GS-III : Biodiversity & Environment Conservation

01 April, 2021
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Animals of India - UPSC

Animals of India

India has some of the world's most Biodiverse regions, encompassing a wide range of biomes–desert, high mountains, highlands, tropical and temperate forests, swamplands, plains, grasslands, areas surrounding rivers, as well as an island archipelago.
It hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region and the Sundaland (which Includes a group of Islands), with numerous endemic species.

Important facts about Wildlife and Protected areas of India.

The Lion is found naturally only in India, besides Africa. In India, its only natural habitat is the Gir forest (Saurashtra) in Gujarat. In 1972, the Gir Lion Project was launched for its protection.
The One-horned rhinoceros is found only in India. Project Rhinoceros was launched in 1987 for its protection. It's protected in Kaziranga (Assam). Besides this place, it is found in the marshy lands of Manas (Assam) and Jaldapara (West Bengal).
The Keoladeo (Ghana) Bird Sanctuary is famous as the winter migratory place for the Siberian crane. It is India’s largest bird sanctuary.
The Nandan Kanan Zoological Park (Bhubaneswar, Odisha) is famous for the white tiger.
India’s largest zoo is in Alipore, Kolkata.
The Gangetic dolphins live in the Ganga. They are blind by birth.
India is just 2% of the world's land mass but is home to 8% of the world’s biodiversity.
Among plants, 33% of the world's species are endemic to India.
Mangroves in India account for about 3% of the world's entire mangrove vegetation.
India is home to 12% of the world’s bird species.
In terms of endemism, India's position is tenth in birds with 69 species, fifth in reptiles with 156 species and seventh in amphibians with 110 species.
The Kharai, a unique breed of camels that can swim are found only in Kutch, Gujarat.
Four animals – the cheetah, Lesser Indian Rhinoceros, Pink-headed duck, and the Himalayan Mountain Quail – have become extinct in the last century.

Animals of Eastern Himalayas

Animal (IUCN Status)	Range	Conservation	Description
Namdapha Flying Squirrel (CR, END)	Endemic to Namdapha (AR)	Namdapha	Arboreal(live on trees), Nocturnal,
Red/ Lesser Panda or Red Cat (EN)	Endemic to Nepal Bhutan, Myanmar, SWChina & NE.India = SK, AS, AR	Padmaja naidu conservation (Darjeeling)	Solitary animal, State Animal- SK. Feeds bamboo Threat: Inbreeding, Depression
Thamin/ Brow Ant/ Sangai/ Dancing Deer (EN, END)	South and SE Asia. Manipur.	Kaibul Lamjao (MN), AR Mouling and Dihang Dibang	Threat: Loktak Power Generation Reservoirs,
Pygmy Hog (EN, END)	Grasslands. Endemic to: India, Nepal and Bhutan.	AS- Sonai Rupai, Manas Orang.	World's smallest wild pig. Sonai Rupai. Threat: Loss and degradation of grasslands
Takin Goat (VU)	Mainly AR. Bhutan, China, Myanmar.	AR- Namdapha , Mouling and Dihang Dibang	National animal of Bhutan.
Clouded Leopard (VU)	S.China, Tibet, Bhutan, Myanmar and NE.India = AR, ML, SK, NG.	Namdapha (AR) and Itangki NP (NG)	State Animal Meghalaya
Golden Cat (NT)	Endemic to. Him foothill. SE Asia, S.China. NE- Arp to Mizo	Dampa (MZ)	In news 2020: As it is found in 6 different colors.
Snow Leopard (VU)	Alpine zones, High Mt of C.Asia, JK & AR Leopard Top 3 Habitats: China(60%), followed by Mongolia and India.	SECURE Himalaya GSLEP- Global Snow Leopard Eco-system Protection Pgm. Bishkek Declaration State animal-HP National Animal- Pakistan	Natural Habitat: Lake Baikal, S.Siberia, Kunlun, Altan, Tian shan, Sayan ranges, Pamir Mts 2015: Yr of Snow Leopard. Threat: shrinking of Alpine Zone.
Hispid Hare/ AS Rabbit (EN)	Assam, NE, Southern foothills of C.Himalayas.	Dudwa(UP), Valmiki(BH), Manas, Orang Nameri NP, Barnadi WLS (AS), Jaldapara(WB) Keibul Lamjao (MN)	The hispid hare shelter in burrows made by other animals. Threat: Agriculture, floods, Development.
Hoolock Gibbon (EN)	Assam, E.Bangladesh, NE.India, Myanmar, SW.China, Kalimantan province of Borneo.	Namdhapa NP	Only ape in India. Arms are actually more than double the length of its legs.
Slow Loris (EN)	China, India, Tibet. ML, AR, AS, NG, MN.	Bhalphakram (ML)	Primate (Slender Loris in Bandipur)
White Winged Wood Duck (EN)	NE - Only Assam, Arunachal.		called 'Deo Hans' or Spirit Duck in Assamese
Sumatran Rhino (CR)	Himalayas and NE. Now in Java and Vietnam	Regionally extinct in India	Smallest, hairiest species of rhino. Smallest of all 5 species

Animal	Range	Conservation	Description
Ibex Wild Goat/ Himalayan Goat (NT)	JK and Leh. W & E Himalayas, Afghan, China, Russia.	Hemis NP	(Also Asiatic and Siberian) Lives in a group. Himalayan Ibex is a sub species of the Siberian Ibex.
Markhor Goat	Afghanistan,India,Pakistan,tajikistan		Beard
Chiru/ Tibetan Antelope (NT)	Leh - Laddakh	Cold Desert, HP	Shatoosh wool.
Hangul/ Kashmiri Stag (CR)	Ungulate. Kashmir Valley. Himachal - Chamba Valley.	Dachigam NP Forest or Grassland Habitat	State Animal of JK. Only surviving Asiatic sub species Of European Red Deer
Golden Eagle (LC)	Eurasia, C Asia and S Asia.	Forest,shrubland,rocky area,Desert	Not widely distrib species of Eagle. Electrocution, Poisoning and Habitat Loss.
Snow Leopard (VN)	S.China, Tibet, Bhutan & NE India = AR, ML, SK, NG Natural Habitat: Lake Baikal, S.Siberia, Kunlun, Altan, Tian shan, Sayan ranges, Pamir Mts	Namdapha (AR) and Itangki NP (NG)	2015: Yr of Snow Leopard.
Himalayan Brown Bear/ Red Bear	Tibetan, Nepal, N India and North Pak
Himalayan Black Bear(EN)	India,Bhutan, China,Pakistan
Musk deer (EN)	East himalaya, nepal,bhutan,India	Kedarnath musk deer sanctuary

Animal	Range	Conservation	Description
Barasingha/ Swamp Deer (VU)	Terai to MP	Kanha, MP	Largest in size in deer family.
Wild Dog/ Dhole/ Dingo (Aus) (EN)	MP to KAR Plateau. NE, C India and C Asia.		1st time in Tiger census (Bear and Panther). Habitat Loss and Loss of Prey.
Gharial (CR)	Mainly Chambal Ganga and their tributaries		Extinct in Indus, Brahma, Bangladesh and Irawaddy (Mugger - VU. FW + Marshes) (Saltwater crocodile - LC. Bhitarkanika)
Mouse Deer (LC)	TN, KL and some W coastal region.	Goa - Mollem NP.	Muddumalai, Mundanthurai in TN. Evergreen.

Peninsula/ Plateau Region

Animal	Range	Conservation at	Description
Slender lorises (NT)	KN	Bandipur NP, KN	Slow Loris in Bhalpakram, ML
Lion Tailed Macaque/ Wanderoo (EN)	KL andKA(Western Ghats)	Endemic to Bandipur NP, KN	Decreasing pattern mainly coz of changing Land use pattern and plantation in KL.
Bonnet Macaque (VU)	KERALA,T.N
Nilgiri Langur/ Leaf Monkey (VU)	WG (TN and KL)	Endemic to Nilgiri , WG	Intro of exotic species led to loss.
Nilgiri Tahr (EN)	TN - Coimbatore region. KL. Nilgiri BSR.	Endemic to WG, Annamalai TR	Deforestation, Changing Land Use. State animal of TN. Largest of 3 Tahr.
Nilgiri Marten (VU)	WG,	Endemic to Nilgiri BSR	Only species of Marten found in S India.
Asiatic Elephant (EN)	W, C and Penin India	4 major clusters : 1)Mudumalai - Annamalai, 2) Rajaji - Corbett, 3) JH- OD-WB till Darjeeling and 4) Assam(Around Kaziranga)	Census: Direct Counting and Dry Dung. Hunting for Ivory, Habitat Loss. MAC.
Mouse Deer		Muddumalai, Mundanthurai	Goa - Mollem NP
Kondana Rat (EN)		Sinhagad, Pune	Tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forests.
Large Rock Rat (CR)	Only from EG	Endemic to EG	Nocturnal. Habitat Loss.
Malabar Civet (CR)	WG (Kerala)	Endemic to WG Thiruvananthpuram
Gaur/ Indian Bison (VU)	Evergreen forests.		Domesticated = Gayal, Mithun.

Western India/ Desert

Animal

Range

Conservation at

IUCN/ Endemic

Description

Great Indian Bustard

(CR)

L Shape = RJ, GJ, MP, MH, KN, TS. In

Pak = Houbara Bustard. Savannah to Tropical Grasslands.

Grasslands but not covered in FCA, 1980. Hence

no conservation of habitat.

Critically Endangered. Endemic.

Highest and Biggest bird of India. Can fly. Part of Project GIB. RJ State Bird.

Population decreasing coz grassland destruction and illegal hunting and poaching for meat.

Wild Ass/ Khur/ Onger

(EN)

RJ - GJ. China, Iran, Turkmenistan. Rann of Kutch.

RJ & GJ in India. Desert NP. Wild Ass Sanctuary – Rann of Kuchch by Maldhari.

Endangered. Endemic.

No predator but endangered coz Habitat Loss.

Sloth/ Dancing Bear

(VU)

Mt, Abu Aravalli. Nepal, SL, Bhutan.

Vulnerable. Endemic.

Smallest in size. Popln decreasing coz of mining. Threat from Tiger and Leopard.

Habitat Loss

Desert Lizard

(LC)

Rajasthan

Desert NP

Poisonous.

Kharai

Camels

Bhavnagar. Present in Bet Island.

Fakrani Jat + Rabari community is conserving them

V Specialized - Kharai Camels. Can Swim. Can eat saline water plant species. Milk cure diabetes and Hair long and used for manuf of stolls and bags.

Endangered coz of their meat.

Flamingoes

(EN)

Africa, S Asia and EU

Rann of Katch

Endangered.

Human Intrusion and Pollution

Chinkara/ Indian Gazelle

(LC)

W India, Pak, Afghan, Iran (Desert)

Protected in RJ mainly coz of religious sentiments.

Least Concerned. Endemic.

Live in groups.

Coastal Regions

Sundarban Delta

Odisha Coast

Coromandal Coast & A&N

Man Eater Tiger(EN)
Saltwater Crocodiles(LC)
BASKA and BATAGUR Turtles(CR) = they are Omnivorous.
Starback Turtles
Crab Eater/ Pig Tailed Macaque
Black Tailed Macaque

Bottlenose and Irawaddy Dolphins found in Chilka Lake(EN)
Olive Ridley Turtles(VU) found in Garimatha, Rishikulya River and Bahuda River
Starback Turtles found in Bhitarkanika and Tikrapara
Saltwater Crocodiles(LC)
White Tiger(EN)

Dugong Sea Cow(EN)

found in IO, BoB, Go Khambat and SW Pacific Ocean.

Turtles (Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Green)
Hornbill(VU) found in Narcondam (A&N), Nagaland and Western Ghats (KL, KN). State Bird of Nagaland.
Nicobarese Pigeon
Crab Eater/ Pig Tailed Macaque(VU)
False Killer Whale(NT)