All species on Earth need light and dark cycles
The dark holds many fascinating phenomena
Starry night skies have inspired generations
What We Do
Research
Artificial lighting impairs mating and foraging behaviour of many species. We study the lasting effects of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife and habitats.
Raising Awareness
We create awareness on the importance of darkness and its significance to nocturnal life forms. We conduct education and training programmes to promote Astronomy.
Conservation
We develop scientific and sustainable conservation solutions to combat light pollution and restore darkness. We conserve dark places and the life that depend on it.
Why save the dark?
All species on Earth including humans have evolved to and need the light and dark cycle. Up until hundred years ago, undisturbed by artificial lights, humans were inspired by starry skies, birds used celestial objects to navigate, sea turtle hatchlings found their way to the ocean, predators and bioluminescent life used the dark to hunt and mate, undisturbed. A naturally dark place is also a naturally wild place. Between 2012 and 2016, satellite data show that our planet brightened by 9.1%.
With the rampant increase in artificial lighting and light pollution, we've shut our view of the Universe and altered night time landscapes. Billions of birds and hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are disoriented every year on their migration paths. Fireflies once found in large numbers everywhere have become very rare. Frogs stop calling in brightly lit areas, affecting their mating success. Many nocturnal species from owls to leopards to snakes lose their eyesight when exposed to bright traffic lights. We have altered our planet, in ways unfathomable, with excessive lighting.
WiDe works to conserve and restore darkness through sustainable and environment friendly lighting practices.
