Endangered Species of India
Forest & Wildlife · भारत की संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियां
📋Quick Overview
India is one of 17 mega-diverse countries and hosts extraordinary biodiversity. However, many of its iconic species face extinction threats due to habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. The IUCN Red List classifies species by conservation status, from Least Concern to Extinct. In India, several species like the Great Indian Bustard, Gharial, and Hangul are Critically Endangered and need urgent conservation.
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Great Indian Bustard (GIB): Critically Endangered; found only in Rajasthan (Desert National Park area); threat from power lines (collision) + wind turbines; Supreme Court ordered burying of power lines in GIB area; captive breeding at SAC Jaisalmer.
📖IUCN Red List Categories
| Category | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Extinct | EX | No individuals remain anywhere on Earth |
| Extinct in Wild | EW | Survives only in captivity/cultivation |
| Critically Endangered | CR | Extremely high risk of extinction in wild |
| Endangered | EN | Very high risk of extinction in the wild |
| Vulnerable | VU | High risk of extinction unless circumstances improve |
| Near Threatened | NT | Close to qualifying for a threatened category soon |
| Least Concern | LC | Does not meet criteria for threatened categories |
📖India's Key Species — Conservation Status
| Species | IUCN Status | Key Location in India |
|---|---|---|
| Great Indian Bustard | CR (Critically Endangered) | Rajasthan (Desert NP, Jaisalmer) |
| Gharial | CR | Chambal River (MP/Rajasthan/UP), National Chambal Sanctuary |
| Hangul (Kashmir Stag) | CR | Dachigam NP, Jammu & Kashmir |
| Pygmy Hog | CR | Manas NP + Nameri (Assam) |
| Bengal Florican | CR | Assam + UP terai grasslands |
| Snow Leopard | VU (was CR) | Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh |
| Indian One-horned Rhinoceros | VU | Kaziranga (Assam) = 2,613 rhinos; 70% of world's total |
| Bengal Tiger | EN | Pan-India (53 tiger reserves); 3,167 in 2022 |
| Asiatic Lion | EN | Only Gir NP + Sanctuary, Gujarat |
| Indian Wild Dog (Dhole) | EN | Western Ghats, Central India forests |