Endangered Species Day 2023: India is a diverse country with many species of plants, animals, mammals and reptiles. It has about 89 national parks, 18 biological reserves and about 400 wildlife sanctuaries. With the increase in various activities, including hunting and poaching, the threat to endangered wildlife is increasing. Several measures have been taken by the government to protect wildlife.
Endangered Species Day is celebrated every year on the third Friday in May. This year, it is celebrated on May 20. In 2006, the day was established by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition with the purpose of honoring, learning from, and taking action to protect species threatened and in danger of extinction.
According to the IUCN, more than 31,000 species are at risk of extinction. In total, 27% of all species were assessed. The most comprehensive global list of endangered species is updated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Each species is evaluated according to a number of criteria on the Red List of Threatened Species.
- The population decreased by 50–70% in 10 years.
- The local population is less than 500 people per square kilometer or the total geographical area is less than 5,000 square kilometers.
- The adult population is no more than 2,500 people.
- A limited population of 250 adults or a statistical prediction that it will become extinct within the next 20 years.
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List of 5 endangered species in India
1. Western Hoolock Ape
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The forests of Northeast India are famous for their rich biodiversity. They support both animals and plants. These forests also support the highest diversity of primates in India. The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is the only species of gibbon found in the country. Hoolock is also listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Western hoolock gibbon is in decline due to various forms of habitat destruction and hunting for meat. Over the past 30 years, Western hoolock gibbon numbers have declined by nearly 90%. It is currently considered one of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world. It is listed in Schedule 1 of the Indian Protection (Wildlife) Act, 1972 in India.
To protect them, the Government of Assam upgraded the status of Hoollongapar Reserve Forest in Jorhat District of Assam to Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in 1997, making it the first Sanctuary named after a primates.
2. Asiatic lion
They are slightly smaller than African lions. They have a vertical fold of skin running along their abdomen. They face threats of poaching and habitat fragmentation. Its entire species is found only in India and is restricted to Gir National Park, Gujarat. Since 2010, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the Asiatic Lion as endangered. In 2020, a census of Asiatic Lions was conducted, which showed a 29% increase in lion numbers since 2015, and there are currently about 674 lions living in Gir National Park.
3. Black gazelle
The black antelope (Antilope cervicapra) is the only representative of the genus Antilope and is found in India. The main causes of the disappearance of blackbuck are poaching, habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, urbanization and neglect. It is included in the list of endangered species in India (in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act, 1972). Blackbuck are found in small herds in open grasslands, dry scrub areas and open forest areas throughout India. They have also been introduced to Argentina and the United States to help increase their populations.
4. Kashmiri Red Deer
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They are known for their huge antlers, which have from 11 to 16 points. The IUCN declared the Kashmiri deer, or Hangul, to be critically endangered. They have been hunted for centuries and their habitats have been destroyed, leading to a decline in their population. They are placed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the J&K Wildlife Protection Act, 1978. It is also listed among the 15 species by the Government of India. has the highest conservation priority.
5. Lion-tailed monkey
The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) is listed as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are found in the tropical forests of the ghat range of western India, mainly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The reason behind their name is their distinct mane and tail, which looks like a lion. They are often shy and avoid interacting with people and prefer to move in groups. The lion-tailed macaque’s conservation status improved from ‘endangered’ in the first assessment in 1990 to ‘vulnerable’ in 1994. However, the species’ status remains ‘vulnerable’. endangered’ since 1996.
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Source: pagasa.edu.vn