India is a biodiversity-rich country known around the world due to its rich and diverse geographical characteristics, such as the Himalayan mountains, mangroves at the coast, deserts, and tropical forests. The wildlife there is so unique, endemic, and rare that many species exist nowhere else in the world. These rare creatures not only help to maintain ecological balance but also represent the natural heritage of India.
The article looks at 10 animals only found in India, their habitat, behaviour, conservation status, and what makes them unique.
-
Kashmir Stag (Hangul) – Cervus hanglu hanglu
Habitat: The Kashmir Stag is a subspecies of the Central Asian red deer. It is mostly found in the dense riverine forests of the Dachigam National Park near Jammu and Kashmir.
Description: Hanguls have 11 or 16 antler points that form long, straight tines. They have a brown coat, a shaggy neck, and an alert stance.
Why It’s Rare: The Hangul used to populate the forests and grasslands of northern India, but now the dwindling numbers of the species are restricted to a small area of Kashmir. The species has suffered a steep population drop due to habitat loss, poaching and political turmoil in the region. Today, it is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Conservation Efforts: As part of Project Hangul, efforts are underway to save it by protecting its habitat and curbing poaching.
-
Lion-tailed Macaque – Macaca silenus
Habitat: This primate inhabits evergreen rainforests in the Western Ghats region and the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Description: The lion-tailed macaque is a creature of black fur. The most striking aspect of its appearance is the large silver mane of hair around its face. The long tail is tufted, like that of a lion.
Why It’s Rare: This species is extremely shy and arboreal (tree-dwelling), and rampant deforestation in the Western Ghats has reduced its habitat considerably. Its conservation status is rated as endangered.
Conservation Efforts: Protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, it has become the subject of various ongoing conservation campaigns, including those run by NGOs and government wildlife bodies.
-
Nilgiri Tahr – Nilgiritragus hylocrius
Habitat: With a distribution focused on the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, this mountain goat is found in high-altitude grasslands.
Description: The Nilgiri Tahr is similar to the Himalayan tahr but is smaller and darker, has a short, coarse coat, and curved horns.
Why It’s Rare: This species has been threatened by habitat fragmentation caused by tea plantations and urban growth. It is listed as endangered.
Conservation Efforts: The Eravikulam National Park is one of the significant strongholds; controlled tourism and breeding programmes are helping stabilise its population.
-
Pygmy Hog – Porcula salvania
Habitat: The world’s smallest wild pig, confined to the Terai grasslands in Assam, most notably the Manas National Park, is the Pygmy Hog.
Description: Measuring about 8-12 inches (20-30cm) tall and weighing 8-10 kg (18-22 lb), the Pygmy Hog is a small, dark-bodied animal with a sharp snout.
Why It’s Rare: It was once believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the 1970s. Now, there are fewer than 300 left in the wild. That species is listed as critically endangered.
Conservation Efforts: Well, it turns out the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) has been breeding these animals and releasing them back into the wild successfully.
-
Malabar Civet – Viverra civettina
Habitat: The Malabar Civet is endemic to the Western Ghats of Kerala, and it is renowned for its elusive and nocturnal behaviour.
Description: Its body is long, its tail bushy, coarse greyish fur with black spots, pointed snout.
Why It’s Rare: No confirmed sightings have been recorded in the wild in over a decade, and it may be on the brink of extinction. Its status is listed as Critically Endangered.
Conservation Challenges: It is challenging to study and conserve the species due to their nocturnal and cryptic behaviour. Habitat destruction and hunting are still major threats.
-
Andaman Horseshoe Bat – Rhinolophus cognatus
Habitat: The Andaman Islands ‘ endemic bat roosts in caves and forested areas is rare.
Description: It is known for its unique horseshoe-shaped nose structure, which it uses to echolocate, and for its dark brown or greyish fur.
Why It’s Rare: This species is currently listed as vulnerable due to habitat destruction, disturbances of caves, and a lack of extensive research on its behaviour. It is listed as endangered.
Conservation Status: The species is highly vulnerable to extinction because of its very narrow range.
-
Namdapha Flying Squirrel – Biswamoyopterus biswasi
Habitat: Little is known about this species besides the single sighting at the Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh.
Description: This squirrel has a reddish brown back, white underparts and a bushy tail. Instead, it glides between trees using the flaps of skin between its limbs.
Why It’s Rare: It is one of the rarest mammals in the world, with only one recorded specimen.
Conservation Issues: Without sightings or data, conservation is almost impossible. It is thought to be critically endangered, if not already extinct.
-
Gooty Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)
Habitat: The venomous tarantula is only known from a small forest in Andhra Pradesh, southern India, near the town of Gooty. It inhabits tree bark and rock crevices.
Description: The Gooty Tarantula is a very beautiful, colourful spider. It is metallic blue with yellow and white markings.
Why It’s Rare: Because of its beauty, it has been extensively collected for the exotic pet trade. Its natural environment is also rapidly diminishing, and it is critically endangered.
Conservation Concerns: These species are endangered by illegal wildlife poaching, and forest degradation is making their situation worse.
-
Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer) – Rucervus eldii eldii
Habitat: The Sangai, or brow-antlered deer, is unique to Manipur and lives only within the Keibul Lamjao National Park, a floating swamp on Loktak Lake.
Description: The species is characterised by its unusual antlers, which resemble a bow (from the term “brow-antlered”). The species’ delicate hooves enable it to move across the phumdis (floating biomass).
Why It’s Rare: Once thought extinct in the 1950s, there are now only around 200 individuals left, and it is listed as endangered.
Cultural Significance: Known locally as the “dancing deer”, the Sangai is the state animal of Manipur and has profound cultural and ecological significance.
-
Purple Frog – Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis
Habitat: This frog is endemic to only the Western Ghats of Kerala and was discovered in 2003.
Description: With a pudgy body and a pointed snout, the Purple Frog has its underground life, only emerging for a few days to breed.
Why It’s Rare: Its underground lifestyle kept it under the radar for centuries. It is classified as endangered, and habitat destruction is one of its main threats.
Evolutionary Significance: It belongs to a unique evolutionary line, having parted ways with its closest relations more than 130 million years ago.
The Need for Conservation
India’s rare and endemic species embody this country’s unique biological wealth. However, they also highlight conservation challenges in the face of development, habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. Many of these species are critically endangered and need immediate and long-term attention for survival.
What Can Be Done:
- More stringent enforcement of wildlife protection laws.
- Protected areas and corridors: establishment and maintenance
- Land trusts, community conservation initiatives.
- Inadequate research funding for poorly understood species.
- Workshops and awareness programmes to take preventive measures against illegal pet trade and habitat destruction.
India’s wildlife is more than a natural resource; it is a critical element of its cultural and ecological identity. Safeguarding these rare species is a national priority and a global responsibility.
