The Asiatic lion population has declined dramatically, with the entire species being restricted to Gir National Park and its adjacent territories in Gujarat, India. The IUCN has designated Asian lions as an endangered species since 2010.
The Indian rhinoceros, also known as the one-horned rhinoceros, is predominantly found in India and the foothills of the Himalayas. This species has long been a target for poachers due to their belief in the medicinal properties of its horn and the threat it poses as an agricultural pest.
Asian elephants, which were formerly abundant throughout India, are now endangered owing to habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflicts, and poaching for their tusks. Efforts to conserve these iconic creatures are critical for ensuring their future and the biodiversity they sustain.
Despite their ability to adapt to a variety of habitats, including forests, mangroves, and wetlands, as well as their recent population growth, Bengal tigers are still considered endangered because of enduring threats such as trophy hunting, habitat loss from urbanisation, and poaching for skins and body parts.
The Ganges River dolphin is facing an unprecedented threat to its existence. The reduction of river water and siltation, which is mostly caused by deforestation, pollution, and entanglement in fishing nets, has driven the species to the brink.
The snow leopard population in India has dropped below 500. Their native habitat is under strain resulting in encroachment into human settlements in search of food and intensifying human-wildlife confrontations.
The Nilgiri tahr, an endangered mountain goat, is down to approximately 2,500-3,000 in the wild. Poaching and habitat degradation have reduced them to only 10% of their historic range in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
In India, the Red Panda is mostly found in Sikkim, western Arunachal Pradesh, the Darjeeling area of West Bengal, and portions of Meghalaya. The IUCN has classed the Red Panda as endangered due to a 50% population reduction over the last three generations.
Poaching for meat, horns, and medicine, as well as habitat degradation and food shortages due to grassland destruction, pose serious threats to the Indian bison population. In several locations, the species’ population has declined by more than 70%.
The lion-tailed macaque has a natural population of around 4,000. Experts estimate a 20% reduction over the next 25 years.