Conserving India’s Wildlife: Challenges and Progress

Context:

In observance of World Wildlife Conservation Day, let’s take a closer look at India’s rich wildlife and the challenges it faces.

Background:

World Wildlife Conservation Day is celebrated annually on December 4th to raise awareness about the critical issues impacting wildlife populations, including extinction, endangerment, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Key Takeaways:

• India is home to a remarkable biodiversity. Despite occupying only 2.4% of the world’s land area, it accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species, which includes 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals. This immense biodiversity is one of the reasons why India is considered a megadiverse country.

• India boasts 10 biogeographic zones and houses 8.58% of all documented mammalian species. Additionally, India is home to:

  • 13.66% of avian species
  • 7.91% of reptiles
  • 4.66% of amphibians
  • 11.72% of fish
  • 11.8% of plants

• Four of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots are located in India: the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland.

Risk of Extinction:

As of 2022, India is home to 73 critically endangered species, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies species as critically endangered when they face the highest risk of extinction in the wild.

• The number of critically endangered species in India has increased from 47 in 2011, partly due to better data and monitoring, rather than just a higher rate of extinction.

• Of the nine mammalian species considered critically endangered, eight are endemic to India, meaning their habitat is limited to small geographic areas within the country. These include:

  • Kashmir stag (Hangul)
  • Malabar large-spotted civet
  • Andaman shrew
  • Jenkin’s shrew
  • Nicobar shrew
  • Namdapha flying squirrel
  • Large rock rat
  • Leafletted leaf-nosed bat