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Wildlife Conservation in India: Initiatives, Achievements & Future

Wildlife Conservation in India: Initiatives, Achievements & Future

   

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT TIGER

  • Launched in 1973 (from Jim Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand) + Centrally Sponsored
  • Objective: to protect ‘Endangered’ Tiger population from extinction by ensuring a viable population in their natural habitats, contributing to wildlife conservation in India. 
  • Tiger is an Umbrella species.
  • The Tiger Reserves are constituted on a ‘Core-Buffer Strategy’.
  • Tiger census: conducted once every 4 years since 1972.
  • Tiger census uses: Pugmark technique, Camera trapping, M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers -Intensive Protection & Ecological Status) etc.
  • India achieved its ‘St. Petersburg declaration’ target by doubling Tiger population (in 2019) ahead of 2022 target
  • India currently houses around 70% of the World’s Tiger population.
UMBRELLA SPECIES: Protection of these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat.

 

TIGER CENSUS 2018
  • The total count of Tigers has risen to 2,967 in 2018 with an increase of 741 individuals or 33% compared to 2014 census, showcasing significant progress in wildlife conservation in India.
  • Top 3 States: Madhya Pradesh – 526 Karnataka -524 & Uttarakhand – 442 Tigers.
  • The Census did not record any Tigers in Buxa (West-Bengal), Palamau (Jharkhand) & Dampa (Mizoram) TRs.
The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) 2008
  • An initiative of the World Bank to bring global partners together to strengthen Tiger conservation.
The Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010
  • Leaders of 13 tiger range countries resolved to double Tiger numbers in the wild, with a popular slogan ‘Tx2’.
The 13 Tiger Range Countries
  • India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand & Vietnam [all are in Asia]
CONSERVATION ASSURED | TIGER STANDARDS [CA|TS] Asia
  • CA|TS is a conservation tool that sets best practice & standards to manage Tigers.
  • Started in 2013 + Implemented by WWF
  • At present, only 2 sites are CA|TS compliant:

1. Chitwan National Park in Nepal &

2. Sikhote – Alin Nature Reserve in Russia.

Note: India became the 1st among the 13 tiger range countries to nationally adopt CA|TS.

GLOBAL TIGER FORUM (GTF)
  • GTF is an inter-governmental international body established in 1993 + HQ: New Delhi
  • Objective: to protect the Tigers in their habitats.

   

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT ELEPHANT (1992)

  • Launch: 1992 + Centrally Sponsored
  • IUCN status: Asian elephant: Endangered & African elephant: Vulnerable.
  • Objectives: to protect elephants, their habitat & corridors + to prevent man-animal conflict + Welfare of captive elephants.
  • It provides financial & technical support to wildlife management efforts by states, contributing to wildlife conservation in India. .
  • The Project is being mainly implemented in 16 States: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, showcasing significant progress in wildlife conservation in India.
Elephants are described as “Ecological Engineers” because they create & maintain ecosystems by physically changing habitats. Elephant society is matriarchal.

 

ELEPHANT CORRIDORS:
  • EC are narrow strips of land that allow elephants to move from one habitat patch to another.
  • Meghalaya has maximum Intra-state elephant corridors, showcasing significant progress in wildlife conservation in India.
  • Jharkhand and Odisha share maximum inter-state corridors.
  • Maximum International corridors India shares with Bangladesh.
GAJ YATRA
  • Aims at securing 100 elephant corridors across India.
  • It is an initiative of MoEF & CC and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
MONITORING OF ILLEGAL KILLING OF ELEPHANTS (MIKE)
  • Started in 2003 by CITES.
  • Objective: to measure levels and trends in the illegal hunting of elephants.

 

‘HAATHI MERE SAATHI’ Campaign
  • Launched by the MoEF & CC and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) at the Elephant-8 Ministerial meeting Delhi, in 2011.
  • E-8 countries: India, Botswana, Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.

   

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: VULTURE CONSERVATION

  • A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion + live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics.
  • Vultures, also known as nature’s clean up crew.
  • Vultures in south Asia, mainly in India and Nepal, have declined dramatically since the early 1990s
  • Drug Diclofenac is implicated as the main cause of vulture decline. Replaced by
  • Vultures die of kidney (Renal) failure caused by Diclofenac poisoning.
Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020 -2025:
  • Approved by National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
  • To set up Vulture conservation & breeding centers at: Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, contributing to wildlife conservation in India. 
  • Establishment of at least one Vulture Safe zone in each state.
  • Establishment of four rescue centers, in Pinjore (Haryana), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Guwahati (Assam) and Hyderabad (Telangana), showcasing significant progress in wildlife conservation in India.
Vultures found in India Out of 23 species of vultures in the world, 9 are found in India. These include:

  1. White Rumped vulture (CR– Critically Endangered)
  2. Slender billed vulture (CR)
  3. Long billed vulture (CR)
  4. Red headed vulture (CR)
  5. Egyptian vulture (Endangered)
  6. Himalayan Griffon (NT-Near Threatened)
  7. Cinereous vulture (NT)
  8. Bearded vulture (NT)
  9. Griffon Vulture (Least Concern).
The Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) 
  • VCBC is a joint project of the Haryana Forest Department & the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
  • Aims to save the three species of vultures from extinction, contributing to wildlife conservation in India:
  1. The White-backed vulture,
  2. Long-billed vulture &
  3. Slender-billed vulture.
  • VCBC was established in 2001 with the UK Government’s ‘Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species’ fund.

  

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: INDIAN (ONE HORN) RHINO VISION (IRV) 2020

  • Launched in 2005 + supported by WWFIndia, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), contributing to wildlife conservation in India. .
  • Implemented by Assam State Government with the Bodo autonomous council as an active partner
  • Aim: to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 one-horned rhinos in the Indian state of Assam.
  • IUCN: Vulnerable + Schedule -I WPA, 1972.
NEW DELHI DECLARATION on Asian Rhinos 2019 
  • It was signed on 2nd meeting of Asian Rhino Range Countries
  • Objective: to conserve & review the population of the Greater one horned, Javan and Sumatran rhinos every 4 years to reassess the need for joint actions to secure their future.
  • The 5 Asian Rhino range countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
  • Note: 3 species of Rhino: Black, Javan, & Sumatran are Critically endangered.

 

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT SNOW LEOPARD (2009)

  • Launched in 2009 + IUCN: Vulnerable
  • Objective: To safeguard & conserve India’s unique natural heritage of high-altitude wildlife populations, contributing to wildlife conservation in India.
  • Most of the Snow leopards are found in China followed by Mongolia and India.
  • The Snow Leopard range states / UTs of India: Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT SECURE HIMALAYA (2017)

  • Launched in 2017 + By India in association with UNDP, the GEF -Global Environment Facility.
  • Project duration: 6 years.
  • Objective: to secure livelihoods, conserve, restore & sustainably use Himalayan ecosystems.
  • Project Implemented in Specific Landscapes, showcasing significant progress in wildlife conservation in India:
  1. Changthang: Jammu and Kashmir
  2. Lahaul: Pangi and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh)
  3. Gangotri: Govind & Darma Byans Valley (Uttarakhand)
  4. Kanchenjunga: Upper Teesta Valley (Sikkim).
  • Also, focused on the protection of snow leopard & other endangered species and their habitats in Himalayas.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT SEA TURTLE

  • Launched in 2005 + by MoEF & CC in association with UNDP.
  • Implemented by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
Operation Kachhapa
  • Launched in 1998 by WPSI – The Wildlife Protection Society of India.
  • Objective: to reduce turtle mortality and try to safeguard the future of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle.
  • The Arribada: Mass nesting of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle.
  • Operation save kurma: The operation was conducted to combat the proliferating illegal trade of live turtles and its parts from the country to destinations abroad.
FAST FACTS
  • Leatherback sea turtles can travel more than 10,000 miles every year.
  • Female turtles lay their eggs at the same beach on which they were born.
  • Green turtles can hold their breath for up to 5 hours.

 

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT CROCODILE

  • Launched in 1975 + by GoI in association with UNDP, FAO.
  • There are three crocodilian species found in India.
  • Objectives:
  1. To protect the remaining population of crocodilians.
  2. To enhance their population through ‘rear & release’ technique.
  3. To promote captive breeding.
  • Note: Central Crocodile Breeding & Management Training Institute is located at Hyderabad, Telangana.
Species IUCN Status Water
  • Mugger
  • Gharial
  • Saltwater
  • Vulnerable
  • Critically
  • Endangered
  • Least Concern
  • Fresh
  • Fresh
  • Sea water

   

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: PROJECT HANGUL (KASHMIR STAG)

  • Launched in 1970s + by Govt. of Jammu & IUCN & WWF, contributing to wildlife conservation in India.
  • IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
  • It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys & mountains of the Kashmir and northern Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh.
  • In Kashmir, it’s found in the Dachigam National Park, Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary, Overa Aru, Sind Valley, Kishtwar & Bhaderwah.
  • Note: Hangul is the only surviving species of the Asiatic member of the red deer family + Hangul society is matriarchal & only male members have antlers.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: CONSERVATION BREEDING PROGRAMME

  • This involves the captive propagation of endangered species.
  • To help maintain genetic diversity, produce viable individuals to mitigate species’ extinction, contributing to wildlife conservation in India.
  • Important ongoing Conservation Breeding Programme in India:
Name of the Species Name of the Zoo
Red panda & Snow leopard Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling
Hoolock gibbon Biological Park, Itanagar
Clouded leopard Sepahijala Zoological Park, Agartala
Indian pangolin Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar
Lion-tailed macaque Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai
Grey jungle fowl Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati
Dolphin Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Bhagalpur.
Crocodile Madras Crocodile Bank, Chennai

   

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: DOLPHIN CONSERVATION

  • National Aquatic Animal: Ganges River Dolphin.
  • IUCN status – Endangered + included in Schedule-I of the WPA 1972 + Appendix I of CITES + Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
  • The Ganges River Dolphins can only live in freshwater, are blind and catch their prey using ultrasonic sound
  • It makes a sound while breathing called the Su-Su.
  • Need for conservation: They once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna & Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh, but are now mostly extinct from many of its early distribution ranges.
  • In India they are distributed across 7 states: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The Other Three Freshwater Dolphins:

  1. Bhulan (Indus River Dolphin): National Mammal of Pakistan and State aquatic animal of Punjab, India.
  2. Baiji: now functionally extinct from the Yangtze river in China
  3. Boto: Amazon River in Latin America.

 

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA: SOUTH ASIA WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT NETWORK (SAWEN)

  • Launched in 2011 in Paro Bhutan + Secretariat: Kathmandu, Nepal, contributing to wildlife conservation in India.
  • SAWEN is an inter-government wildlife law enforcement support body of South Asian countries.
  • Objective: to promote & co-ordinate regional co-operation for curbing illegal wildlife trade in wild flora and fauna of South Asia.
  • Member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
  • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is the nodal point for SAWEN in India.
Also Read: Conservation Measures: Modes, Protected Areas, Action Plans, and Initiatives
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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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