12 Lesser Known Endangered Wildlife Species in India
India is well known for its rich biodiversity, wild animals and birds but due to habitat loss, poaching and climate change – wild animals are becoming endangered species and facing the threat of extinction. Here is the list of 12 lesser known species of wild animals listed as Endangered wildlife in India.
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Red panda is a small mammal of eastern Himalayas in India, listed as endangered and found only in dense bamboo cover forest with close to water sources. The arboreal panda is a protected species in all range of countries including India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
Dhole Dog of Wild India is a highly social animal and living in packs or clans that usually consist of about 10 to 12 individuals. The dhole is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, due to habitat loss, loss of prey, disease from other species and domestic dogs.
Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee)
Wild water buffalo is second largest wild bovine native to the Indian subcontinent and has been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population is estimated at 3,400 individuals and 91% of the wild water buffalo live in India, mostly in Assam.
Indian Hog Deer (Axis porcinus)
Indian Hog Deer occurs only in northeast part of India, Bhutan and Nepal. The small cervid is native to this region of the Indian subcontinent and mostly prey upon by spotted leopard and clouded leopard as well as Burmese python in Assam.
Kashmir Musk Deer (Moschus cupreus)
The Kashmir musk deer now classified as a separate species and listed as endangered due to loss of habitat and unregulated hunting. Kashmir musk deer is one of the most endangered species of deer found in India and poachers hunt the animal for prize.
Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
Indian pangolin is the highly trafficked wild animal in the world, trafficked for consumption in China and body parts. The Indian pangolin is listed endangered and are mostly active during the night for feeding.
Bengal Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis)
Bengal slow loris is native to the Indian subcontinent and a nocturnal and arboreal species of slow loris. Thsi species is listed as endangered and threatened with extinction because of traditional medicine and exotic pet trade.
Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania)
The pygmy hog is the smallest and endangered species of wild pig found in India, The Endemic and Endangered wild pig – only known population resides in Manas National Park of Assam and fall prey to rock pythons, big raptors and wild cats.
Arunachal Macaque (Macaca munzala)
Arunachal macaque is a macaque species native to Eastern Himalayas of Bhutan and India. This large brown primate was discovered by Indian primatologist Anwaruddin Choudhury, physically similar to the Assam macaques but genetically they have different origins.
Phayre’s Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei)
Phayre’s langur is a lesser known species of Old World monkey native to India Southeast Asia. The species threatened by hunting and loss of habitat, listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock)
The western hoolock gibbon is the only species of Ape found in India and the endangered primate from the gibbon family found in Assam, Mizoram, and Meghalaya state of India. Like other gibbons, western hoolock gibbon only found where the canopy is contiguou.
Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei)
Gee’s golden langur found only in a small region of Western Assam and neighboring foothills of Mountains. The golden langur is one of the most endangered primate species of India and Bhutan, today there are 7,396 golden langurs in India.
Sangai deer conservation status is not evaluated but it is an endemic and endangered species of Eld’s deer found only in Manipur, India and also the also the state animal of Manipur.
