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Endangered & Endemic Species in India

Endemism refers to the phenomenon in which certain plant and animal species are only found in a specific region of the world.

Animals or plants are considered to be endangered if there are only a few members of their species left in the wild, and if they are not properly protected, they will eventually become extinct. Endemism refers to the fact that a particular plant or animal species can only be found in a specific region of the planet. These as well will vanish from the globe if conservation efforts are not made. At the Rio+20 Earth Summit, the Red List of 2018 was made public for the first time. There are 132 endangered plant and animal species found here that are native to India.

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The  Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest National Park, the Sangai deer in Keibul Lamjao National Park, the Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-Tailed Macaque in the Western Ghats of India are other instances.

The Great Indian Rhinoceros, the Critically Endangered Gharial, the Hoolock Gibbon, the Ganga River Dolphin, the Chinkara, the Blackbuck, the Saara hardwickii, the Indian Star Tortoise, the Indian Bison, the Assam Roofed Turtle, and the Mugger Crocodile are all native wild animals that live on the Indian subcontinent.

Endemic And Endangered Species

Species are said to be endemic when they are exclusive to a single location and cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Kangaroos, for instance, are a native species that can only be found in Australia; they are not found anywhere else in the globe. The instances in which they have been found outside of their normal habitat are the result of humans releasing them when the animal was in human care.

In addition to these, there are a few species of marsupials that can only be found in Australia and the islands immediately to its north and south. One example of such a rare animal is the Tasmanian Tiger, which used to only exist in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. But that species no longer exists today.

It is possible for a species to become endemic to a certain region through a number of different mechanisms. Because of the changes that have taken place in its natural habitat, a population that was once widespread may have become extinct in one or more of its habitats. The shifts may have been caused by an increase in the number of predators, human activity, a change in climate, or some combination of these three variables.

All of the other organisms of a species that were once widely dispersed over the earth begin to perish one by one until the species is eventually confined to just one place. For instance, endemic species such as those found on small islands, such as the tortoises of the Galapagos and the lemurs of Madagascar, can be found on those islands. The remoteness that small islands give can also be found on larger islands, albeit on a far grander scale.

Large geographical masses such as Antarctica, Hawaii, and Australia each have their own unique animal and plant life since they are isolated from the rest of the world. Kangaroos and polar bears are two examples of animals that are native to a certain region and cannot be found anywhere else.

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Endangered Species

Some species have been designated as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Endangered species are those that are in danger of extinction or are already extinct. In other words, species on the verge of extinction. This is due to a variety of variables, both natural and man-made. Endangered species are doomed to extinction sooner or later. To avoid this, the proper measures must be performed.

An endangered species is a species that was once native to a region but has had its population strength decreased from 50% to 5% of cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval cheval The IUCN classified them and created the red list. The Russian Federation created another document that includes a list of uncommon and endangered species in a given area. The title of this book is Red Data Book. Researchers utilise these records, which contain a list of species, as a guide to determine the level of hazard. There are publications dedicated to both flora and animals.

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Endemic Species of India

The following is a list of the species that are unique to India and can only be found here:

The Asiatic Lion and the Gir Forest

The Asiatic Lion, commonly known as the Indian Lion, is endemic to only the Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat and the areas immediately around it. These animals are considered to be on the verge of extinction. These are two of India’s five big cats; the others are the Indian Leopard and the Bengal Tiger. India is home to a total of five large cats.

Kashmir Stag, Kashmir Valley

The Dachigam National Park in the Kashmir Valley and the Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh are home to the Hangul, another name for the Kashmir Stag. Both of these areas are located in Himachal Pradesh.

The Western Ghats, and the Lion-Tailed Macaque

Only the Western Ghats of Southern India are known to be home to this one-of-a-kind primate species, making it the world’s rarest, most endangered primate.

Purple Frog, Western Ghats

The only place on Earth where you can find the purple frog, also called the Pignose frog, is in the rainforests of India’s western ghats. It burrows underground for most of its existence.

Sangai Deer, Loktak Lake

In addition to its other name, the Brow Antlered Deer, this species can only be found in Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park. This park is a marshy wetland and it is situated in the southern portions of Loktak lake.

Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Hills

It is an endangered species of wild sheep that can only be found in the unique Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats.

Other species that can only be found in India include the following:

Pygmy Hog, Assam

Bronzeback Vine Snake, Western Ghats

Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Hills

Malabar Civet, Western Ghats

Anaimalai Gliding Frog, Anaimalai Hills

Namdapha Flying Squirrel, Arunachal Pradesh

Indian Giant Squirrel

Bonnet Macaque

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Endangered species examples

According to the IUCN RED List 2021, a total of 199 species in India are considered to be in the severely endangered category. There were a total of twenty species from India that were added to the IUCN Red List of Critically Endangered Species in the year 2021. There were fourteen animal species and six plant species. The IUCN RED LIST is updated in two rounds: the first round saw the addition of five species, and the second set of updates will be published on September 4, 2021. The IUCN Red List of Critically Endangered Species now includes fifteen additional species that are found in India. The names of these 20 Indian species have been categorised as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Species in India that are on the verge of extinction;

Kolar Leaf-nosed Large bat-like rock rat

Namdapha The Squirrel That Can Fly

Nicobar Hangul, also known as the Chinese Pangolin and Jenkin’s Shrew

Andaman White-toothed Shrew

Sumatran Rhinoceros

Javan Rhinoceros

Pygmy Hog

Malabar Civet.

Conclusion

The Endangered Species Act is a statute that was evidently written by people who had absolutely no clue about how society operates, despite the fact that it is a wonderfully idealistic piece of legislation.

We are able to rescue species without compromising the rights of people or making a select few individuals pay the majority of the expenditures associated with habitat protection. In point of fact, deregulatory efforts might be the only method to rescue a great number of species. Advocates for endangered species need to operate on two different levels to safeguard wildlife and their habitats. According to the findings of scientists, the greatest method to save an endangered species is to save the unique habitats in which they can be found. It is necessary to provide wildlife with sites where they may obtain food and shelter, as well as raise their young. The deterioration of habitat is caused by activities such as logging, oil and gas drilling, overgrazing, and development.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What is the main distinction between endemic and alien species?

Answer. The term “endemic species” refers to those that are native to a certain place, whereas the term ...Read full

In what ways are endemic and native species distinct from one another?

Answer. The native range of a species is not always constrained to the place in which it was first discovered. It is...Read full

What is the most significant danger that is connected to endemic species?

Answer. The fact that endemic species are more likely to become extinct is the primary danger connected with having ...Read full

What are the benefits of conserving indigenous species?

Answer. It is essential to have endemic species in order to keep the ecosystem in a state of equilibrium. An ecosyst...Read full

Could you please explain what you mean by the term endemism?

Answer. Endemism is the state of being endemic, or native to a particular area, and endemism can also refer to being...Read full