Context : World Wildlife Conservation Day (December 4)
Relevance : GS 3 (Environment )
Rich Biodiversity
- Global Significance: India, with 2.4% of the world’s land area, houses 7–8% of global species, which includes 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 of animals , making it a megadiverse country.
- Biodiversity Hotspots: Includes four of the world’s 34 hotspots—Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland.
Conservation Challenges
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Economic growth and population pressures lead to habitat destruction, increasing conflicts.
- Endangered Species: India has 73 critically endangered species(2022), with numbers rising from 47 in 2011.
- Mammals: Kashmir stag (Hangul), Malabar large-spotted civet, Andaman Shrew, Jenkin’s shrew, Nicobar shrew, Namdapha flying squirrel, large rock rat, Leafletted leaf-nosed bat.
- Carnivores: Lions, tigers, and cheetahs, though popular, are only three on the critically endangered list.
- Birds: The Great Indian Bustard faces threats from powerlines in Rajasthan and lacks sufficient conservation attention.
Threats and Solutions
- Habitat Loss: Primary threat due to deforestation and urbanization.
- Targeted Conservation: Efforts needed for specific species like the Great Indian Bustard, threatened by human activities.
