Pic 1&2: Bats hanging from trees in Janpath area (New Delhi).
Given the extremely fast transmission of this viral disease and its lack of vaccination, the only way to combat it is by using ecological intervention. Some of these ecological interventions are discussed below.
1. Habitat preservation: There is an urgent need to preserve and isolate the natural habita of bats. Deforestation on large scale has been studies to be related to viral outbreaks throughout the world (Olivero et al., 2017). Ill practices of deforestation should be stopped immediately, everywhere and compensatory afforestation should be done to give the habitat back to wild life. After the outbreak of such viral diseases millions and crores are spent only to counter the disease, to diagnose, vaccinate the patients and eradication of the disease. But very less care and focus is given to the basic preventive measures such as afforestation and sustaining the wildlife habitats. Neither our Govt. nor the citizens are concerned in this regard. The world community need to recognise the importance of respecting the wildlife and its habitats.
2. Bat hunting and consumption: Though Bat hunting and consumption is not so common in India but the rapid transmission of such viral diseases in our neighbouring countries is a major cause of concern, Nearly 56 species of bats are hunted for consumption purpose in Asia (Mildenstein et al., 2016). In addition to that, live killing, and eating of ubder cooked meat of bats can cause viral infections in humans (Chan et al., 2013; Fan et al., 2019).
3. Controlling human population growth: India is the second most populated nation in the world after China, China being the most populous country has seen three major bat origin COVs epidemics till now (Fan et al., 2019; Khan et al., 2020). According to the research many bat related viral infections have been seen and reported in lands with higher population density (Plowright et al., 2015). Human population growth needs to be stabilised and regulated through family planning and legislations especially of Asian countries.
4. Universal ban of wildlife trade : In spite of all the efforts of world environment and animal bodies to curb the menace of wildlife trade, it has not decreased but has been increasing each year. New viruses having pandemic potentials emerge largely due to the un organised and illegal trade of wildlife as seen in the case of COVID-19 and similarly other outbreaks (Boseley, 2020). Hence, keeping in mind the fatal health problems, biosafety of the nation, universal public health, and economic inflows and outflows, it is high time that we eradicate the menace of wild life trade.
5. Research, wildlife monitoring and survey : Efficient and effective scientific research is the guiding light to any environmental problem. Universally it is very important to research and monitor the presence or absence of wild life carrying viruses. Scientific surveys of bat population, inhabitation and migration may give instant knowledge with regards to the origin, travel and spill overs that may have happened with regards to the virus containing materials associated with the wildlife in any particular area, country or continent.
6. Scientific ecological research : The Government of India has started a nationwide research and development (R&D) initiative to combat corona virus spread and transmission. The Department of Science and Technology - Science and Engineering Board (DST-SERB) has announced several special scientific research projects as early as April 01 2020 within weeks of it’s out-break in India. The first sets of 5 projects have been selected for further development into implementable technologies level. These projects were selected only after the peer-review and assessment approval by a Special Expert Committee for CoVID-19 projects and programmes.