Rare wild animals in India
India is a country with incredible and beautiful flora and fauna. Some of the rarest and exotic wildlife species can be found in the thick forests of India. The country offers abode to a charismatic mixture of wildlife species. More than 100 national parks and 500 wildlife sanctuaries house the endangered wild animals. Human interference has been harsh, which adversely affects the unique and diverse creatures, leading them to extinction. Along with that, climate change is also affecting the animals and leading to a decline in their numbers.
1. Snow Leopard
The snow leopards are profoundly spotted in the rocky and steep hilly regions of the Himalayas. The snow leopard is from the panther and wild cat families. They have a thick and long fur coat, with their colour varying from a smoky grey to a yellowing tan. The animal can be easily identified because of its tail, which is about 80-105 cm long.
2. Lion-Tailed Macaque
The Lion-Tailed Macaque is a unique species that has found its abode in the hills of the Western Ghats. They can be spotted in the tiny and isolated pockets of the tropical forests in the Ghats. It is one of the most endangered animals in the world. Its appearance and silent feature help characterising it easily.
3. Black Buck
The black bucks are the Indian antelopes and could be found abundantly in the plains of India. However, habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, inbreeding and overgrazing has led to a huge decrease in their population. Much of their natural habitats have been converted into agricultural fields.
4. Asiatic Lion
The Gir National Park in Gujarat is the home to a large population of Asiatic lions. However, they can be in the wild only in India. The 1400 sq km is the last royal refuge of the Asiatic lions and only 200 or so of them remain.
5. Bengal Tigers
The Bengal Tiger is primarily found in two countries – Bangladesh and India. Around 70% of all the wild tigers live in India. However, they are vanishing fast due to poaching and human interference. The natural habitat of the tigers in India are the deciduous forests, tropical evergreen forests, thorn forests, mangrove swamps and the grasslands.
6. Nilgiri Tahr
The tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats are abode to yet another rare species – The Nilgiri tahr, a threatened mountain ungulate. The animals have curved horns, a bristly mane, a stocky coat and a coarse and short fur. Continued poaching activities and cultivation of Eucalyptus has hampered its habitation.
7. Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros
The Indian Rhinoceros or Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros is vulnerable species, as mentioned by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The animals can be found in Nepal and India. They can mostly be spotted in the foothills of the Himalayas.
These are some of the most incredible animals that might never be seen again if no serious action is taken. They help maintain ecological balance and make the planet a more beautiful place.
