals tend to adapt and become resistant to the pesticides used to harm them.
According to Gascon et al. (2015), large herbivores may also devour the land if left unmonitored leading to soil erosion and diminishing the rivers, which are the main sources of water needed by all organisms for survivor. However, the food chain, which occurs naturally, controls the number of herbivores. For instance, lions, hyenas, among other carnivores balances the ecosystem thus enhancing the lives of humans indirectly. Spiders, chameleons, and frogs feed on insects thus reduce herbivory which enables the green plants to increase the carbon capture (Gascon et al., 2015). The significance of animals in the regulation and balancing of the ecosystem means that the value of the animals even the tiniest or animals that people think are not important play key roles in enhancing the well-being of humans. Recent studies on reducing the contamination of soils and water in most fruit and coffee plantations have proposed the use of chameleons to control pests. The use of chameleons would reduce the contamination of human food with studies depicting that through the food chain, humans are consuming lots of dangerous chemicals (Gascon et al., 2015). These chemicals are harmful to animals, plants, and humans but with the declining number of chameleons and other animals that can help reduce pests, cancer and other chronic ailment are diminishing the health of the humans.
Bees and birds are vital in pollination of flowering plants. These animals are essential in the production of the tasty and nutritious fruits and foods that improve the immune systems of humans. However, air pollution and the continued ecosystem imbalances leading to fewer bees and extinction of birds is likely to lead to lower fruits production thus impart the health and economic conditions of humans (Gascon et al., 2015). Lastly, plants are essential in the dispersion of plants that human consume. Without these transportation agents, humans would devour all plants and die of hunger in the next few years.
Animals improve the psychology and social lives of humans
Harry Truman stated, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog!” (Walsh, 2009). Truman’s statement proves that dogs are loyal friends that they surpass humans (Walsh, 2009). This claim is quite contentious but also informative on the relationship between people and their pets and a proof that even when someone disguises himself or herself, a dog will always know its owner. For instance, in the Odyssey, when Odysseus disguised himself as a beggar his dog knew whom he was thus wagged its tail before dying (Walsh, 2009). Most of the American presidents and celebrities have had pets in the limelight as a way to should the ease and value of interacting with animals as companions. Obama, Bush, Kennedy, and Roosevelt had pets and were proud to have them in the White House, which depicts the value of such animals (Walsh, 2009).
According to Walsh (2009), recent studies tend to argue that the connection between children with pets tends to limit their human interactions. Walsh rejects the studies’ assumptions that the children replace human interaction by spending most of their time with their pets rather than socializing. The study demonstrates the significance of pets with dogs and cats forming 97% of all pets. pets enable children to become responsible, develop self-confidence and a topic to initiate conversations with other pet owners. The study further depicts that adults with pets tend to engage in social activities when walking their pets.
The companion aspects of pets have provided to be vital in treating mental disorders. Since 1960, pets enabled individuals with schizophrenia built relationships with the pets that helped them control their moods and emotions. The keeping of pets in families and the success in the enabling people to control emotions led to the development of pet therapies for children with mental disorders. The animal companion bonds have helped windowed women move on after the death of their husbands. According to Walsh (2009), multiple women stated that following the death of their spouses, their families were supportive but all they wanted is to be alone with their dogs. The study was clear that dogs tend to understand human emotions although there is no scientific proof that they have feelings thus helped the women care remain engaged in caring for them and themselves (Walsh, 2009). The wagging of the tail as it approaches the owner is a show of respect and gratitude that makes the women understand that even in their grief, they have a companion all the time. Walsh states that pets, mainly dogs and cats, have proved to be companions of humans in all ages and mental conditions. The study demonstrated that elderly adults with chronic ailments increased their lives by more than one year if they had animal companions (Walsh, 2009). The pets’ companionship ensured that these adults remained mobile, which is vital for mitigating cardiovascular attacks.
Conclusion
The essay demonstrated that animals improve the living conditions through influencing climate changes, balancing the ecosystem, and food production. These factors make it easier for humans to survive in conducive environments. The second part depicts the psychological, social, and mental well-being of humans. The sections demonstrated that the animal companion improved the development of children, assisted in therapies, and coping with other psychological and mental disorders. It is clear that animals are too important to humans’ well-being, therefore, humans should understand that they may be superior but the earth is an ecosystem that benefits from the interactions of all living and non-living organisms.
References
Carrington, D. (2018, May 21). Humans just 0.01% of all life but have destroyed 83% of wild mammals – study. The Guardian . Retrieved November 16, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/21/human-race-just-001-of-all-life-but-has-destroyed-over-80-of-wild-mammals-study
Gascon, C., Brooks, T., Contreras-Macbeath, T., Heard, N., Konstant, W., Lamoreux, J., . . . Vié, J. (2015). The Importance and Benefits of Species. Current Biology, 25 (10).
Kinetic Sand. (2017, October 05). Retrieved November 16, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym8t3yVnbkM
Walsh, F. (2009). Human-Animal Bonds I: The Relational Significance of Companion Animals. Family Process, 48 (4), 462-480.
