Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India

In order to instigate wildlife conservation efforts in India, World Wildlife Fund has set up various groups. India hosts diverse kinds of wildlife species
possibly due to the broad range of weather, soil, climate, and other similar factors. On the negative side, however, there are certain species that are
threatened or vulnerable and are required protection. Perhaps the need of the time is to put more and more conservation efforts to protect wildlife
in India.

Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India

In the last few decades, human encroachment was one of the biggest threats to facing India’s wildlife. Indian Government built many National Parks
in order to facilitate endangered species up to some extent. The first park was established in 1935; besides, the Project Tiger was also enacted in
1972. At the beginning of the 20 th century, there were around 40,000 tigers in India as compared to the tiger consensus of 2008 which revealed
only 1,411 tigers remaining. The ‘Project Tiger’ is considered to be the most successful conservation project all throughout India. Currently, there
are around 39 Project Tiger wildlife reserves in India encompassing an area of more than 37,761 sq. km. Many rhino’s are survived and conserved
in the Kaziranga National Park.

 The Forest Conservation Act 1980 was enacted to lessen the large-scale habitat destruction caused by deforestation.
 India also indorsed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES) in 1976. As a result,
ban was imposed on the commercial trading of Asian elephants which involved the export of ivory.
 There has been a significant change in the Forest Department’s planning policy, which not only brought an end to the alteration of first-
growth forests into eucalyptus plantations, but it also swung the importance from a commercially-centered forest management to the
conservation-centered forest management.
 The elephants have enjoyed an absolute protection in Uttar Pradesh, since the promulgation of a Wild Elephant Protection Act 1879. The
authorities are also putting their efforts to instigate Rajaji National Park, Motichur and Chilla reserves.
 The Forest Department also compensated the families whose persons were killed by the wild animals.
 The capturing of elephants has been superseded.
 A new conservation area was also established which was named as Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve covering 5,520 km 2. This area protects
elephants ranging from North of Palghat Gap in Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Kerala.
 The Karnataka state government has decided to exclude tourist development on elephant migration routes all throughout the Kabbini
River.

Significance of Wildlife Conservation | Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India

 The habitat destruction and deforestation are growing at a rapid pace which is why some of the animal lovers are determined to do their
best to conserve endangered wildlife species. The wildlife is important for these chief reasons.
 It goes without saying that wildlife creatures have added a great deal to the natural splendor of nature and their loss is actually the loss
of green heritage.
 The wildlife also contributes to the economic value of one’s country since it offers beneficial matters such as plants, meat, skins, furs,
and fibers.
 While looking deeply into the wildlife, scientists have found out many medical products and life processes.
 Thanks to the wildlife without which there would no balance living systems of earth; besides, it ensures the survival of life.

Popular National Parks of India

1. Corbett National Park, Uttar Pradesh

2. Gir National Park, Sanctuary in Gujarat
3. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
4. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
5. Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
6. Periyar Wildlife Santuary in Kerala
7. Kaziranga National Park in Assam
8. Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
9. Desert National Park
Wildlife Threats | Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India
One of the foremost reasons for the population decline in wild animals across India is overcrowding. The wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks have
become overcrowded since the time and therefore the capacity has depleted to a certain extent.

The tourism in the National Parks is on the rise each day possibly due to the increasing fame of eco-tourism and adventure tourism. Subsequently,
it leads to wildlife road fatalities together with the increased vehicle pollution.

People are often involved in the wild fire or innocent campfires that lead to the killing of animals and delimiting their natural habitats.

Some chemical industries have also contributed to the wildlife destruction. These industries discharge chemical and other toxic effluents into the
water thereby poisoning it

What are the objectives of wild life conservation?

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Areas which are less fertile, more than 1000 mtrs. in altitude and having a hilly topography can be used for development of forests. A part of the annual production of the forests may be
used in a limited way so as not to damage soil and trees. Even after utilization the health of the forest should not be affected.

What are the objectives of wild life conservation?

1. Protection of natural habitats of organisms through controlled exploitation.

2. Maintenance of rare species in protected areas such as national parks, santuries etc.,

3. Establishment of specific biosphere reserves for endangered plants and animals.

4. Protection of wild life through legislation such as banning hunting etc.,

5. Imposing specific restrictions on export of endangered plants and animals or their products.

6. Educating the public about the need to protect and preserve the environment as a long range goal for the welfare of future generations.

Wildlife conservation

The Siberian tiger is a subspecies of tiger that is endangered; three tiger subspecies are already extinct.

Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and
their habitat. Wildlife plays an important role in balancing the ecosystem and provides stability to
different natural processes of nature like rainfall(transpiration from plant),changing of
temperature(heat evolution by animals),fertility of soil(making of manure by earthworm). The goal
of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy and
also to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness for humans and other species alike.
 Many nations have government agencies and NGO's dedicated to wildlife conservation, which
[1]

help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife. Numerous independent non-profit

organizations also promote various wildlife conservation causes. [2]
Wildlife conservation has become an increasingly important practice due to the negative effects
of human activity on wildlife. An endangered species is defined as a population of a living
species that is in the danger of becoming extinct because the species has a very low or falling
population, or because they are threatened by the varying environmental or prepositional
parameters like (land slides,increasement in temperature above optimum temperature,acid
rain) .Wildlife is part of nature which maintain equally distribution of food instead of over use of
food by one humans.

Major dangers to wildlife[edit]

Fewer natural wildlife habitat areas remain each year. Moreover, the habitat that remains has often been degraded to bear little resemblance to the wild areas which existed in the past.
Habitat loss due to destruction, fragmentation, and degradation of habitat is the primary threat to the survival of wildlife.

 Climate change: Global warming is making hot days hotter, rainfall and flooding heavier, hurricanes stronger and droughts more severe. This intensification of weather
and climate extremes will be the most visible impact of global warming in our everyday lives. It is also causing dangerous changes to the landscape of our world, adding stress to
wildlife species and their habitat. Since many types of plants and animals have specific habitat requirements, climate change could cause a disastrous loss of wildlife species. A
slight drop or rise in average rainfall will translate into large seasonal changes. Hibernating mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects are harmed and disturbed. Plants and
wildlife are sensitive to moisture change so, they will be harmed by any change in moisture level. Natural phenomena like floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, lightning and forest
fires also affect wildlife.[3][4]
 Unregulated Hunting and poaching: Unregulated hunting and poaching causes a major threat to wildlife. Along with this, mismanagement of forest department and forest
guards triggers this problem.
 Pollution: Pollutants released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of organisms. Pesticides and toxic chemical being widely used, making the environment
toxic to certain plants, insects, and rodents.
 Overexploitation: Overexploitation is the overuse of wildlife and plant species by people for food, clothing, pets, medicine, sport, and many other purposes. People have
always depended on wildlife and plants for food, clothing, medicine, shelter and many other needs. More resources are being consumed than the natural world can supply. The
danger is that if too many individuals of a species are taken from their natural environment, the species may no longer be able to survive. The loss of one species can affect
many other species in an ecosystem. The hunting, trapping, collecting and fishing of wildlife at unsustainable levels is not something new. The passenger pigeon was hunted to
extinction, early in the last century, and over-hunting nearly caused the extinction of the American bison and several species of whales.
 Deforestation: Humans are continually expanding and developing, leading to an invasion of wildlife habitats. As humans continue to grow, they clear forested land to
create more space. This stresses wildlife populations as there are fewer homes and food sources for wildlife to survive.
 Population: The increasing population of human beings is a major threat to wildlife. More people on the globe means more consumption of food, water, and fuel, therefore
more waste is generated. Major threats to wildlife are directly related to the increasing population of human beings. Low population of humans results in less disturbance to
wildlife.The activities like nuclear test ,use of phones,loudspeaker etc produced a harmful radiations which decreased the growth rate of animals and plants.These radiations also
change the genetic order of DNA.Nowadays governments were making a law to restricted the use of loudspeaker,fire crackers and many harmful substances.

Wildlife conservation as a government involvement[edit]

The marking off of a sea turtle nest. Anna Maria, FL. 2012.

In 1972, the Government of India enacted a law called the Wild Life (Protection) Act. In America, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects some U.S. species that were in danger
from overexploitation, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) works to prevent the global trade of wildlife, but there are many
species that are not protected from being illegally traded or being over-harvested. The World Conservation Strategy was developed in 1980 by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) with advice, cooperation and financial assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wildlife Fund and in
collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco)"[5] The strategy
aims to "provide an intellectual framework and practical guidance for conservation actions."[5]This thorough guidebook covers everything from the intended "users" of the strategy to its
very priorities. It even includes a map section containing areas that have large seafood consumption and are therefore endangered by overfishing. The main sections are as follows:

According to the National Wildlife Federation, wildlife conservation in the United States gets a majority of its funding through appropriations from the federal budget, annual federal and
state grants, and financial efforts from programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.[6][7] Furthermore, a
substantial amount of funding comes from the state through the sale of hunting/fishing licenses, game tags, stamps, and excise taxes from the purchase of hunting equipment and
ammunition, which collects around $2000 million annually.[8]

 The objectives of conservation and requirements for their achievement:

1. Maintenance of essential ecological processes and life-support systems.

2. Preservation of genetic diversity that is flora and fauna.
3. Sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems.

 Priorities for national action:

1. A framework for national and sub-national conservation strategies.

2. Policy making and the integration of conservation and development.
3. Environmental planning and rational use allocation.

 Priorities for international action:

 1. International action: law and assistance.
2. Tropical forests and drylands.
3. A global programme for the protection of genetic resource areas.

 Map sections:

1. Tropical forests.
2. Deserts and areas subject to desertification.

Non-government involvement[edit]
As major development agencies became discouraged with the public sector of environmental conservation in the late 1980s, these agencies began to lean their support towards the
“private sector” or non-government organizations (NGOs).[9] In a World Bank Discussion Paper it is made apparent that “the explosive emergence of nongovernmental organizations” was
widely known to government policymakers. Seeing this rise in NGO support, the U.S. Congress made amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act in 1979 and 1986 “earmarking U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) funds for biodiversity”.[9] From 1990 moving through recent years environmental conservation in the NGO sector has become increasingly
more focused on the political and economic impact of USAID given towards the “Environment and Natural Resources”.[10] After the terror attacks on the World Trade Centers on
September 11, 2001 and the start of former President Bush’s War on Terror, maintaining and improving the quality of the environment and natural resources became a “priority” to
“prevent international tensions” according to the Legislation on Foreign Relations Through 2002[10] and section 117 of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act.[10]  Furthermore, in 2002 U.S.
Congress modified the section on endangered species of the previously amended Foreign Assistance Act.

Active non-government organizations[edit]

Many NGOs exist to actively promote, or be involved with wildlife conservation:

 The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of
life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.[11]
 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization working on the issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the
environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. It is the world's largest independent conservation
organization with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 90 countries, supporting around 1300[4] conservation and environmental projects around the world. It
is a charity, with approximately 60% of its funding coming from voluntary donations by private individuals. 45% of the fund's income comes from the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom and the United States.[12]
 WildTeam
 Wildlife Conservation Society
 Audubon Society
 Traffic (conservation programme)
 Born Free Foundation
 Save Cambodia's Wildlife
 WildEarth Guardians

 India is still home to some of the most beautiful creatures in the world, There are 400 wildlife sanctuaries and 80 National parks in India, which give shelter
to the wide range of wild and Endangered Wild Animal. Because of deforestation and other human activity wild animals lost their habitat and reached at risk
of become extinct. Indian is losing their animals due to Environmental pollution, deforestation,loss of habitat, human interference, poaching and hunting.

 All animals and birds in India are rated as critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU). Mainly endangered animals in India are big cats
family includes snow leopard, Bengal tiger and Asiatic Lion, other India’s endangered animals are Purple Frog or Pig nose Frog,Great Indian Vulture,Indian
giant squirrel,Giant Indian Fruit Bat,Great birds and King Kobra. Some of the extinct animals of India includes Asiatic cheetah,Pink headed duck and Indian
aurochs.
 Top 15 Endangered Wild Animal Species of India
 Indian Tiger

 The All members of Felide family,which includes three great cats Asiatic Lion,Bengal Tigers,wild cats and leopard, found in India are not in the so good
population, Because of the excessive poaching, big cats in India are on the verge of extinction. There is only 1411 Royal Bengal Tiger left in India, Asiatic or
 great India lion only found in Gir national park. One of the most endangered species of felide family is snow leopard, found only in Himalaya Ranges. Snow
leopard along with another felide member clouded leopard are the two highly endangered species of big cats  found now only with great range of Himalayas.

 Ganges Dolphin

 The Ganges River Dolphin is member of Cetacea family,which includes marine mammals porpoises and whales. Dolphins primarily found in the Ganges and
Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries in India. They share their habitat with crocodiles, fresh water turtles. The blind Dolphin of holy river Ganges is
the National Aquatic Animal of India.The India Rive shark is also listed as one of the endangered Species in India.

 Gharial

 The gharial is one of the three crocodilians found in India the longest of all living crocodilians. The holy river Ganage is one the most habitat of the Gharial in
India,the king of rivers also found in Chambal,Irrawady and Brahmaputra rivers. The gharial is listed as a most critically endangered species in India. Mass
Gharial Deaths in Chambal river is still a mystery, one of the major cause is “polluted river water”.

 Indian Bustard


 The Great Indian bustard is one of the world’s heaviest flying birds is one of such rarest birds of Indian Sub continent. The Bird is found only in some parts of
Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Less than a thousand survive today and the species is threatened by hunting and loss of its habitat. Indian Vulture is
another Endangered birds of India,vultures were being found dead and dying throughout India. Indian King Vulture found sharply in Gujarat, Rajasthan and
Uttar pradesh.

 Indian Rhinoceros

 The Great Indian Rhinoceros also called as One Horned Rhinoceros found in India. The Indian Rhinoceros has a single black horn which is present in both
male and female species. The Great Indian Rhinoceros is the fourth largest animal in the world. The large endangered mammal is primarily found in parts of
north-eastern India, Today about 3,000 rhinos live in the wild, 2,000 of which are found in Manas and Kaziranga National Park Assam. Excessive hunting for
its horn, reduced their natural habitat drastically.

 Lion Tailed Macaque

 Lion Tailed Macaque is India’s endangered primate species and also ranks among the rarest and most threatened monkey, endemic to the Western Ghats
of South India.

 Nilgiri Tahr
 Nilgiri Tahr is a wild sheep species, Endangered and endemic to the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. The Nilgiri ibex closely related to the sheep, inhabits
the open montane grassland habitat in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

 Sangai Deer
 Sangai also called as brow antlered deer is endemic and endangered species of deer, found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park of Manipur.

 Indian Pangolin
 Indian Pangolin is found in the plains of India and listed as endangered due to hunting for its meat and for various body parts.

 Wild Water Buffalo

 Indian Wild water buffalo are native to the Indian Subcontinent and found mostly in Assam, they are largely restricted to in and around Kaziranga and Manas
national park.
  Indian Wild Dog

 Indian Wild Dog or Dhole is one of the top predators of wild forest,living in packs, hunting cooperatively and highly social animals. Asiatic wild dogs is also
called the whistling hunter, because it has an extraordinary vocal call. Dhole is found in national parks of Assam, Bengal, Gujarat, Kashmir, Madhya
Pradesh, and Nilgiri Biosphere reserve of south India.

 It is estimated that only 2500 Dholes are left in the wild. Threats to the dhole species include habitat destruction and loss of its main prey. There is a
documentary available in Nat Geo as “The PACK”, which was one of the best documentary ever made on Asiatic wild dogs.

 Red Panda

 The beautiful and endangered species,Indian Red Panda is also known by the name of Red Fox. From the two kinds of Red Pandas in the world, only one
variety is found in India. India has 20 protected areas with Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal’s Khangchendzonga and Namdapha National Park.
The endangered Red Panda live in temperate climates, in deciduous and coniferous forests, usually with an under story of bamboo and hollow trees.

21. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

 Image Source: conservationindia.org

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. Located on the banks of the Kali River, it is one of the highly visited wildlife sanctuaries in

India. Black Panther, Flying Squirrel, Tiger, Elephant and Leopard can be easily spotted in this sanctuary.

Among the wide range of amphibians, Crocodiles are the major attraction of this sanctuary. It is also an ideal place for river rafting, trekking, Bird watching, Tiger and

Crocodile spotting.

24. Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa

The Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Mollem, a town in Goa. Located in the midst of the Western Ghats this sanctuary is enveloped by picturesque

forests. This is one of those wildlife sanctuaries in India that possesses both historical and geographical significance.

It is a hub for bird watchers as it’s bestowed with diverse flora and fauna. This sanctuary is a cosy home for a number of animals that include the gaur, sambar, leopards,

spotted Deer, slender toris, jungle cats, Malayan giant squirrels, pythons and cobras.

There is a Devil’s Canyon Viewpoint from where one can easily admire the wildlife at this park. The perfect time to explore this sanctuary is either early in the morning or

late in the evening.

19. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala After the Periyar National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala.
This sanctuary is located on the Western Ghats and shares its border with Tamil Nadu on the Annamalai Hills. Among the 34 species of mammals found in this sanctuary,
Panthers, Spotted Deer, Indian Elephant, Tiger and Nilgiri Tahr are the most spectacular.

It is also the dwelling of Mugger Crocodiles and more than 240 species of exotic birds. The presence of Thoovanam Waterfalls within the forests has made this sanctuary,

one of the popular trekking and camping destinations in Kerala.

12. Gir National Park and Sasan Gir Sanctuary, Gujarat The Gir National Park and the Sasan Gir Sanctuary of Gujarat are the only wildlife
sanctuaries in India that have Asiatic Lions. October-June is the ideal time to visit the place and watch these majestic beasts strolling in their territories.

The park was established on 18th September 1965 and it is one of the largest and elegantly preserved areas for the Asiatic Lions. Rivers and streams flowing through this

national park remain occupied by the dwellers of the park. Pictures of the only Asiatic Lions in India will surely be a hit for your WhatsApp status!

12. Gir National Park and Sasan Gir Sanctuary, Gujarat

The Gir National Park and the Sasan Gir Sanctuary of Gujarat are the only wildlife sanctuaries in India that have Asiatic Lions. October-June is the ideal time to visit the
place and watch these majestic beasts strolling in their territories.

 The park was established on 18th September 1965 and it is one of the largest and elegantly preserved areas for the Asiatic Lions. Rivers and streams flowing through this

national park remain occupied by the dwellers of the park. Pictures of the only Asiatic Lions in India will surely be a hit for your WhatsApp status!

1. Asian Elephant Conservation

Many elephants have undergone the harsh realities of mistreatment in the tourist industry—be it from street begging, elephant treks, or circus
work. Volunteer with local communities to help protect the Asian elephant population and reintroduce previously abused elephants to protected
forests or elephant camps in Asia. Learn about one of the most gentle of giants of the animal kingdom while encountering some of the most
beautiful landscapes in the world.

2. Seal Protection in South Africa

As furry and cute as they are, seals don’t have it easy. Every year, hundreds of thousands of seals are hunted for their pelts, harmed in oil-spills
or environmental misdeeds, or injured in boating accidents. Get hands-on experience working with injured seals and creating safe environments
for them to return to!

3. Sea Turtle Conversation

The sea turtle population continues to decline particularly in the Indian Ocean region. Exploitative activities such as egg poaching alongside coral
reef and sea grass depletion, beach pollution, and an increase in coastal development all pose a threat to the future of sea turtles in the region.
The coast of the Indian Ocean is a major hatching ground for sea turtles. Help give them the best chance at survival in this area and assist with
hatching, incubating, and rearing sea turtles for a safe return to the ocean.

4. Dolphin Conservation in Kenya

As tourism continues to grow on the Kenyan coast, it's important to conduct research to preserve the marine wildlife in the changing area. The
Shimoni Archaepalego, a community off the coast of the Indian Ocean, is rich in marine mammals, particularly dolphins. Volunteers are needed to
conduct survey research, monitoring the dolphin population and behaviors in the area. This data is essential to help local communities develop
sustainable tourism practices to protect marine wildlife.

5. Brown Bear Protection in Romania

Romania’s forests and mountains are home to 60% of Europe's brown bear population. Unfortunately, in the absence of animal rights legislation
in Romania’s recent past, a small portion of this population has experienced mental and physical abuse as tourist attractions in circuses, poorly
maintained zoos, theme restaurants, and other venues. While it is now illegal to keep wild animals in captivity in Romania, these abused bears
need to be rehabilitated before their return to their natural habitats.

6. Panda Conservation in China

Giant Pandas, one of the world’s most recognizable and lovable creatures, are listed as endangered on the World Conservations Union’s Red List
of Threatened Species with less than 1600 living in the wild. China’s growing economy has pushed them from the lowlands and continues to
encroach their forest habitats in the mountains. Pressures of habitat loss and poachers put these pandas in a precarious position. Experience
China and help ensure the future of the Giant Panda in the Yangtze Basin.

7. Colobus Monkey Conservation in Africa

The Colobus Monkey is integral to the forest ecosystems Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Their sloppy eating habits and their tendency
to jump from tree to tree with fruit in hand makes these animals an important factor in seed dispersal and the well-being of the forests. While
poaching for furs and skins has been a cause for alarm, the greatest threat to the Colobus monkey is now habitat loss as coastal forests are
threatened by development.

8. Puma and Jaguar Conservation

While jaguars and pumas are feared as predators of the animal kingdom, these big cats have plenty to be scared. Both jaguars and most species
of pumas are classified as endangered in South America under the Endangered Species Act. These jungle cats are threatened by deforestation,
land development, and illegal poaching. Travel to South America to help gather data on pumas and jaguars in this area to help shape policies to
protect these rare cats.

9. Penguin Rehabilitation in Africa

At the start of the 20th century, it was estimated that there were over 1.45 million adult African Penguins. The latest census reveals that there are
now less than 100,000 adults left. This steep decline can be attributed to the reduced availability of food, as penguins must now compete with the
commercial fishing industry. Furthermore, African Penguin populations are especially vulnerable in the event of a catastrophe or epidemic
because of their concentration to small geographic regions. Be a part of penguin rescues, relocation and rehabilitation.

10. Great White Shark Conservation

Misinformation and fear of Great White Sharks often masks the reality that millions are killed each year to harvest their fins, jaws, teeth, and
organs. The slaughter and their relatively slow rate of reproduction threatens the future of the Great White Shark. Cage-dive in Gansbaai, “the
Great White capital of the world.” Assist in valuable population research, tracking, and educational campaigns to combat the stigma against these
misunderstood giants.
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