world earth day

World Earth Day 2019

India's priority species

ASIAN ELEPHANT

GANGES RIVER DOLHIN

BLACK-NECKED CRANE

BENGAL TIGER

ONE-HORNED RHINO

SNOW LEOPARD

NILGIRI TAHR

RED PANDA

SMOOTH-COATED OTTER

GHARIAL

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Common Name: Indian Elephant Scientific Name: Elephas maximus Weight: Male - 3500 to 6000 kg ; Female - 2500 to 4000 kg Population: 26,000 Major conservation issues: 1) Loss of habitat 2) Increasing human-animal conflict zones 3) Deaths due to train accidents and electrocution 4) Poaching

Common Name: Nilgiri tahr Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius Population: Around 2500 Major conservation issues: 1) Forced to exist in small, isolated populations due to extreme habitat fragmentation 2) Illegal hunting 3) Species has always been under severe stress - construction of numerous hydroelectric projects, timber felling and development projects

Common Name: Smooth-coated otter Scientific Name: Lutrogale perspicillata Population: No countrywide population estimate is available. Major conservation issues: 1) Few breeding populations 2) Loss of wetland habitats - construction of large scale hydroelectric projects, conversion of wetlands for settlements and agriculture, reduction in prey biomass, poaching and contamination of waterways by pesticides. 3) Few nomadic hunting tribes eat otter flesh 4) Poaching for pelt and other body parts

Common Name: Black-necked crane Scientific Name: Grus nigricollis Population: About 11,000 Major conservation issues: 1) Damage to the eggs and chicks, caused by feral dogs 2) Loss of habitat - particularly wetlands 3) Increased grazing pressure on the limited pastures near the wetlands

Common Name: Red panda Scientific Name: Ailurus fulgens Population: Around 2500 Major conservation issues: 1) Habitat fragmentation and degradation 2) Predation by feral dogs 3) Occasional hunting and poaching

Common Name: Gharial Scientific Name: Gavialis gangeticus Population: Approximately 800 Major conservation issues: 1) Turning suitable river habitats into marginal or unsuitable lakes 2) Vulnerable to entanglement in fishing nets, where it is frequently trapped underwater and drowns 3) River bed cultivation 4) Removal of sand from riverbanks 5) Sustained mining activity 6) Destruction of vital basking and nesting sites 7) Egg harvesting for subsistence food use

Common Name: Bengal Tiger Scientific Name: Panthera tigris Population: approx. 2500 Major conservation issues: 1) Large-scale habitat destruction 2) Decimation of prey population 3) Hunting, poaching and illegal trade 4) Conflict with humans in agricultural areas due to dwindling forest lands

Common Name: Indian Rhinoceros Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis Population: approx. 3500 in India and Nepal combined Major conservation issues: 1) Poached for their horn - especially in zones with higher political conflict 2) Habitat loss due to increased deforestation

Common Name: Susu Scientific Name: Platanista gangetica gangetica Population: Less than 1800 Major conservation issues: 1) Direct killing 2) Habitat fragmentation by dams and barrages 3) Indiscriminate fishing 4) Absence of a coordinated conservation plan 5) Lack of awareness

Common Name: Snow leopard Scientific Name: Panthera uncia Population: Around 450-500 Major conservation issues: 1) Habitat loss 2) Retribution killings 3) Poaching