Endangered Species of India
Forest & Wildlife · भारत की संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियां · 18 facts
Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris): IUCN Endangered; India has 3167 (2022 census); world's largest wild tiger population; National Animal of India.
Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica): IUCN Endangered; only in Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat; 674 lions (2020 census).
Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis): IUCN Vulnerable; 3700+ in India; Kaziranga NP has 2600+ (world's largest population); Assam.
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia): IUCN Vulnerable; found in Himalayas and Ladakh; 400-700 estimated in India; Project Snow Leopard launched 2009.
Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica): National Aquatic Animal of India; IUCN Endangered; found in Ganga-Brahmaputra river system; blind.
Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps): Critically Endangered; <150 remaining in wild; mainly Rajasthan (Desert NP, Jaisalmer); power lines a major threat.
Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus): IUCN Endangered; approximately 27,000-31,000 in India; Project Elephant launched 1992; Karnataka has most elephants.
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens): IUCN Endangered; Himalayan states (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India); State Animal of Sikkim; symbol of NZSL.
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): Critically Endangered; fish-eating crocodilian; <300 in wild; National Chambal Sanctuary (UP, MP, Rajasthan) main habitat.
Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus): Critically Endangered; endemic to Western Ghats; Silent Valley National Park, Kerala is key habitat.
Hangul/Kashmir Stag (Cervus hanglu hanglu): Critically Endangered; only in Dachigam National Park, J&K; <200 remaining; State Animal of J&K.
Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragur hylocrius): Endangered; endemic to Nilgiri Hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala); Eravikulam NP has largest population.
Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes): Vulnerable; found in dry grasslands of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, UP; different from Himalayan Wolf.
Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur): Endangered; only in Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat; 5000+ population; Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary.
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa): Vulnerable; found in NE India (Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal); State Animal of Meghalaya; arboreal cat.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle: Vulnerable; mass nesting (Arribada) at Gahirmatha beach, Odisha — largest sea turtle nesting site in world; 500,000+ turtles.
Species extinction in India: Cheetah (1952), Pink-headed Duck (1949), Bubal Hartebeest already extinct; Great Indian Bustard and Gharial critically endangered.
India's biodiversity: 7-8% of world's species on 2.4% land; 4 biodiversity hotspots, 45000+ plant species, 91000+ animal species.