Consider the statement: “Wild animals are not considered a natural resource.” In the context of environmental studies and conservation, is this statement correct or incorrect?

Introduction / Context:
Environmental science treats natural resources as components of nature that humans use or benefit from, including air, water, soil, minerals, forests, and wildlife. Wild animals play an important ecological role and are protected under various conservation laws and policies. The question presents a statement claiming that wild animals are not considered a natural resource and asks whether this statement is correct or incorrect.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The statement to be evaluated is: “Wild animals are not considered a natural resource.”
• The context is environmental studies, which covers ecosystems, biodiversity, and resource management.
• Natural resources generally include both biotic (living) and abiotic (non living) components.
• Wild animals are part of the biotic component of ecosystems.

Concept / Approach:
Natural resources are typically divided into renewable and non renewable resources, and also into biotic and abiotic categories. Biotic resources include plants, animals, and microorganisms that are used directly or indirectly by humans and that help maintain ecological balance. Wild animals contribute to biodiversity, support ecosystem services such as pollination and seed dispersal, and are a source of ecological, cultural, and sometimes economic value. Therefore, wild animals are indeed considered natural resources. The given statement, which denies this status, must therefore be evaluated as incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the definition of natural resources as all useful and beneficial components of nature, including living organisms.Step 2: Recognise that wild animals fall under living components (biotic resources) and are essential for ecosystem functioning.Step 3: Understand that conservation laws treat wildlife as valuable natural resources that must be protected and managed sustainably.Step 4: Compare this understanding with the statement, which says wild animals are not considered a natural resource.Step 5: Since this contradicts standard definitions and conservation practice, conclude that the statement is incorrect and choose “Incorrect” as the answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by looking at terms used in environmental policies and textbooks, where phrases such as “forest resources and wildlife resources” frequently appear. Many official documents refer to wildlife as an important natural resource that must be conserved for future generations. These references directly contradict the idea that wild animals are not natural resources, confirming that the statement is wrong.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Correct) is wrong because it would support the idea that wild animals are not natural resources, which is inconsistent with environmental science. Option C (Correct only for domesticated animals) is irrelevant because the statement in question is about wild animals, not domesticated ones, and domesticated animals are also living resources in their own context. Option D (Incorrect because only plants are natural resources) is also wrong, because natural resources include both plants and animals as well as other components of nature; stating that only plants are natural resources is itself an incorrect claim.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to think of natural resources only in terms of raw materials directly extracted from nature for human use, such as timber or minerals, and to overlook the broader ecological role of wildlife. Another pitfall is to separate wildlife from the idea of resources because animals are often discussed in terms of ethics and conservation rather than utility. To avoid such misconceptions, students should remember that wildlife is an integral part of biotic natural resources and is explicitly treated as such in environmental science.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Incorrect. Wild animals are indeed considered a natural resource as part of the biotic components of ecosystems and are recognised as such in environmental studies and conservation policy.