Wildlife

The term wildlife refers to living organisms that are not in any way artificial or domesticated and which exist in natural habitats. Wildlife can refer to flora (plants) but more commonly refers to fauna (animals). Needless to say, wildlife is a very general term for life in various ecosystems. Deserts, rainforests, plains, and other areas—including the most built-up urban sites—all have distinct forms of wildlife.

Wildlife as food

In Stone Age tribes, hunter-gatherers relied on wildlife, both plant and animal, as their only food source. In fact, some species may have been hunted to extinction by early human hunters. With the rise of agriculture and the domestication of some wildlife, this reliance decreased. However, hunting for game remained an important part of many cultures' diet. Today, hunting, fishing, or gathering wildlife is still a significant food source in some parts of the world. In other areas, hunting and non-commercial fishing are mainly seen as a sport or recreation, with the edible meat as mostly a side benefit. Meat sourced from wildlife that is not traditionally regarded as game is known as bushmeat.

Related Topics:
Stone Age - Hunter-gatherer - Extinction - Agriculture - Hunting - Game - Fishing - Sport - Recreation - Bushmeat

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