7 COVID-19: Disaster or an Opportunity …
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Thus, various studies have proved that the quality of the water in rivers, underground water has improved due to lockdown which has made the aquatic life to
flourish to its fullest due to increase in dissolved oxygen [8, 16, 17, 21, 24, 52, 59, 76].
7.2.3 Impact on Nature and Wildlife
The coronavirus has made people to stay indoors and animals are encouraged to
move freely due to the empty parking lots, quiet streets and parks. There is news from
all over the world regarding the returning of many species to their natural habitats
[18]. There were reports of liberated wildlife too [10]. A Nilgai was seen walking
on the road in Noida (UP) and in Kerala’s Kozhikode, a Malabar civet, was seen
which is an endangered animal [18]. Herd of marauding goats were seen in Welsh
seaside, deers were seen roaming in Japanese city, boars were seen in Barcelona
city, Spain, wild puma was found in city of Santiago, Chile, oars whale was seen in
parts of a Vancouver fjord in North America [10]. The lockdowns have also resulted
in undisturbed habitats for marine life. The environment due to lockdown has also
favoured situation for olive ridley turtles to lay eggs in Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach
and Rushikulya’s rookery [18].
There are increased moles clambering sightings over ground near footpaths that
are well-walked and many rare birds in Britain. Wild flowers are blooming in large
number due to reduction in mowing. It is indirectly beneficial for wild plants, bees,
birds, bats, butterflies, bugs as they are dependent upon them [10]. This pandemic
is allowing animals to thrive even amidst the margins of urbanized existence [18].
Similar findings have also been reported in some online studies which are discussed
below:
Review of Studies Related to Nature and COVID-19
Newsome (2020) studied the effect of COVID-19 on tourism industry globally and
in wildlife destinations by using online resources and found that there is a loss of
75 billion jobs in hospitality industry and general tourism due to shutdown. But still
the environment has got time to recover and the impact is positive due to economic,
social and environmental sustainability [49]. Rutz et al. (2020) illustrated that in
urban environments nature appears to have changed due to the lockdown imposed
due to COVID-19 with many people reporting dolphins in the harbour of Trieste, Italy,
pumas in downtown Santiago, Chile and jackals in broad daylight in urban parks in
Tel Aviv, Israel mainly due to decrease in the level of noise pollution and traffic on the
roads and in oceans [56]. Garlick (2020) since the start of lockdown the herds of goats
roaming around Llandudno, Wales, water in Venetian canals is running clear, arrival
of red kite at Meltham Wildlife Reserve in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire [25]. Ioannides
and Gyimothy (2020) stated that COVID-19 offers private, public and academic
people a unique opportunity to design and consolidate the transition towards a more
balanced and greener tourism [30]. Freire-González and Vivanco (2020) have shifted
the mobility behaviour and enhanced implementation of technologies such as ICT
181
Thus, various studies have proved that the quality of the water in rivers, underground water has improved due to lockdown which has made the aquatic life to
flourish to its fullest due to increase in dissolved oxygen [8, 16, 17, 21, 24, 52, 59, 76].
7.2.3 Impact on Nature and Wildlife
The coronavirus has made people to stay indoors and animals are encouraged to
move freely due to the empty parking lots, quiet streets and parks. There is news from
all over the world regarding the returning of many species to their natural habitats
[18]. There were reports of liberated wildlife too [10]. A Nilgai was seen walking
on the road in Noida (UP) and in Kerala’s Kozhikode, a Malabar civet, was seen
which is an endangered animal [18]. Herd of marauding goats were seen in Welsh
seaside, deers were seen roaming in Japanese city, boars were seen in Barcelona
city, Spain, wild puma was found in city of Santiago, Chile, oars whale was seen in
parts of a Vancouver fjord in North America [10]. The lockdowns have also resulted
in undisturbed habitats for marine life. The environment due to lockdown has also
favoured situation for olive ridley turtles to lay eggs in Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach
and Rushikulya’s rookery [18].
There are increased moles clambering sightings over ground near footpaths that
are well-walked and many rare birds in Britain. Wild flowers are blooming in large
number due to reduction in mowing. It is indirectly beneficial for wild plants, bees,
birds, bats, butterflies, bugs as they are dependent upon them [10]. This pandemic
is allowing animals to thrive even amidst the margins of urbanized existence [18].
Similar findings have also been reported in some online studies which are discussed
below:
Review of Studies Related to Nature and COVID-19
Newsome (2020) studied the effect of COVID-19 on tourism industry globally and
in wildlife destinations by using online resources and found that there is a loss of
75 billion jobs in hospitality industry and general tourism due to shutdown. But still
the environment has got time to recover and the impact is positive due to economic,
social and environmental sustainability [49]. Rutz et al. (2020) illustrated that in
urban environments nature appears to have changed due to the lockdown imposed
due to COVID-19 with many people reporting dolphins in the harbour of Trieste, Italy,
pumas in downtown Santiago, Chile and jackals in broad daylight in urban parks in
Tel Aviv, Israel mainly due to decrease in the level of noise pollution and traffic on the
roads and in oceans [56]. Garlick (2020) since the start of lockdown the herds of goats
roaming around Llandudno, Wales, water in Venetian canals is running clear, arrival
of red kite at Meltham Wildlife Reserve in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire [25]. Ioannides
and Gyimothy (2020) stated that COVID-19 offers private, public and academic
people a unique opportunity to design and consolidate the transition towards a more
balanced and greener tourism [30]. Freire-González and Vivanco (2020) have shifted
the mobility behaviour and enhanced implementation of technologies such as ICT