Animals are useful to mankind in many ways. Every animal fits into the system of nature. Animals support life by serving as food for both man and plants. At the same time, they also destroy life by killing other animals or damaging crops and property. In this way, they help to keep in balance the total number of plants and animals on earth. This vital ecosystem of the balance in nature is known as the "the web of life".
The most important function of animals to mankind is probably as a provider of food. Animal domestication, which began some 12000 years ago, has solved man's most urgent need that is the need for a food supply on a permanent basis, instead of hunting and food gathering.
Animals are also useful as a source of raw materials. They provide man with wool, hide, hair, bones, and horn from which we make our clothes and other useful articles. Animals have helped man since the Stone Age to plough his fields, cart his goods and carry his logs. Horses, buffaloes and elephants have long been our beasts of burden in many parts of the world.
Since the beginning of time, many animals have been man's best partners in war. Horses, elephants, even yaks were used on battlefields when other modes of transport had still not been invented.
The most important function of animals to mankind is probably as a provider of food. Animal domestication, which began some 12000 years ago, has solved man's most urgent need that is the need for a food supply on a permanent basis, instead of hunting and food gathering.
Animals are also useful as a source of raw materials. They provide man with wool, hide, hair, bones, and horn from which we make our clothes and other useful articles. Animals have helped man since the Stone Age to plough his fields, cart his goods and carry his logs. Horses, buffaloes and elephants have long been our beasts of burden in many parts of the world.
Since the beginning of time, many animals have been man's best partners in war. Horses, elephants, even yaks were used on battlefields when other modes of transport had still not been invented.