The Most Endangered Animals in India
India is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, with over 500 species of mammals, 1,300 species of birds, 700 species of reptiles and 2,000 species of fish.
However, many of these animals are facing the threat of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, climate change and human-wildlife conflict.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), India has 199 species of plants and animals that are critically endangered, meaning they have a very high risk of disappearing from the wild in the near future.
In this article, we will look at some of the most endangered animals in India and what is being done to protect them.
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is the national animal of India and one of the most iconic symbols of its wildlife. It is also the largest and most powerful of all the big cats, with an average weight of 200 kg and a length of 3 meters.
Bengal tigers are found in various habitats across India, from forests and grasslands to mangroves and wetlands. They are apex predators that feed on deer, wild boar, buffalo and other large animals.
However, the Bengal tiger is also one of the most endangered animals in India, with around 3,000 individuals left in the wild. The main threats to its survival are poaching for its skin and body parts, which are used in traditional medicine and as trophies, habitat loss due to deforestation and development, and human-tiger conflict, which occurs when tigers attack livestock or people.
To save the Bengal tiger from extinction, several conservation efforts have been launched, such as Project Tiger, which was started in 1973 by the Indian government to create tiger reserves and protect their habitats. Other initiatives include anti-poaching patrols, community awareness programs, wildlife corridors and translocation of tigers to new areas.
Asiatic Lion
The Asiatic lion is a subspecies of lion that is native to Asia and once roamed from Turkey to India.
However, due to hunting and habitat loss, it was reduced to a single population in the Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat, India. The Asiatic lion is smaller than its African cousin, with a larger tail tuft and a distinct belly fold.
It lives in groups called prides that consist of one or two males and several females and cubs. It feeds on deer, antelope, cattle and other prey.
The Asiatic lion is also an endangered animal in India, with only about 500–650 individuals left in the wild. The main threats to its survival are poaching for its bones and claws, which are used in traditional medicine and as ornaments, habitat loss due to agriculture and mining, and disease outbreaks such as the canine distemper virus.
To conserve the Asiatic lion from extinction, several conservation efforts have been implemented, such as Project Lion, which was launched in 1972 by the Indian government to protect the Gir Forest and its wildlife.
Other measures include vaccination campaigns, habitat restoration, compensation schemes for livestock losses and relocation of lions to new areas.
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a rare and elusive cat that lives in the high mountains of Central and South Asia. It has a thick fur coat that ranges from grey to yellowish-brown with black spots and rosettes.
It has a long tail that helps it balance on rocky terrain and a small head with large eyes and ears that help it detect prey. It feeds on wild sheep and goats, marmots, hares and other small animals.
The snow leopard is also an endangered animal in India, with only about 4,080–6,590 individuals left in the wild. The main threats to its survival are poaching for its fur and bones, which are used in traditional medicine and as clothing, habitat loss due to climate change and human encroachment, and human-snow leopard conflict, which occurs when snow leopards kill livestock or attack people.
To protect the snow leopard from extinction, several conservation efforts have been undertaken, such as Project Snow Leopard, which was initiated in 2009 by the Indian government to create snow leopard conservation areas and monitor their population.
Other actions include anti-poaching patrols, community education programs, livestock insurance schemes and transboundary cooperation with neighbouring countries.
