Important Environment List

[Link]

Important days related to environment upsc

February 2 World Wetlands Day

February 27 International Polar Bear Day

February 28 National Science Day

March 3 World Wildlife Day

March 14 International Day of Action for Rivers

March 20 World Sparrow Day

March 21 World Forestry Day, World Planting Day, World Wood Day

March 22 World Water & Sanitation Day

March 23 World Meteorological Day, World Resources Day

April 7 World Health Day

April 10 World Atmosphere Day

April 18 World Heritage Day

April 22 World Earth Day

May 3 International Energy Day

May 8 World Migratory Bird Day

May 11 National Technology Day

May 14 Endemic Bird Day

May 22 World Biodiversity Day

May 23 World Turtle Day

June 5 World Environment Day

June 8 World Ocean Day

June 9 Coral Triangle Day

June 15 Global Wind Day

June 17 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

July 1 – July 7 Van Mahotsav Saptah

July 3 World Seabird Day

July 11 World Population Day

July 26 International Mangrove Day

July 29 International Tiger Day

August 10 World Lion Day

August 12 World Elephant Day

August 22 Honey Bee Day

September 8 World Cleanup Day

September 16 World Ozone Day

September 18 World Water Monitoring Day

September 21 Zero Emissions Day

September 26 World Environmental Health Day

October 1 – Oct 7 Wildlife Week

October 3 World Nature Day, World Habitat Day

October 4 World Animal Day

October 6 World Wildlife Day

October 24 International Day of Climate Action

November 6 International Day for Preventing the

The exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

November 12 World Birds Day

November 14 World Energy Conservation Day

December 5 World Soil Day

December 11 International Mountain Day

December 14 National Energy Conservation Day

Important Facts about UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

1. Agra Fort
 It is the 16th Century Mughal Monument called the Red Fort of Agra.
 Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal built by Shah Jahan are part of Agra Fort.
2. Ajanta Caves
 These are rock-cut caves.
 There are a total of 29 caves.
3. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda
 Nalanda is the most ancient university in India.
 The archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from
the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE are found here.
4. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
 Monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries are part of it.
 It is considered the oldest Buddhist Sanctuary in existence.
5. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
 Unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties are a
part of it.
 Structures built between the 8th and 14th centuries like fortifications, palaces,
religious buildings, residential precincts, agricultural structures and water
installations; are found here.
6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
 The former name of CST was Victoria Terminus.
 It represents the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India.
 British architect F. W. Stevens built and designed it.
7. Churches and Convents of Goa
 The churches of the city which was the Portuguese capital signifies the
evangelization of Asia.
8. Elephanta Caves
 Gharapuri Caves is the local name of Elephanta Caves.
 There are seven caves.
9. Ellora Caves
 There are 34 monasteries and temples.

10. Fatehpur Sikri

 Mughal Emperor Akbar built it.
 It had been a Mughal capital for 10 years.
 Jama Masjid is a part of it.
11. Great Living Chola Temples
 It includes temples like the theBrihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara
Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
12. Group of Monuments at Hampi
 Hampi has served as the last capital of the Vijayanagar Empire
13. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
 The group is best known for Rathas, Mandapas, Giant open-air reliefs, etc.
14. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
 The monuments represent the Chalukyan art.
 Hindu temples and Jain sanctuary are a part of it.
15. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
 Chittorgarh fort; Kumbhalgarh fort; Sawai Madhopur fort; Jhalawar fort; Jaipur
fort, and Jaisalmer fort are part of these hill forts.
16. Historic City of Ahmadabad
 Sultan Ahmad Shah founded the walled city in the 15th Century.
17. Humayun’s Tomb
 It was built in 1570.
 It stands as the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent.
18. Jaipur City
0. Sawai Jai Singh-II founded the city in 1727.
19. Khajuraho Group of Monuments
 It contains Chandely Dynasty-built temples.
 Hinduism and Jainism are two religions to which temples are dedicated.
20. Mahabodhi Temple Complex
 It is one of the four holy sites related to the Buddha’s life.
21. Mountain Railways of India
 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and Kalka Shimla
Railway are three railways included in this site.
22. Qutb Minar and its Monuments
 Qutb Minar was built in the 13th century.
 It is the highest tower in India.
23. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell)
 It stands on the banks of Saraswati River.
 It is built in Maru-Gurjara architectural style.
24. Red Fort Complex
 It was built as the palace fort of the Shah Jahan’s capital Shah Jahanabad.
 Salimgarh Fort is a part of this complex.
25. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
 Dr V. S. Wakankar had discvoered the Bhimbetka Caves in 1958.
26. Sun Temple
 King Narasimhadeva I built this in the 13th Century.
 It represents the Kalinga architecture.
27. Taj Mahal
 Mughal Emperor built Taj Mahal.
 It stands on the Yamuna river banks.
28. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern
Movement
 There are 17 sites on three continents.
 Complexe du Capitole in Chandigarh, India is a part of this.
29. The Jantar Mantar
 Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II built the astronomical observation site.
30. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
 Victorian Neo-Gothic public buildings and Art Deco in Mumbai buildings are
part of this collection.
31. Great Himalayan National Park-Conservation Area
 High alpine peaks, alpine meadows and riverine forests in this conservation area
in Himachal Pradesh.
32. Kaziranga National Park
 It is located in Golaghat and Nagaon, in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam in
northeast India.
33. Keoladeo National Park
 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary was the former name of this National Park.
 Siberian Crane is one of those aquatic birds that make this park a wintering area.
34. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
 It is the first reserve included in the network of tiger reserves under Project
tiger in 1973.
 It is also a biosphere reserve.
35. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
 Nanda Devi West is the second-highest mountain in India.
36. Sundarbans National Park
  It forms the part of the Gangetic Delta.
37. Western Ghats
 These are one of the biodiversity hotspots.

38. Khangchendzonga National Park

 Mount Khangchendzonga is the world’s third-highest peak.
39. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple
 Built in the 13th century CE, the temple is a Kakatiyan marvel made of sandstone.
 The structure has decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with
a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called
‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures.
40. Dholavira
 Discovered by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi in 1968, Dholavira gets its name
from the village in Kutch district of Gujarat.
 In ancient India, it has remained a commercial and manufacturing hub for about
1,500 years till its decline by 1500 BC.
 It was Indus Valley Civilization’s fifth-largest metropolis after Mohen-jo-Daro,
Ganweriwala, Harappa and Rakhigarhi.

The list of UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites in India is given below:

Natural World Heritage Site State Year of Notification

Kaziranga National Park Assam 1985

Keoladeo Ghana National Park Rajasthan 1985

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam 1985

Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand 1988, 2005

Sundarbans National Park West Bengal 1987

Western Ghats Maharashtra, 2012

Goa,
Karnataka,

Tamil Nadu and

Kerala

Great Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh 2014

The list of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage sites in India is given below:

Cultural World Heritage Site State Year of Notification

Dholavira Gujarat 2021

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple Telangana 2021

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Chandigarh 2016

Outstanding Contribution to the Modern
Movement

Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai Maharashtra 2018

Historic City of Ahmedabad Gujarat 2017

Jaipur City Rajasthan 2020

Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara Bihar 2016

(Nalanda University)

Rani-Ki-Van Gujarat 2014

Hill Forts of Rajasthan Rajasthan 2013

The Jantar Mantar Rajasthan 2010

Red Fort Complex Delhi 2007

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Gujarat 2004

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Maharashtra 2004

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Madhya Pradesh 2003

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya Bihar 2002

Mountain Railways of India Tamil Nadu 1999

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi Delhi 1993

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi Delhi 1993

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi Madhya Pradesh 1989

Elephanta Caves Maharashtra 1987

Great Living Chola Temples Tamil Nadu 1987

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Karnataka 1987

Churches and Convents of Goa Goa 1986

Fatehpur Sikri Uttar Pradesh 1986

Group of Monuments at Hampi Karnataka 1986

Khajuraho Group of Monuments Madhya Pradesh 1986

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Tamil Nadu 1984

Sun Temple, Konarak Orissa 1984

Agra Fort Uttar Pradesh 1983

Ajanta Caves Maharashtra 1983

Ellora Caves Maharashtra 1983

Taj Mahal Uttar Pradesh 1983

UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Sites

A mixed site comprises components of both natural and cultural importance:

Mixed World Heritage Site State Year of Notification

Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim 2016

List of Ramsar sites in India [Updated – 31st August 2021]

Ramsar Sites in India State – Location

Sultanpur National Park Haryana

Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Haryana

Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat

Wadhvana Wetland Gujarat

Ashtamudi Wetland Kerala

Beas Conservation Reserve Punjab

Bhitarkanika Mangroves Odisha

Bhoj Wetlands Madhya Pradesh

Chandra Taal Himachal Pradesh

Chilika Lake Odisha

Deepor Beel Assam

East Kolkata Wetlands West Bengal

Harike Wetlands Punjab

Hokera Wetland Jammu & Kashmir

Kanjli Wetland Punjab

Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan

Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve Punjab

Kolleru lake Andhra Pradesh

Loktak lake Manipur

Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary Gujarat

Nandur Madhameshwar Maharashtra

Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary Punjab

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh

Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu

Pong Dam lake Himachal Pradesh

Renuka lake Himachal Pradesh

Ropar Wetland Punjab

Rudrasagar Lake Tripura

Saman Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh

Samaspur Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh

Sambhar lake Rajasthan

Sandi Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh

Sarsai Nawar Jheel Uttar Pradesh

Sasthamkotta lake Kerala

Surinsar- Mansar lakes Jammu & Kashmir

Tsomoriri Ladakh

Upper Ganga river Uttar Pradesh

Vembanad Kol Wetland Kerala

Wular lake Jammu & Kashmir

Sunderban Wetland West Bengal

Asan Barrage Uttarakhand

Kanwar Lake or Kabal Taal Bihar

Lonar Lake Maharashtra

Sur Sarovar Uttar Pradesh

Tso Kar Wetland Complex Ladakh

Biodiversity Hotspots

According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two criteria to qualify
as a hotspot:

1. The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a high
degree of endemism.
2. It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.

Following the criteria must for an area to be declared as Biodiversity Hotspot, there are major
four biodiversity hotspots in India:

1. The Himalayas
2. Indo-Burma Region
3. The Western Ghats
4. Sundaland

List of Tiger Reserves in India

Sl. State Name of Tiger Reserve

No.

1 Andhra Pradesh Nagarjunsagar Srisailam

2 Arunachal Pradesh Namdapha National Park

3 Arunachal Pradesh Kamlang Tiger Reserve

4 Arunachal Pradesh Pakke Tiger Reserve

5 Assam Manas Tiger Reserve

6 Assam Nameri National Park

7 Assam Orang Tiger Reserve

8 Assam Kaziranga National Park

9 Bihar Valmiki National Park

10 Chhattisgarh Udanti-Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary

11 Chhattisgarh Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary

12 Chhattisgarh Indravati Tiger Reserve

13 Jharkhand Palamau Tiger Reserve

14 Karnataka Bandipur Tiger Reserve

15 Karnataka Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

16 Karnataka Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve

17 Karnataka Nagarahole National Park

18 Karnataka Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger reserve

19 Kerala Periyar Tiger reserve

20 Kerala Parambikulam Tiger reserve

21 Madhya Pradesh Kanha Tiger reserve

22 Madhya Pradesh Pench Tiger reserve

23 Madhya Pradesh Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve

24 Madhya Pradesh Panna Tiger reserve

25 Madhya Pradesh Satpura Tiger reserve

26 Madhya Pradesh Sanjay-Dubri Tiger reserve

27 Maharashtra Melghat Tiger reserve

28 Maharashtra Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

29 Maharashtra Pench Tiger Reserve

30 Maharashtra Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

31 Maharashtra Nagzira Tiger Reserve

32 Maharashtra Bor Tiger Reserve

33 Mizoram Dampa Tiger Reserve

34 Odisha Similipal Tiger Reserve

35 Odisha Satkosia Tiger Reserve

36 Rajasthan Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

37 Rajasthan Sariska Tiger Reserve

38 Rajasthan Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve

39 Tamil Nadu Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

40 Tamil Nadu Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Indira Gandhi Wildlife

Sanctuary and National Park)

41 Tamil Nadu Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

42 Tamil Nadu Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

43 Telangana Kawal Tiger Reserve

44 Telangana Amrabad Tiger Reserve

45 Uttar Pradesh Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

46 Uttar Pradesh Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

47 Uttar Pradesh Amangarh Tiger Reserve (buffer zone of Corbett

Tiger Reserve)

48 Uttarakhand Jim Corbett National Park

49 Uttarakhand Rajaji Tiger Reserve

50 West Bengal Sunderban National Park

51 West Bengal Buxa Tiger Reserve

52 Rajasthan Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR)

List of Landscape and Elephant Reserves in India with 2005 Census Population

Sl. Date of Total Area P.A. in ER Population in

Elephant Range Elephant Reserve State
No. Notification (Sq. Km) (Sq. Km) 2005

1 East-Central Landscape 1. Mayurjharna ER 24.10.02 West Bengal 414 96

(South-West Bengal- 2. Singhbhum ER 26.9.01 Jharkhand 4530 193 371

Jharkhand - Orissa) 3. Mayurbhanj ER 29.9.01 Orissa 3214 1309 465

4. Mahanadi ER * 20.7.02 Orissa 1038 964 464

5. Sambalpur ER * 27.3.02 Orissa 427 427 284

6. Baitami ER # Orissa 1755 108

7. South Orissa ER # Orissa 4216 750 138

8. Lemru ER # Chhattishgarh 450 -

 9. Badalkhol - Tamorpingla ER Chhattishgarh 1048.3 1154.93 -

Total 17092.3 4797.93 1926

2 Kameng-Sonitpur Landscape 10. Kameng ER 19.6.02 Arunachal 1892 748

(Arunachal - Assam) 11. Sonitpur ER * 6.3.03 Assam 1420 420 612

Total 3312 1168 612

Eastern-South Bank
3 Landscape 12. Dihing-Patkai ER 17.4.03 Assam 937 345 295

(Assam - Arunachal) 13. South Arunachal ER 29.2.08 Arunachal 1957.5 378.13 129

Total 2894.5 723.13 424

Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-
4 Intanki Landscape 14. Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ER 17.4.03 Assam 3270 1073 1940

(Assam - Nagaland) 15. Dhansiri-Lungding ER 19.4.03 Assam 2740 275

16. Intanki ER 28.2.05 Nagaland 202 202 30

Total 6212 1275 2245

North Bengal- Greater
5 Manas Landscape 17. Chirang-Ripu ER 7.3.03 Assam 2600 526 658

(Assam - West Bengal) 18. Eastern Dooars ER 28.8.02 West Bengal 978 484 300-350

Total 3578 1010 1008

6 Meghalaya Landscape 19. Garo Hills ER 31.10.01 Meghalaya 3500 402 1047

(Meghalaya) 20. Khasi-hills ER # Meghalaya 1331 383

Total 4831 402 1430

Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern
7 Ghat Landscape 21. Mysore ER 25.11.02 Karnataka 6724 3103 4452

(Karnataka - Kerala- 22. Wayanad ER 2.4.02 Kerala 1200 394 636

Tamilnadu- Andhra) 23. Nilgiri ER 19.9.03 Tamil Nadu 4663 716 2862

24. Rayala ER 9.12.03 Andhra 766 525 12

25. Nilambur ER 2.4.02 Kerala 1419 90 281

26. Coimbatore ER 19.9.03 Tamil Nadu 566 482 329

Total 15338 5310 8572

Anamalai-Nelliampathy-
8 High Range Landscape 27. Anamalai ER 19.9.03 Tamil Nadu 1457 300 179

(Tamilnadu - Kerala) 28. Anamudi ER 2.4.02 Kerala 3728 780 1726

Total 5185 1080 1905

Periyar-Agasthyamalai
9 Landscape 29. Periyar ER 2.4.02 Kerala 3742 1058 1100

(Kerala - Tamilnadu) 30. Srivilliputhur ER 19.9.03 Tamil Nadu 1249 568 638

Total 4991 1626 1738

10 North-Western Landscape 31. Shivalik ER 28.10.02 Uttarakhand 5405 1340 1510

(Uttarakhand - Uttar Pradesh) 32. Uttar Pradesh ER 9.9.09 U.P. 744 NA

Total 6149 1340 1510

TOTAL 69,582.80 18,732.06 21,370

# Approved by Govt. of India, but not yet notified by the State Government

* Proposal for extension approved by GOI, but not yet notified by the state
(Source: Elephant Task Force Report of MoEF, August 2010)
Critically Endangered Bird Species (CR)

Species Protection Geographical Unique

Status Range/Habitat Feature/Remarks

White- IUCN Status:  Foothills of  It is mostly solitary

bellied CR the eastern and occurs in
Heron Himalayas undisturbed
in India and riversides or
Myanmar wetlands.

Siberian IUCN Status:  Arctic  They migrate for

Crane CR tundra breeding during
Region Winter to China, Iran
and India
(Bharatpur)
 The Siberian crane is
one of the species to
which
the Agreement on
the Conservation of
African-Eurasian
Migratory
Waterbirds (AEWA).

White- IUCN Status:  Gangetic  India is home to nine

rumped CR plains of species of vultures,
Vulture India but most of them
Wildlife face the danger of
Protection Act extinction.
Status:
 The major reason
Schedule I
behind the vulture
population getting
Indian IUCN Status:  Gangetic nearly wiped out was
Vulture CR plains of the drug Diclofenac.
India
Wildlife  The government has
Protection Act launched Vulture
Status: Conservation 2020-
Schedule I 2025 to conserve the
vulture in India.
Slender- IUCN Status:  Sub-
billed CR Himalayan
Vulture regions and
Wildlife Southeast
Protection Act Asia.
Status:
Schedule I

Red- IUCN Status:  Indian  Also known as

headed CR Subcontine the Asian king
Vulture nt and vulture, Indian
Wildlife SouthEast black
Protection Act Asia vulture or Pondiche
Status: rry vulture
Schedule I
 Bengal IUCN Status:  Grasslands  It is a representative
Florican CR of the or an indicator
Ganga and species of dry
UN Brahmaputr grasslands in the
Convention a river Brahmaputra, as well
on Migratory basin in as Ganga.
Species: India and
Appendix I Nepal.

Himalayan IUCN Status:  State of  The last population

Quail CR Uttarakhan estimate was less
d than 50 individuals.
Wildlife
 No sightings have
Protection Act
been recorded since
Status:
1876.
Schedule I

Jerdon's IUCN Status:  Eastern  Endemic to Andhra

Courser CR Ghats Pradesh.

Wildlife
Protection Act
Status:
Schedule I

Pink- IUCN Status:  Riverine

headed CR swamps of
Duck India,
Wildlife Bangladesh
Protection Act and
Status: Myanmar
Schedule I

Sociable IUCN Status:  Open  Migrates to Kanwar

Lapwing CR grassland lake, Bihar (Bihar’s
in Russia first Ramsar Site)
and during winter.
Kazakhsta
 The bird migrates
n
through the central
Asian flyway.

Great IUCN Status:  It usually  It is one of the

Indian CR resides in heaviest flying birds
Bustard dry in the world.
Wildlife grasslands
 It is the state bird of
Protection Act and
Rajasthan.
Status: scrublands
Schedule I on the  Project
Indian Godawan has been
CITES: subcontine launched by
Appendix I nt Rajasthan
(especially Government for its
UN in conservation.
Convention Rajasthan,
on Migratory Gujrat, in
Species: Pakistan)
Appendix I

Critically Endangered Mammals

 Species Protection Habitat Unique
Status Feature/Remarks

Malabar IUCN Status: Western Ghats  Species is

Civet CR nocturnal
 Civetone is
Wildlife
extracted from
Protection
the scent gland
Act Status:
of this animal
Schedule I
and used in
medicine, and
CITES as an
Appendix III aromatic.
 Endemic to
the Western
Ghats of India

Sumatran IUCN Status:  They are spread  Smallest of all

Rhinoceros CR across India, rhino species.
Nepal, Bhutan,
Indonesia and
Javan IUCN Status: Malaysia.  The three
Rhinoceros CR species of
 Left mainly in Rhino in Asia
Sumatra and — Greater one-
Borneo in horned, Javan
Indonesia. and Sumatran.
 These countries  Javan and
are also known Sumatran
as Asian Rhino Rhino are
Range critically
Countries. endangered
and
the Greater
one-horned (or
Indian) rhino
is vulnerable
in the IUCN
Red List.
 Only the Great
one-horned
rhino is found
in India.

Large IUCN Status:  Tropical dry  Nocturnal and

Rock-rat or CR deciduous shrub burrowing
Elvira Rat land forest, seen rodent
Wildlife in rocky areas.
 Endemic
Protection
to Eastern
Act Status:
Ghats of Tamil
Schedule I
Nadu

Namdapha IUCN Status:  Found  It is among the

Flying CR in Arunachal 25 “most
Squirrel Pradesh in the wanted lost”
 Wildlife Namdapha species that
Protection National Park are the focus of
Act Status: Global Wildlife
Schedule I Conservation’s
“Search for
Lost Species”
initiative.

Asiatic IUCN Status:  Open lands, small  Smaller and

Cheetah CR plains, semi- paler than
desert areas, and the African
CITES: other open cheetah (IUCN
Appendix I habitats where Status: VU).
prey is available.
 Has more fur, a
 Only 40-50 smaller head
remain in Iran. and a longer
neck.
 Usually have
red eyes and
they have a
more cat-like
appearance.

Andaman IUCN Status:  Found on Mount  Endemic to

White- CR Harriet in India
toothed the South
Shrew Andaman
Islands

Nicobar IUCN Status:  Found in the

Shrew CR southern tip
of Greater
Nicobar
Island and Camp
bell Bay National
Park

Jenkin's IUCN Status:  Found on Wright

Shrew CR Myo and Mount
Harriet in the
South Andaman
Islands

Chinese IUCN Status:  Himalayan  Scales on its

Pangolin CR foothills in Skin.
Eastern Nepal,
 The use of
Wildlife Bhutan, Northern
pangolin scales
Protection India, North-East
is used for
Act Status: Bangladesh and
traditional
Schedule I through Southern
medicine.
China.
CITES:  This makes it
Appendix I the most
trafficked
animal.
 Also, there are
 some theories
which state that
pangolin is the
intermediate
carrier of
Covid-19.
 Indian Pangolin
IUCN Status:
EN

Critically Endangered Fishes

Protection Unique
Species Habitat
Status Feature/Remarks

Pondicherry IUCN Status:  Indo-Pacific  It is among the 25

Shark CR Region ‘most wanted lost’
species that are
the focus of
Global Wildlife
Conservation’s
“Search for Lost
Species” initiative.

Knifetooth IUCN Status:  Also

Sawfish CR called Carpenter
Sharks
Narrow IUCN Status:  They are a family
snout or CR of rays
Green characterized by
Sawfish a long, narrow,
flattened rostrum,
or nose
extension, lined
with sharp
transverse teeth,
arranged in a way
that resembles a
saw.

Ganges IUCN Status:  Freshwater,

Shark CR inshore
marine, and
Wildlife estuarine
Protection Act systems in
Status: the lower
Schedule I reaches of
the Ganges-
Hooghly
River
system

Critically Endangered Reptiles

 Protection Unique
Species Habitat
Status Feature/Remarks

Fish-eating IUCN Status:  Freshwaters  The population of

Crocodile or CR of the Gharials is a good
Gharial northern indicator of clean
Wildlife part of India. river water.
Protection
 Primary
Act Status:
Habitat:
Schedule I
Chambal
river
CITES
Appendix I

Four-toed IUCN Red  Sundarbans  Indian

Terrapin List: CR eco-region biologist Shailendr
a Singh has been
CITES awarded
Appendix I the Behler Turtle
Conservation
Wildlife Award for the
Protection conservation of
Act, Status: these species.
Schedule I  Protected under
the Biodiversity
Red- IUCN Status:  Currently, Conservation and
crowned CR the National Ganga
Roofed Chambal Rejuvenation
Turtle Wildlife River programme.
Protection Gharial
Act Status: Sanctuary is
Schedule I the only
area with a
CITES: substantial
Appendix II population

Leatherback IUCN Status:  Indo-Pacific  Sea Turtles of

CR India.

Wildlife
Protection
Act Status:
Schedule I

Hawksbill IUCN Status:

Turtle CR

Wildlife
Protection
Act Status:
Schedule I

Critically Endangered Amphibians

Species Protection Status Habitat Unique

 Feature/Remarks

Anaimalai IUCN Status: CR  Endemic to the

Flying Frog southern part of the
Western Ghats

Kerala India IUCN Status: CR

Frog

Endangered Species (EN)

Protectio Unique
Species Habitat
n Status Feature/Remarks

Tiger IUCN  Mostly found in 13  Referred

Status: Tiger range as Flagship and
EN countries viz.: “umbrella species.
Bangladesh,
 52 Tigers reserves in
Wildlife Bhutan, Cambodia,
India.
Protectio China, India,
n Act Indonesia, Laos,  India has achieved
Status: Malaysia, the TX2 goal, which
Schedule Myanmar, Nepal, is a global
I Russia, Thailand commitment to
and Vietnam. double the world's
CITES: wild tigers by 2022.
 70% of Tigers are
Appendix found in India.
I

Asiatic IUCN  Gir National Park  Asiatic lions are

lion Status: and Wildlife slightly smaller than
EN Sanctuary is the African lions.
only abode of the
 The most striking
Wildlife Asiatic lion.
morphological
Protectio
character, which is
n Act
always seen in
Status:
Asiatic lions, and
Schedule
rarely in African
I
lions, is a longitudinal
fold of skin running
CITES: along its belly.
Appendix
I

Gangeti IUCN  Ganges-  Only live in

c Status: Brahmaputra- freshwater
Dolphin EN Meghna and Karn
 They are
aphuli-Sangu river
essentially blind and
Wildlife systems of Nepal,
hunt by emitting
Protectio India, and
ultrasonic sounds.
n Act Bangladesh.
Status:  They are also
Schedule called ‘susu’.
I
 It is a reliable
indicator of the
 CITES: health of the entire
Appendix river ecosystem.
I
 It was recognised as
the National
Conventio
Aquatic Animal in
n on
2009, by the
Migratory
Government of India.
Species
(CMS):
Appendix
II

Pygmy IUCN  It thrives in wet  They are the

Hog Status: grassland. world’s rarest and s
EN mallest wild pigs.
 Today found mainly
in a small
Wildlife
population in
Protectio
Assam.
n Act
Status:
Schedule
I

CITES:
Appendix
I

Kondan IUCN  Only found in the  They are nocturnal

a Rat Status: small Sinhagarh and live in burrows.
EN Plateau near Pune
in Maharashtra.
 Tropical and
subtropical dry
deciduous forests
and tropical scrub.

Forest IUCN  Dry deciduous  Endemic to the

Owlet Status: forest forests of central
EN India

CITES:
Appendix
I

Red IUCN  Forests of India,  The only living

Panda Status: Nepal, Bhutan and member of the genus
EN the northern Ailurus.
mountains of
 It is also the state
Wildlife Myanmar and
animal of Sikkim.
Protectio southern China.
n Act
 Mixed deciduous
Status:
and conifer
Schedule
forests with dense
I
understories of
bamboo.
 Nilgiri IUCN  Open montane  Endemic to
Tahr Status: the Nilgiri Hills and
grassland habitat of
EN the southern portion
rain forests ecoregion. of the Western
Wildlife Ghats.
Protectio
 It is the state animal
n Act
of Tamil Nadu
Status:
Schedule  Also,
I called Saddlebacks.

Other Important Species

Protection Unique
Species Habitat
Status Feature/Remarks

Snow IUCN  Mountainous regions  Indicator of

Leopard Status: VU of central and the health of
southern Asia. the mountain
Wildlife ecosystem.
Protection
 Snow Leopard
Act Status:
capital of the
Schedule I
world: Hemis,
Ladakh.
CITES:
Appendix I  Flagship
species for the
high altitude
Himalayas.
 Project Snow
Leopard was
launched in
2009 for the
conservation of
snow leopards.

Pied IUCN  It is found in Africa  Pied cuckoo is

Cuckoo Status: NT and Asia. known for its
close
association
with the
monsoon in
India.
 It is a brood
parasite i.e. It
lays its eggs in
nests that
belong to other
birds.
 It is one of the
few species
that come to
India in the
summer.
Olive IUCN  Odisha’s Gahirmatha  The Olive
Ridley Status: VU Marine Sanctuary is ridley
Turtle known as the world’s turtles are
Wildlife largest rookery. the smallest
Protection and most
Act Status: abundant of
Schedule I all sea turtles
found in the
CITES: world
Appendix I

Amur IUCN  Southeastern Siberia  World’s longest

Falcon Status: LC and northern China travelling
raptors.
 Doyang Lake
in Nagaland is
better known
as a stopover
for the Amur
falcons
 Nagaland is
also known as
the “Falcon
Capital of the
World”.

Dugong IUCN  Gulf of Mannar in  Only existing

Status: VU Tamil Nadu, the species of
Andaman and herbivorous
Wildlife Nicobar Islands and mammals live
Protection the Gulf of Kutch in exclusively in
Act Status: Gujarat. the sea.
Schedule I
 Dugong is also
called ‘Sea
Cow’