Wildlife conservation 

refers to the practice of protecting wild species and their habitats in order to maintain

healthy wildlife species or populations and to restore, protect or enhance natural ecosystems from the
various threats like poaching, killing, smuggling etc..

Wildlife on planet Earth is under siege from all sides, facing down habitat loss and
the impact of climate change. Some of the biggest threats to wildlife include illegal
wildlife trade, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and clime change.

Illegal Wildlife Trade: The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest criminal industry in
the world, after drugs, arms, and human trafficking. Gathering in over $US20 billion
a year, it is also one of the biggest threats to some of the most iconic species on the
planet, like the rhino and the elephant. 

Habitat Destruction: The fires that swept across the Amazon and Australia rightly
drew attention to just how fragile the most important ecosystems are. Half of the
world’s original forests are gone, and what remains is being cut down ten times
faster than it can be replaced. 

Invasive Species: Whether accidentally or intentionally introduced, the non-native

species grow and reproduce rapidly, then spread across ecosystems aggressively.
They are one of the leading threats to native wildlife, putting 42% of threatened or
endangered species at risk. 

 Pollution: There are 500 times more pieces of microplastic in the sea than there are
stars in our galaxy. Eight hundred million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the
ocean each year, washing up on previously pristine parts of the planet and is a
threat to the survival of more than 600 species of marine wildlife[1]. 

 Climate Change: From more regular and fiercer storms to more prolonged and
more intense droughts, the impact of climate change is rising ocean temperatures
and diminishing Arctic sea ice affecting marine biodiversity, shifting vegetation zones
and forcing species to adapt to new conditions. 

Natural or man-made habitat: Disaster can be either man-made or natural. Forest fire,

earthquake, floods which are the natural disaster become a major reason for species loss.
Land degradation and fragmentation, deforestation etc. are the man-made disaster which
also contributes to the extinction of species.

 There are two types of wildlife conservation:

IN- SITU CONSERVATION: In this, the species remain in their natural habitats and the
places is protected through protecting the whole ecosystem of the place—example: wildlife
sanctuary.
 EX- SITU CONSERVATION: In this, the protection of biodiversity or wild animals are taken
from their natural habitat and transferred to a new place. Example: the zoo.

The following are the efforts made by the Indian Government for wildlife conservation:

 Project Tiger.
Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 by the Government of
India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure.[1] Kailash Sankhala was the first director of Project Tiger.
[2]
 As the Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India, this project aims to stem the dwindling population of the
big cats and work to increase their numbers.
 Project Elephant.
Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests to
provide financial and technical support to wildlife management efforts by states for their free-ranging
populations of wild Asian Elephants. The project aims to ensure the long-term survival of the population of
elephants in their natural habitats by protecting them, their habitats and migration corridors. Other goals of
Project Elephant are supporting the research of the ecology and management of elephants, creating
awareness of conservation among local people, providing improved veterinary care for captive elephants.
 Sea turtle project.
 It was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in
collaboration with UNDP in 1999. 
Crocodile conservation project.
 The main aim of this project is to protect the remaining population of crocodiles in
their natural habitat. 

 Dolphin.
 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified Ganges River
Dolphin as National Aquatic animal. It was listed in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection
Act 1972. Major threat: river water pollution, poaching and siltation.

India adopts SAWEN.
 SAWEN is an intergovernmental wildlife enforcement support body. It is launched in
Paro, Bhutan in 2011.It was established for mutual collaboration for harmonizing as
well as enforcing the wildlife protection. The SAWEN constitutes Afghanistan, India,
Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Captive Breeding program.

Captive breeding, also known as "captive propagation", is the process of maintaining plants
oranimals in controlled environments, such as wildlife reserves, zoos, botanic gardens, and
other conservation facilities. It is sometimes employed to help species that are being threatened
by human activities such as habitat loss,over hunting or fishing, pollution ,etc.  In some cases a
[1]

captive breeding program can save a species from extinction, but for success, breeders must
consider many factors—including genetic, ecological, behavioral, and ethical issues. Most
successful attempts involve the cooperation and coordination of many institutions.