Here is an essay on ‘Wildlife’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Wildlife’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Wildlife
Essay # 1. Definition of Wildlife:
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Wildlife is defined as free-living animals of major significance to man. Wildlife is a term that does not enjoy a precise meaning and various definitions exist in literatures such as-
i. Animals living in the wilderness without human intervention.
ii. All living things outside direct human control.
iii. Plants and animals that are not cultivated or domesticated.
iv. A practical definition- Any free-living vertebrate animals, often excluding fish.
In the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the following terms related with the wildlife resources are legally defined as follows:
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i. “Animal” includes amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles and their young, and also includes, in the cases of birds and reptiles, their eggs.
ii. “Wild animal” means any animal found wild in nature specified in Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III and Schedule IV.
iii. “Wildlife” includes any animal, aquatic or land vegetation which forms part of any habitat.
India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its biodiversity and identified on the basis of immense species diversity. Country has nearly about 91,797 species of animals and 46,340 species of plants. The important mammals include elephant (Assam, Kerala, Karnataka), camel and wild ass (arid areas of Rajasthan and Rann of Kutch), rhinoceros (Assam, N.W. Bengal), Indian bison, buffaloes, nilgiri, chousingha, gazel, deer, etc.
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Among the predator animals included are lion (Gujarat), tiger (Sunderbans in Bengal) and leopard of various types found in the Himalayan region. The Himalayan ranges are the home of several interesting animals such as wild sheep, mountain goats, ibex (wild goat), tapir (a hoofed animal like a rhinoceros), snow leopard etc.
India also has several species of monkeys such as the langur, the lion-tailed macaque, etc. There is also variety of birds found in different parts of country. The chief among them are peacock, goose, pheasants, duck, mynah, pigeon, parrot, crane, hornbill and sunbird etc. India also possesses 2634 species of fish which inhabit in lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Our national animal is tiger and our national bird is peacock.
Essay # 2. Values of Wildlife
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Wildlife in general comprises of all living organism i.e. plants, animals, microorganisms found in their natural habitats which are neither cultivated or domesticated nor tamed. But in its strictest sense, it includes uncultivated mammals, reptiles, birds and fishes etc. which are generally hunted.
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Importance of wildlife are:
1. Ecological Balance – Wildlife maintains ecological balance by preserving the environment as a self-sustaining system through-
(a) Regulation of population of different species
(b) Food-chains
(c) Natural cycles between biotic and abiotic environments
2. Wildlife serves as a gene banks for breeding improved varieties in plant and animal.
3. Wildlife helps in plant propagation e.g. pollination in certain plants is performed by wild animals like birds, insects, bats etc.
4. Wildlife serves as scavengers and decomposers for cleaning and sustainable of Environment.
5. Scientific and research importance for studies particularly related to anatomy, physiology, ecology, evolutionary aspects. The wildlife is useful as experimental animals e.g., monkey, rabbit, guinea-pig, rat, etc. These trials on wildlife species are used to sustain and save human life.
6. Plant products or NWFPs of plant origin and animal products of economic importance such as several drugs, silk, honey, hair, feathers, guano, leather, musk, ivory etc. are obtained from wildlife. Besides these, certain benefits are also obtained from tourism and exports of animal products such as hide, ivory, etc. after death of wild animals, though nowadays it is legally banned and not in practice.
7. Potential Uses – Food, drugs and other useful products may be obtained and derived from wildlife.
8. Soil Erosion – It is prevented by plant cover, litter, mixing of litter by movement of wild animals and conversion to spongy humus by microorganisms.
9. Maintenance of climate and control of pollution by wild plants and trees.
Values of wildlife are categorized into the following values:
A. Direct Values.
B. Indirect Values.
A. Direct Values:
Direct values are considered which have consumptive use value such as non-market value of firewood, game, etc., and productive use value like commercial value of timber, fish, etc.
B. Indirect Values:
The indirect values are classified as follows:
i. Non-Consumptive use value – Scientific research, bird-watching, etc.
ii. Option Value – Value of maintaining options available for the future.
iii. Existence Value – Value of ethical feelings of existence of wildlife.
Values of wildlife are also categorized into the following values:
(I) Positive Values.
(II) Negative or Adverse Values.
(I) Positive Values:
It pertains to the positive or beneficial aspects of wildlife. They have direct or indirect bearing on the life of human being. It may be ethical, cultural, ecological, environmental, scientific, asthetic, commercial or economic and game values.
i. Ethical Value – There are many examples of wildlife having ethical values in Hindu mythology e.g. Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchatantra, Arthshastra, etc.
ii. Cultural Value – Wildlife has a strong and intimate relationship with Indian culture, tradition and religion. Some of the important examples are elephant nose of Lord Ganesha, tiger associated with Goddess Durga, cobra snake with Lord Shiva, peacock with Goddess Saraswati, lion is the sign of bravery and ferocity, monkey helped to Lord Rama etc. which show religious and cultural values of wildlife in India.
iii. Ecological Value – All wildlife plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance of our earth and they have symbiotic association with the nature.
iv. Environmental Value – They help in protection of land degradation, soil erosion control and climate control.
v. Scientific Value – Wild plants and animals both have immense scientific values. The newly developed medicines and drugs are first tested on animals like apes, monkey, rats, mice, pig, etc. for various diseases in human beings. Every year thousands of animals are used for these experiments.
vi. Aesthetic Value – Wild animals play an important role in aesthetic and recreational point of view. The beauty of nature gives immense pleasure to mankind. The wildlife sanctuaries and national park, zoos etc. are the important sources of recreation.
vii. Commercial or Economic Value – Wild animals also have great commercial or economic values e.g. fishing, trade of animal products etc.
viii. Game Value – Hunting, fishing etc. are very popular sports in the past but nowadays it is restricted in almost all sanctuaries and national parks and other reserve forests.
ix. Nutritional Value – Some wild animals have been a source of food for human beings. The word ‘wild meat’ is used to designate meat from wild animals, keeping in mind that terms vary widely according to regions and cultures.
(II) Negative or Adverse Values:
The wildlife, however, may be seen as sometimes presenting negative values as described below:
i. Casualties to People – Human beings attacked by wild animals, vehicle collisions, etc., are examples of human-animal conflict in wild life areas.
ii. Predation – The predators such as leopard, bear, wolf or lynx, etc. are regularly responsible for attacks on sheep, cattle and other livestock.
iii. Crop Damage – Several wildlife species are responsible for significant damage, both to crops (elephant, deer, wild boar, wild rabbit, hare, wild pigeon etc.) and to regenerating forests (cervids)
iv. Disease dissemination to domestic animals.
v. Invasive pests have anti-values.
Essay # 3. Wildlife Distribution
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Zoogeographical Region:
Zoogeography is the study of distribution of animals on the earth, which occurs in different regions of the world in a distinct pattern. The study of the distribution of land animals, also called ‘faunal regions’. The distribution of some animal species is so typical that it is difficult to explain their occurrence in a particular region. The presence or absence of an animal in a certain region is governed by ecological and historical factors. Zoogeography attempts to understand the distribution of animals with regard to evolutionary and environmental influences.
Zoogeographical regions can usually be distinguished by the distribution of animals in certain physiographical regions. Sclater (1857) was the first one to give concepts of zoogeography and divided the continental masses into six realms based on his studies on the bird fauna under two creatio or centres of creation, namely, Palaeogeana (Old world) and Neogeana (New world).
A.R. Wallace (1876), who is considered father of modern zoogeography agreed with Sclater’s classification but proposed the name ORIENTAL instead of INDIAN and AFRICAN instead of ETHIOPIAN regions because the earlier names represented countries and not the zoogeographical regions. The widely accepted modern classification of land masses into six regions is given below which is based on Wallace (1876) and Darlington (1957).
In the perspective of Earth’s history, the present position of India is of recent origin and it forms a part of the Oriental region in the above Zoo-geographic classification.
Essay # 4. Indian Fauna and their Distribution:
India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world. Out of the 25 unique biodiversity ‘hotspots’, India has two hotspots namely Eastern Himalaya (Indo-Burma) and the Western Ghats which contain about 20 per cent of the world’s flora. India is divided into various ecological sub-divisions. The flora and fauna, specific to the environment are found in these sub-divisions because they can thrive well in the conditions prevailing there.
Ecologically, India can be divided into three main regions:
1. Himalayan Mountain system.
2. Peninsular India Sub-region (woodlands and desert).
3. Tropical Evergreen Forest of Indo-Malayan Sub-region.
1. Himalayan Mountain System:
This region is characterized by altitudinal as well as East-West variations.
i. The Himalayan Foothills (Eastern Frontiers of Kashmir to Assam):
These regions are characterized by bhaber and tarai tract and consist of thick boulder deposits. The natural monsoon forest extends well into this region and the dominant species is sal. Tarai is characterized by grassy meadow and savanna vegetation. This is one of the richest areas for the typical big mammals of Northern India.
Fauna distribution in the Himalayan foothills is unique e.g. elephant, panther, sambar, swamp deer, cheetal , hog deer, barking deer, wild boar, wild dog, hyena, jackal, black and the sloth bears, tiger, gangatic gharial, hispid hare and pygmy hog. Among rodents porcupine is the most prominent. The great Indian one horned rhinoceros is considered as a rare species. The wild buffalo and gaur are now considered as an endangered species. The brow antlered deer is another rare deer found in this region confined to Keibul Lamjo Sanctuary in Manipur.
ii. Western Himalayas (From Kashmir Including Ladakh to Kumaon):
This is a high altitudinal zone with a belt of coniferous alpine forests rich with rhododendron, dwarf hill with bamboo and birch forest mixed with the alpine pastures and extends up to the snow line. The typical fauna of the high altitude cold region includes wild ass which is mostly found in the cold desert regions, largest bovid-the yak, wild goats-tahr, markhor and ibex, three species of sheep-nayan or largest sheep, bharal or blue sheep and shapu or urial which is the smallest of the wild sheep.
There are two kinds of antelopes viz. the chiru and the Tibetan gazelle. The deer species, hangul or Kashmir stag are mostly confined to the Dachingam Sanctuary in Jammu and Kashmir near Srinagar. Musk deer is another deer which inhabits the high altitude in Western Himalayas and are much valued for their musk pods. Due to high poaching scale, musk deer have now become threatened. The smaller mammals include marmot, pika or mouse hare. One of the most beautiful animals, snow leopard is found in Western Himalayas and now regarded as a threatened species.
iii. Eastern Himalayas:
The character of vegetation changes at the altitudes of 1525 m to 1830 m as go up from dense evergreen and semi evergreen vegetation of the foothills of Eastern Himalayas to higher altitudes on these mountain regions. Oaks magnolias, laurels and birches covered with mosses and ferns replace the sal, silk cotton trees and giant bamboos of the foothills. Fauna of this region includes red panda, hog badgers, ferret badgers, crestless porcupines and three wild goats-serow, goral and takins.
2. Peninsular Indian Sub-Region:
It is characterized by the raised plateau land of the Deccan extending northwards into the flood plains of the Indo-Gangetic basin and westwards into the great Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Ecologically it may include the salt flats of the little Rann of Kutch.
Overall, this region is divided into two broad zones i.e. First one is the tropical deciduous woodlands and its extension into the drainage basin of the Ganges river system. The second is the desert region of Rajasthan or the Thar.
i. Peninsular India and the Drainage Basin:
The area has relatively higher rainfall and has sal as the predominant species while the Southern plateau is characterized by teak as the principal species. The Western Ghats and the central belt lying to the west of it, is a region of very high rainfall and is characterized by evergreen vegetation.
The typical fauna of the area includes elephant, muntjak, sambar deer, wild boar, cheetal, hog deer, swamp deer, barasinga, nilgai, black bucks, chinkara gazelle, wild dog or dhole, tiger, leopard, cheetah, lion, stripped hyena and jackal. The cheetah has now become an extinct animal in India.
ii. The Indian Desert:
The Thar or the Indian desert is linked through Sind and Baluchistan in Pakistan to the deserts of Arabia and Middle East. Here the temperature rises very high reaching upto 48° C or more and the night temperature falls upto zero. Due to the scarcity of water, the desert animals have some modified physical characters and behaviours and have grown some remarkable physiological adaptations to conserve water. The fauna includes rodents which probably represent the largest group in the mammalian fauna of the desert.
The Asiatic wild ass is one of the endangered species found in Rann of Kutch. The ungulate blackbucks inhabit the scrub forests and open savannah. These animals are fully protected by the Vishnoi tribes due to their religious beliefs in them. Desert cat and the caracal represent the carnivorous animals of these regions. Reptiles include desert lizards and snakes like saw scaled vipers. The great Indian bustard, one of the largest birds, is found in these deserts.
3. Tropical Evergreen Forest of Indo-Malayan Sub-Region:
It is covered with rain forest with a highly complex environment and contains a wealth of species of flora and fauna. This region consists of a heavy rainfall zones and comprises North Eastern India (Khasi Jaintia hills and the lower Himalayan slopes embracing areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura) and the Western Ghats region in the south including the Malabar coast. In the Nilgiris, an evergreen vegetation known as “Sholas” or Shola forests are also found.
There are some exclusively confined species such as hollock gibbon, red panda, tree shrew, giant squirrel and flying lemurs which are specific to these areas. Himalayan animals as the tahr, pine marten and the European otter occur in the Nilgiris. The Hollock Gibbon (the only ape found in India at present), golden langur, caped langur or leaf monkey, Assam macaque, pigtailed macaque, lion tailed macaque (which is now considered rare and endangered species), Nilgiri langur and slender loris, bat, giant squirrel, civet, binturong and red panda are characteristic of the evergreen forest in these regions. The flying squirrel, nilgiri mongoose and stripped necked mongoose and malabar civet are characteristic animals of the Western Ghats.
Essay # 5. The Wildlife in the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands
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The Andaman and the Nicobar islands lie in the Bay of Bengal. The climate of these islands is tropical and is the home of tropical rain forest. These islands posses about 35 species of mammals, number of interesting reptiles and a variety of marine fauna. The typical fauna of this area includes Andaman pig (one of the large mammals found in the Andaman), crab eating macaque, palm civet, sambar and spotted deer which are more prominent.
Dugong, false killer whale and Dolphin are important marine mammals found around the island. The Dugong is the rare and threatened animal. The avifauna includes Narcondum hornbill, the Nicobar pigeon, megapode which has Australian affinities, white bellied sea eagle, white breasted swift let and a number of fruit pigeons.
About 240 species and subspecies of birds are reported to found in these islands, of which 92 are migrants, 32 residents and 112 as resident endemic species. It has also salt water crocodile which is a threatened animal. A number of marine turtles are found, of which the green turtle is common. The coconut crab, green lizard, cobra, viper, coral and sea snakes, pythons are found in the Nicobar group.
Water Birds in the Bharatpur Sanctuary:
Bharatpur is the fresh water swamp of Keoladeo Ghana with the Kadam tree, Acacia tree and profuse aquatic vegetation extending over an area of 2,900 hectares. Over a million birds come here during winter season from far distance temperate regions of Eurasia and unique to its richness and variety. Nearly 328 species of birds have been identified in this region, of which 110 are migratory birds.
Amongst the breeding birds in the Bharatpur Sanctuary are painted stork, egret, open billed stork, spoonbill, white ibis, heron, snake bird or Indian darter, cormorant. Among the winter visitors, there are a number of geese and duck, rosy or white pelican, dalmatian pelican, bar-headed geese, gray lag geese, pochard, pintails, sandpipers, large number of warblers, wagtail and pipit. The VIP visitor bird to this area is the Siberian crane which is one of the rarest birds. Water sedge, Cyperus rotundus found in the swamps of Bharatpur is the main attraction for the Siberian crane, which is a vegetarian. Its tuberous roots form the crane’s main food.
The Mangrove Forest of the Sundarbans:
Mangrove forests are found in the Sunderbans delta of the river Ganges where both the Brahmaputra and the Ganges join and drain into the Bay of Bengal. Water logging, humidity, salinity and regular inundations are the salient features of this habitat. These areas are characterized by the pneumatophores roots of Sonerentians. The Rhizophora tree is found in these mangrove regions which possess the supporting roots or the stilt roots.
Small crabs and fishes are found in the muds and mudskippers. Among the crabs, land crab and fiddler crab are the most famous ones because of their brilliantly coloured claws. Spotted deer, wild boar, monitor lizard and monkeys characterize the area. The most interesting animal found in the Sundarbans is the royal Bengal Tiger. The most peculiar tendency of these tigers is their tendency to man-eating.
Essay # 6. Wild Animal Status
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Due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, many species are under threat. Human activities, both directly and indirectly, are responsible for current high rates of habitat loss resulting in biodiversity loss. The land fragmentation due to agricultural activities, extraction, developmental activities and environmental degradation are some of the main causes of serious threat to wildlife.
Some of the major causes of threat to wildlife animals are:
i. Habitats Destruction is the most serious threat. Loss of biodiversity and habitat occurs by following reasons-
a. Agricultural activities such as cropping land, shifting cultivation, grazing land, land conversion for agriculture, land fragmentation and degradation leads to the formation of isolated, small and scattered populations.
b. Extraction activities including mining, fishing, logging and harvesting.
c. Development activities like human settlements, industrialization, modernization and associated infrastructure (construction of dams, reservoirs, roads, rails, buildings, etc.)
d. Deforestation for timber, wood, fuelwood, Jhum cultivation, etc.
e. Natural calamities like flood, drought, earthquake, forest fire etc.
ii. Hunting for food, safety and pleasure.
iii. Poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of wildlife and its derivatives.
iv. Forest invasive species like lantana, parthenium etc.
v. Disturbance in ecosystem and ecological balance.
vi. Over-exploitation of wild resources.
vii. Pollution of water, soil and environment, global warming and climate change.
Essay # 7. IUCN Categories of Wild Animals
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) maintains a “Red Data Book” about the identified threatened species for the purpose of conservation.
The following categories have been identified for the purpose:
i. Normal Species – Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival.
ii. Endangered Species (E) – These are species (or taxa) which are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. Examples of such species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, tiger, lion tailed macaque, red panda, Gangetic dolphin, wild cat, etc.
iii. Vulnerable Species (V) – These are species (or taxa) likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the causal factors continue operating. Examples of such species are black buck, brown bear, Indian giant squirrel, Asiatic wild ass, sloth bear, tiger, Asiatic lion, etc.
iv. Rare Species (R) – Species (or taxa) with small world populations that are not at present endangered or vulnerable, but are at risk. Examples of such species are the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc.
v. Threatened Species (T) – Threatened is used in the conservation context for species (or taxa) which are in one of the categories endangered, vulnerable and rare.
vi. Out of Danger (O) – The species (or taxa) formerly included in one of the above categories, but which are now considered relatively secure because of effective conservation measures undertaken or the previous threat to their survival has been removed.
vii. Intermediate (I) – The species (or taxa) that are suspected of belonging to one of the above categories, but for which insufficient information is currently available and these may also be referred as the category of Data Deficient.
In 1994, IUCN introduced new Red Data categories which are as follows:
i. Extinct (Ex) – A taxon is extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
ii. Extinct in the Wild (EW) – A taxon is extinct in the wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captive well outside the past range.
iii. Critically Endangered (CE) – A taxon is critically endangered when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future.
iv. Endangered (EN) – A taxon is endangered when it is not critically endangered but is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
v. Vulnerable (VU) – A taxon is vulnerable when it is not critically endangered or endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
vi. Lower Risk (LR) – A taxon is lower risk when it has been evaluated, does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable.
Taxa are subcategorized:
(a) Conservation Dependent (CD) – Taxa which are the focus of a continuing taxon-specific or habitat-specific conservation programme targeted towards the taxon in question.
(b) Near Threatened (NT) – Taxa which do not qualify for conservation dependent, but which are close to qualifying for vulnerable.
(c) Least Concern (LC) – Taxa which do not qualify for conservation dependent, or near threatened.
vii. Data Deficient (DD) – A taxon is data deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status.
viii. Not Evaluated (NE) – A taxon is not evaluated when it has not yet been assessed against the criteria for critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable.
Endemic Species:
These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, etc.
Extinct Species:
These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.
Essay # 8. Endangered Wild Animals of India
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The following list includes wild animals rated as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU) according to the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
1. Ardea insignis (White-bellied Heron)
2. Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (Spoon-billed Sandpiper)
3. Grus leucogeranus (Siberian Crane)
4. Gyps bengalensis (White-rumped Vulture)
5. Gyps indicus
6. Gyps tenuirostris (Slender-billed Vulture)
7. Heteroglaux blewitti (Forest Owlet)
8. Houbaropsis bengalensis (Bengal Florican)
9. Ophrysia superciliosa (Himalayan Quail)
10. Rhinoptilus bitorquatus (Jerdon’s Courser), Endemic to India
11. Sarcogyps calvus (Red-headed Vulture)
12. Vanellus gregarius (Sociable Lapwing)
13. Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (Pink-headed Duck)
14. Great Indian Bustard
Critically Endangered Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes:
1. Anoxypristis cuspidata (Knifetooth sawfish)
2. Batagur baska (Four-toed Terrapin)
3. Batagur kachuga (Red-crowned Roofed Turtle)
4. Biswamoyopterus biswasi (Namdapha Flying Squirrel)
5. Carcharhinus hemiodon (Pondicherry shark)
6. Cremnomys elvira (Large Rock-rat)
7. Crocidura andamanensis (Andaman White-toothed Shrew)
8. Crocidura jenkinsi (Jenkin’s Shrew), Endemic to India
9. Crocidura nicobarica (Nicobar Shrew)
10. Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback)
11. Dicerorhinus sumatrensis (Sumatran Rhinoceros)
12. Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle)
13. Fejervarya murthii
14. Gavialis gangeticus (Fish-eating crocodile)
15. Glyphis gangeticus (Ganges Shark), Endemic to India
16. Indirana gundia
17. Himalayan Wolf
18. Kashmir Stag
19. Indirana phrynoderma
20. Ingerana charlesdarwini
21. Labeo potail (Deccan Labeo)
22. Micrixalus kottigeharensis
23. Millardia kondana (Kondana Rat)
24. Philautus chalazodes
25. Philautus griet
26. Philautus ponmudi
27. Philautus sanctisilvaticus
28. Philautus shillongensis
29. Philautus sp. nov. Amboli Forest’
30. Philautus sp. nov. ‘Munnar’
31. Porcula salvania (Pygmy Hog or Sus salvanius)
32. Pristis microdon (Leichhardt’s sawfish)
33. Pristis zijsron (Narrowsnout sawfish)
34. Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus
35. Rhinoceros sondaicus (Javan Rhinoceros)
36. Viverra civettina (Malabar Large-spotted Civet)
Endangered Species:
1. Andaman Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis), Endemic to India
2. Andaman Spiny Shrew (Crocidura hispida), Endemic to India
3. Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus)
4. Asiatic Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetanus)
5. Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)
6. Asiatic Wild Dog/Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
7. Banteng (Bos javanicus)
8. Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
9. Capped Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus pileatus)
10. Chiru (Tibetan Antelope) (Pantholops hodgsonit)
11. Wild Cat (Felis silvestris ornata)
12. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
13. Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica)
14. Golden Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus geei)
15. Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus)
16. Hoolock Gibbon (Bunipithecus hoolock) (Previously Hylobates hoolock)
17. Indian Elephant or Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
18. Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor)
19. Kondana Soft-furred Rat (Millardia kondana), Endemic to India
20. Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus), Endemic to India
21. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
22. Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)
23. Markhor (Capra falconeri)
24. Narcondam Hornbill (Rhyticeros narcondami)
25. Nicobar Tree Shrew (Tupaia nicobarica), Endemic to India
26. Nilgiri Leaf Monkey (Presbytis johni)
27. Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), Endemic to India
28. Olive Ridley Turtle, Endemic to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, India
29. Particoloured Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger)
30. Peter’s Tube-nosed Bat (Murina grisea), Endemic to India
31. Red Panda (Lesser Panda) (Ailurus fulgens)
32. Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
33. Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
34. Servant Mouse (Mus famulus), Endemic to India
35. Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)
36. Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) (Previously Bubalus arnee)
37. Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus)
38. Himalayan Tahr
1. Andaman Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cognatus), Endemic to India
2. Andaman Rat (Rattus stoicus), Endemic to India
3. Argali (Ovis ammori)
4. Himalayan W-toothed Shrew (Crocidura attenuate)
5. Sri Lankan Highland Shrew (Suncus montanus)
6. Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus)
7. Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii)
8. Assamese Macaque (Macaca assamensis)
9. Back-Striped Weasel (Mustela strigidorsa)
10. Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli)
11. Bare-Bellied Hedgehog (Hemiechinus nudiventris), Endemic to India
12. Black buck (Antilope cervicapra)
13. Brow-Antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi)
14. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
15. Brown fish owl (Ketupa zeylonensis), Endemic to India
16. Brown Palm Civet (Paradoxurus jerdoni)
17. Central Kashmir Vole (Alticola montosa), Endemic to India
18. Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
19. Day’s Shrew (Suncus dayi), Endemic to India
20. Dhole (Cuon alpines)
21. Dugong (Dugong dugon)
22. Eld’s Deer (Cervus eldi).
23. Elvira Rat (Cremnomys Elvira), Endemic to India
24. European Otter or Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
25. Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
26. Four-horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis)
27. Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica)
28. Gaur (Bos gaurus)
29. Golden Jackal (Canis aureus)
30. Goral (Nemorhaedus goral)
31. Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster)
32. Himalayan Shrew (Soriculus nigrescens)
33. Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)
34. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
35. Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis)
36. Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica), Endemic to India
37. Indian Wolf (Canis lupus indica)
38. Irrawaddy Squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus)
39. Jerdon’s Palm Civet (Paradoxurus jerdoni), Endemic to India
40. Kashmir Cave Bat (Myotis longipes)
41. Kerala Rat (Rattus ranjiniae), Endemic to India
42. Khajuria’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros durgadasi), Endemic to India
43. Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros hypophyllus), Endemic to India
44. Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
45. Lesser Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
46. Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis)
47. Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyuran)
48. Mandelli’s Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis sicarius)
49. Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
50. Mouflon (or Urial) (Ovis orientalis)
51. Nicobar Flying Fox (Pteropus faunulus), Endemic to India
52. Nilgiri Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus johnii), Endemic to India
53. Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii), Endemic to India
54. Nonsense Rat (Rattus burrus), Endemic to India
55. Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus)
56. Pale Grey Shrew (Crocidura pergrisea), Endemic to India
57. Palm Rat (Rattus palmarum) Endemic to India
58. Red Goral (Naemorhedus baileyi)
59. Rock Eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis), Endemic to India
60. Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
61. Sikkim Rat (Rattus sikkimensis)
62. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)
63. Slow Loris (Loris tardigradus)
64. Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) (Previously Lutra perspicillata)
65. Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
66. Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura)
67. Stumptail Macaque (Macaca arctoides)
68. Takin (Budorcas taxicolor)
69. Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus)
70. Wild Yak (Bos grunniens)
71. Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
72. Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica)
1. Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur)
2. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
3. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes montana)
4. Kashmir Stag (Praygnaa)
5. Black Buck (in Uttar Pradesh)
Essay # 9. Protected Areas
:
Protected Areas are ecological/biogeographically area where wildlife is conserved by maintaining habitats, natural resources and preventing poaching. They are delimited to protect biological diversity and includes national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserve. Protected Areas covering all the important habitats of the Country have been created, as per the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to provide better protection to wildlife, including threatened species and their habitat.
A network of 669 Protected Areas (PAs) has been established to provide better protection to wildlife, including threatened species and their habitat. PAs in India covered about 1,61,132 sq.km. (4.9 per cent of total geographic area), comprising 102 National Parks, 515 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 48 Conservation Reserves and 4 Community Reserves. Till date, 40 Tiger Reserves and 28 Elephant Reserves have been designated for species specific management of tiger and elephant habitats in India.
i. National Parks:
IBWL defines national parks as an area dedicated by statute for all time to conserve scenery, natural and historical objects of national significance and wildlife, and where provision is made for enjoyment of the same by the public. India’s first national park (an IUCN category II protected area) was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park. The most important are Corbett (for Tiger Protection) in Uttarakhand; Dudhwa (Monkey) in UP; Gir (Lion) in Gujarat; Shivpuri (Wolf) and Kanha (Deer, Antelope) in Madhya Pradesh; Rajdewra (Monkey) in Jharkhand; Similipal (Tiger) in Odisha; Kanheri (Deer) and Todaba (Bison) in Maharashtra.
ii. Wildlife Sanctuaries:
IBWL defines wildlife sanctuaries as an area where killing or capturing of any species of bird or animal is prohibited except under orders of competent authority and whole boundaries and characters should be sacrosanct (free from outrage) as for as possible. The following are the most important sanctuaries – Dachigam in Jammu and Kashmir; Rajaji and Banbasa in Uttarakhand and Assam; Ranthambhore and Sariska in Rajasthan; Kawal in Maharashtra, Chandaka in Odisha, Pocharam and Etumagaram in Andhra Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka, Guindy and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu, and Periyar in Kerala. The most important bird sanctuaries are – Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Rangnathaittoo in Karnataka and Vedanthangal in Tamil Nadu.
iii. Tiger Reserves:
Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 to save the endangered species of tiger in the country. Initially, there were 9 tiger reserves in 1973-74 and now the number has grown up to 40 as on January, 2012 spread over in 17 States of the country.
The total area covered by the project tiger areas is 46,600 km2, which is 1.42 per cent of the total geographical area of the country. The most important are Corbett National Park (Uttrakhand), Sunderbans National Park (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Santuary (Rajasthan), Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala).
Project Elephant was launched in February, 1992 to assist States having free ranging populations of wild elephants to ensure long term survival of identified viable populations of elephants in their natural habitats. The project is being implemented in 12 States, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and West Bengal.
States are being given financial as well as technical assistance in achieving the objectives of the project. Help is also provided to other states with small populations of elephants for the purpose of census, training of field staff and mitigation of human-elephant conflict.
Recently eight elephant reserves have been set up which include Dihing – Patkai, Dhansiri – Lungding and Kaziranga – Karbi Anglong in Assam; Nilgiri, Coimbatore, Anamalai and Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu and Royala in Andhra Pradesh. A total of 25 Elephant Reserves (ERs) of the country extending over about 58,000 square km have been formally notified by various State Governments till 2005 and the number has gone to 28 as on 2012.
v. Crocodile Breeding Project:
Three species found in the country (the gharial, Gavialis gangeticus; the saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus and the mugger or marsh crocodile, C. palustris) were on the verge of extinction due to large scale hunting for their skins. Crocodile Breeding and Management project was launched by Government of India in April, 1975 initially in Odisha. Ironically, it was the gharial, which is completely harmless to man and of relatively low value in terms of its hide, which was most endangered.
Stabilization of river banks and dam construction had greatly reduced the gharial’s natural environment of free-flowing rivers. In addition, the increased use of nylon fishing nets resulted in the accidental ensnaring and drowning of many gharials. In 1973, it was estimated that fewer than 100 individuals of Gharial continued to survive in the wild in India.
While larger numbers of saltwater crocodile and mugger were known to exist, they were not enough to avoid the total extinction of the species in the short-term future. Presently, due to the overwhelming success in breeding programme, forest departments have concluded captive breeding of the mugger.
Essay # 10. Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in India:
1. Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary located at Sibasaa, Assam, covering area 430 Sq.Km., rhinoceros, elephant, wild buffalo, bison, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambhar, pelican, stork, eagle, etc. are present.
2. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve located at Kamrup, Assam covering area 540 Sq.Km., tiger, panther, wild dog, bear, rhinoceros, gaur, golden langur etc. are present.
3. Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary located at Jalpaiguri, West Bengal covering area 65 Sq.Km., rhinoceros, gaur, elephant, tiger, leopard, deer, birds and reptiles are present.
4. Kolameru Bird Sanctuary located at Tadepallegudum, Andhra Pradesh covering area not available, a breeding place for pelican and other visiting marine birds are present.
5. Chilika Lake located at Chilika, Odisha covering area 100 Sq.Km. waterfowl, duck, cranes, ospreys, golden plover, sand piper, stone curlew, flamingo, etc. are present
6. Vendanthangal Bird Sanctuary located at Chennai, Tamilnadu covering area 0.30 Sq.Km. Flamingo, pelican, black buck, chital, wild boar are present.
7. Point Calimer Wildlife Sanctuary located at Thanjavur, Tamilnadu covering area 0.30 Sq.Km. panther, tiger, sambhar, chital are present.
8. Mundanthurai Sanctuary located at Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu covering area 520 Sq.Km. Elephant, gaur, sambhar, leopard, jackal, nilgai, langur, grey horn bill, giant squirrel, flying squirrel are present.
9. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary located at Periyar, Kerrala covering area 777 Sq.Km. Elephant, gaur, sambhar, leopard, Nilgiri langur, grey hornbill, and egret are present.
10. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary located at Bharatpur, Rajasthan covering area 29 Sq.Km. Cormorants, Spoon bill, white ibis, Indian darter, egret, open billed stork, geese, duck, Siberian crane, deer, black buck, blue bull, wild boar are present.
11. Palamau National Park located at Dattongunj, West Bengal covering area 345 Sq.Km. Tiger, panther, sloth bear, elephant, chital, gaur, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha, mouse deer, leopard, deer, birds and reptiles are present.
12. Hazaribagh National Park located at Hazaribagh, Bihar covering area 184 Sq.Km. Wild boar, sambhar, nilgai, tiger, leopard, hyena, gaur etc. are present.
13. Similipal National park located at Similipal, Odisha covering area 2750 Sq.Km. Tiger, elephant, deer, chital, peafowl, sambhar, panther, gaur, hyena and sloth bear are present.
14. Guindy National Park located at Chennai, Tamilnadu covering area not available Albinos of black buck, chital are present.
15. Kanha National Park located at Banjar Valley, Madhya Pradesh covering area 940 Sq.Km. Tiger, chital, panther, sambhar, black buck etc. are present.
16. Tanoba National Park located at Chandrapur covering area 166 Sq.Km. Tiger, sambhar, sloth bear, barking deer, blue bull, chinkara, bison, pea fowl etc. are present.
17. Corbett National Park located at Nainital, UP covering area 525 Sq.Km. Tiger, panther, sloth bear, hyena, elephant, blue bull, barking deer, Indian antelope, porcupine, pecker barbet, crocodile, python etc. are present.
18. Gir National Park located at Ahmedabad, Gujarat covering area 1295 Sq.Km. Asiatic lion, spotted deer, blue bull (nilgai), fur-homed antelope, chinkara, striped hyena, wild boar, porcupine, langur, python, crocodiles and birds like green pigeon, partridge, rock grouse etc. are present.
19. Sariska National Park located at Alwar, Rajasthan covering area 800 Sq.Km. Tiger, leopard, spotted deer, jungle cat, four-horned antelope, langur, porcupine, hedgehog, peafowl etc. are present.
20. Dachigam Wild Life Sanctuary located at Srinagar, Kashmir covering area 89 Sq.Km. Hangul or Kashmir stag, musk deer, leopard, black buck, brown bear, porcupine, pangolin, flying-lizard, monitor lizard, rat snake, python and various birds are present.
21. Ranganthitoo Bird Sanctuary located at Bangalore, Karnataka covering area 166 Sq.Km. Open bill stork, white ibis, egret, spoon bill, wild duck, pea fowl, night heron etc. are present.