The Impact of Climate Change on Animal Welfare and Ecosystems

          The Impact of Climate Change on Animal Welfare and Ecosystems

   Saurabh Patel*, Kaushal Kumar, Ankita Srivastwa, Kushagra Anand and Neha Kumari, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Bihar Veterinary College, BASU, Patna

 Abstract

Climate change, marked by rising global temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and ecosystem disruptions, is significantly impacting both wild and domestic animals across the globe. India, with its ecological richness and climate-sensitive communities, is particularly vulnerable. This article synthesizes global evidence and Indian case studies to examine how climate change affects animal welfare, shifts species distribution, threatens biodiversity, and disrupts ecosystems. It underscores the role of Indigenous knowledge, highlights gaps in current policies, and calls for integrated, climate-resilient strategies to protect animal life and habitats in an increasingly warming world.

Key words: Climate change, Ecosystem, Vulnerable, Animal welfare, Biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, Climate-resilient strategies

1. Introduction

Climate change is no longer a distant threat-it is a present and pressing crisis. Globally, temperatures have risen by about 1.2°C since the pre-industrial era, with significant consequences for ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. India has witnessed a 0.7°C rise in average temperature between 1901 and 2018 (IMD, 2020), with faster warming in recent decades. India, one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, is already witnessing profound changes in its natural systems. From the melting glaciers of the Himalayas to the bleaching corals of the Indian Ocean, both wildlife and livestock are under unprecedented stress. Understanding these impacts is essential for creating adaptive strategies that are environmentally just and species-inclusive.

2. Climate Change and Ecosystem Disruption
   • Rising Temperatures and Habitat Loss: Temperature rise and extreme weather events are degrading habitats globally. Coral reefs, tundra regions, and tropical forests are all vulnerable. The Great Barrier Reef has seen widespread bleaching, with over 90% of it affected since 1998 (Hughes et al., 2017). In the Arctic, polar bears and Arctic foxes face habitat loss due to melting sea ice (Durner et al., 2009). In India, the Sundarbans mangroves are retreating due to sea-level rise and salinity intrusion, driving Bengal tigers into human settlements (Ghosh, 2019). In Ladakh, rising temperatures are melting glaciers and affecting high-altitude species such as the snow leopard and Tibetan antelope. Their prey base is shifting, and food scarcity is becoming common.
   • Species Migration and Biogeographic Shifts: Species are migrating to cooler latitudes or higher elevations to escape warming.This shift often leads to mismatches between species and their traditional food sources or breeding grounds.  The pied flycatcher in Europe now arrives too late for optimal feeding, impacting reproduction (Both et al., 2006). In India, flamingos in Gujarat are altering their arrival times, and the Hilsa fish is changing its migratory route due to warming river temperatures and saline water intrusion (WWF-India, 2020).

3. Effects on Animal Welfare

• Direct Physiological Stress: Animals are suffering from heat stress, dehydration, and altered metabolic rates. In Maharashtra, droughts have caused heat-related deaths in livestock and wildlife like blackbucks.Wild animals also suffer from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Amphibians are especially susceptible due to their permeable skin, making them vulnerable to desiccation in drier climates. In Rajasthan, even traditionally drought-resistant camels are now struggling due to desertification. Globally, heat stress reduces dairy productivity by up to 20% and lowers reproductive efficiency in livestock (NDDB, 2021; Renaudeau et al., 2012).
• Increased Disease Vulnerability: Warmer, wetter climates are expanding the range of disease vectors.In India, tick-borne babesiosis and mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis are rising (ICAR, 2021). An outbreak of canine distemper virus in Gir Forest endangered the Asiatic lion, exacerbated by immune stress from climate change (Sharma et al., 2020). Bluetongue virus in sheep and cattle, now seen in areas previously too cold for vector survival (Purse et al., 2005). Chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease decimating amphibian population globally, has spread more rapidly due to changing humidity and temperature levels (Fisher et al., 2009).
• Behavioural and Psychological Stress:Changing habitats and food scarcity are altering animal behaviour. In Bandipur and Nagarhole, elephants are frequently entering farmlands due to water scarcity in their traditional habitats, leading to accidents and stress-induced aggression. In urban India, leopards are entering cities like Mumbai due to habitat loss, increasing accidents and aggression. African elephants elsewhere have become more nocturnal to avoid heat, which disrupts feeding and social behaviours (Wall et al., 2021). Fragmented habitats force species into closer contact with humans and other animals, increasing competition, aggression, and stress-related behaviors.

4. Biodiversity and Species Extinction

Climate change is now the third most significant driver of biodiversity loss, after land use change and overexploitation (IPBES, 2019). It has accelerated the extinction risk for numerous species. India is home to over 7.6% of all mammalian species and 12.6% of avian species, many of which are climate-sensitive. Climate change accelerates extinction, especially in species with limited mobility or narrow ecological niches. The Great Indian Bustard, critically endangered, is losing habitat due to expanding agriculture and desertification. In the Western Ghats, amphibians like the purple frog are facing breeding disruptions due to irregular monsoons. Globally, the golden toad went extinct in Costa Rica due to climate-induced changes in its cloud forest habitat (Pounds et al., 2006). The American pika faces “mountain-top extinction,” unable to migrate higher to escape warming (Beever et al., 2011).

5. Ecosystem-Level Impacts

• Ocean Acidification and Coral Bleaching: As oceans absorb more CO₂, marine life is at risk due to acidification of oceans. Pteropods, crucial to ocean food chains, are dissolving in acidic waters (Bednarsek et al.,2014). India’s coral reefs in Lakshadweep and Gulf of Mannar have experienced bleaching events due to rising sea surface temperatures. The 2016 bleaching saw over 60% coral mortality in some areas (ZSI, 2017).
• Forest Fires and Land-Based Ecosystems: Prolonged dry spells have increased forest fires: -In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, fires displace sloth bears, langurs, and other wildlife. In the Amazon, repeated fires have turned a carbon sink into a net carbon emitter (Gatti et al., 2021), signalling collapse in one of Earth’s key ecological regulators.

6. Climate Change and Domesticated Animal Welfare

• Fodder Crisis and Water Scarcity: India’s livestock sector supporting over 300 million animals is under stress. Drought-prone regions like Telangana and Chhattisgarh face fodder shortages, malnutrition, and livestock abandonment. In East Africa, prolonged droughts have decimated pastoral communities, causing widespread livestock deaths and food insecurity (FAO, 2022).
• Heat Stress in Dairy Animals: India is the largest producer of milk globally, yet dairy productivity is falling in heat-stressed regions. Studies show that milk yield can decline by up to 15-20% during summer months in tropical Indian regions (NDDB, 2021). Heat stress also affects reproductive health in cattle and buffaloes, leading to economic and welfare concerns for small-scale farmers.
• Disaster-Driven Animal Displacement: Natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes displace both humans and animals. Emergency shelters are often ill-equipped for animal welfare. During the 2018 Kerala floods, thousands of domestic animals, including pets, poultry, and cattle, died or were left behind. Rescue efforts were limited by lack of infrastructure and poor disaster planning for animals. Cyclones Amphan and Yaas in eastern India caused mass drownings of livestock and exposed animals to starvation and disease outbreaks.

7. Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Adaptation: –

Traditional ecological knowledge offers adaptive solutions: The Raikas of Rajasthan adjust camel grazing based on weather signs but are losing pastures to erratic rainfall. Northeastern tribes track flowering patterns and wildlife behaviour to manage ecosystems-data now integrated into biodiversity planning. Internationally, Inuit communities document changes in sea ice and caribou migration, aiding local resilience (Gearheard et al., 2006).

8. Policy and Mitigation Strategies

• National and Global Policies: –India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) includes missions on ecosystems and agriculture but lacks specific focus on animal welfare. Programs like the Climate Resilient Livestock Development initiative are steps in the right direction.Globally, animal welfare is often neglected in climate action frameworks. Integrating animal welfare standards (e.g., cooling systems, disease monitoring) into climate policies is crucial.
• Protected Area and Corridor Management: –Protected areas must be reconfigured to match shifting habitats. Wildlife corridors can help species adapt to changing climates. In India, Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around protected areas and NGO efforts (e.g., Wildlife SOS, WWF-India) promote coexistence and rehabilitate animals affected by heat or displacement.
• Sustainable Agriculture and Emission Reduction: –Industrial livestock farming is a major emitter of methane. Shifting toward plant-based diets, regenerative farming, and reduced meat consumption can cut emissions and promote animal welfare (Springmann et al.,2018).

9. Conclusion

Climate change is an existential threat-not only to humanity but to the planet’s animals and ecosystems. In India and globally, rising temperatures, habitat destruction, disease emergence, and extreme weather events are causing irreversible damage to biodiversity and animal welfare. The current trajectory demands a shift in how we perceive and respond to environmental crises-moving from reactive conservation to proactive, inclusive adaptation. Addressing these challenges demands a stronger integration of animal welfare into climate policies, along with enhanced collaboration between the scientific community and policymakers to monitor and mitigate climate impacts. It also requires increased investment in infrastructure, especially in areas such as disaster preparedness and veterinary care, as well as the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge as a valuable tool for fostering ecological resilience. Only through coordinated efforts at both global and local levels can we build a sustainable and equitable future for all forms of life, human and non-human alike.

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*M.V.Sc. Scholar

Department of Veterinary Pathology

Bihar Veterinary College, Patna

Email: saurabhpatel2499@gmail.com

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