The phrase “I love New York” is globally recognized, giving the impression that everyone in the world loves the city. However, this is clearly not true. Nevertheless, it creates an illusion of universal affection for New York. Recently, similar slogans have appeared across Tamil Nadu, such as “I love Chennai,” “I love Coimbatore,” “I love Nagercoil,” and even “I love Thovalai.” Interestingly, none of these messages included any mention of nature. In response, the organization KNF decided to adopt the slogan “I love Wildlife.” The reason for specifically choosing “Wildlife” is to distinguish it from the broader concept of “nature” that many people claim to love. Lately, some individuals express their love for nature by focusing solely on pets like cats and dogs, enjoying green spaces such as tea estates, or appreciating herbal plants for their health benefits, but they are not necessarily advocating for wildlife conservation.
While it’s possible to address those who don’t care for nature, the real challenge comes from those who claim to love nature but end up complicating core environmental issues. By falsely advocating for simple solutions, they can easily shift focus away from the main environmental concerns. The real drivers of environmental degradation are habitat loss and climate change. However, many self-proclaimed nature lovers believe that small actions, like using cloth bags or turning off lights, can single-handedly save the planet. This is why KNF has chosen to focus the message specifically on “I love Wildlife,” to keep the theme clear and centered on the critical issue of wildlife conservation.
KNF created t-shirts featuring the slogan “I love wildlife,” which was warmly embraced by the volunteers, who are the backbone of the organization. As the volunteers began wearing these t-shirts in forest areas, the public, curious about the slogan, would approach them to learn more. When the volunteers took the time to explain the details about wildlife and the forest ecosystem, many people were genuinely impressed, as most had little knowledge about the actual wildlife in the region.
KNF also created badges with the slogan “I love wildlife” and distributed them to volunteers and students attending their camps. The students were excited to receive the badges and began wearing them everywhere. Proudly displaying their badges, they encouraged their peers to visit the forest and experience wildlife for themselves. This sparked a widespread wave of interest. These simple actions by KNF had a significant impact on the wildlife movement in the Kanyakumari district. KNF now hopes to expand this campaign and spread the “I love wildlife” message throughout Tamil Nadu.
