Wildlife conservation

TheSiberian tigeris a subspecies of tiger that is critically endangered; three subspecies of tiger are already extinct.Wildlife conservationis the practice of protectingendangered plant and animal speciesand theirhabitats. Among the goals of wildlife conservation are to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy and to recognize the importance ofwildlifeandwildernesslands to humans.[1]Many nations havegovernment agenciesdedicated to wildlife conservation, which help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife. Numerous independentnonprofit organizationsalso promote various wildlife conservation causes.[2]Wildlife conservation has become an increasingly important practice due to the negative effects ofhuman activityonwildlife. The science of extinction is called dirology. An endangered species is defined as a population of a living being that is at the danger of becoming extinct because of several reasons. Either they are few in number or are threatened by the varying environmental or predation parameters.Major threats to wildlifeMajor threats to wildlife can be categorized as below:[3] : Fewer natural wildlife habitat areas remain each year. Moreover, the habitat that remains has often been degraded to bear little resemblance to the wild areas which existed in the past.Habitat lossdue to destruction, fragmentation or degradation of habitatis the primary threat to the survival of wildlife in the United States.When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activitiessuch as agriculture, oil and gas exploration, commercial development or water diversionit may no longer be able to provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Every day there are fewer places left that wildlife can call home. There are three major kinds of habitat loss: Habitat destruction: A bulldozer pushing down trees is the iconic image of habitat destruction Habitat fragmentation: Much of the remaining terrestrial wildlife habitat in the U.S. has been cut up into fragments by roads and development. Aquatic species habitat has been fragmented by dams and water diversions Habitat degradation:Pollution,invasive speciesand disruption ofecosystemprocesses (such as changing the intensity of fires in an ecosystem) are some of the ways habitats can become so degraded that they no longer support native wildlife. Climate change:Global warmingis making hot days hotter,rainfalland flooding heavier,hurricanesstronger anddroughtsmore severe. This intensification of weather andclimateextremes will be the most visible impact ofglobal warmingin our everyday lives. It is also causing dangerous changes to the landscape of our world, adding stress to wildlife species and their habitat. Since many types ofplantsandanimalshave specific habitat requirements, climate change could cause disastrous loss of wildlife species. A slight drop or rise in average rainfall will translate into large seasonal changes. Unregulated Hunting and poaching: Unregulated hunting andpoachingcauses a major threat to wildlife. Along with this, mismanagement of forest department and forest guards triggers this problem. Pollution: Pollutants released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of organisms.Pesticides and toxic chemical being widely used, making the environment toxic to certain plants, insects, and rodents. Perhaps the largest threat is the extreme growing indifference of the public to wildlife, conservation and environmental issues in general.[6]Over-exploitation of resources, i.e., exploitation of wild populations for food has resulted in population crashes (over-fishing and over-grazing for example). Over exploitation is the over use of wildlife and plant species by people for food, clothing, pets, medicine, sport and many other purposes. People have always depended on wildlife and plants for food, clothing, medicine, shelter and many other needs. But today we are taking more than the natural world can supply. The danger is that if we take too many individuals of a species from their natural environment, the species may no longer be able to survive. The loss of one species can affect many other species in an ecosystem Today, the Endangered Species Act protects some U.S. species that were in danger from over exploitation, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) works to prevent the global trade of wildlife. But there are many species that are not protected from being illegally traded or over-harvested. In order of the sexual lifestyle to continue it is needed to come about with everything that you need especially if a currency of the conservation is initially under consecration and wildliifeWildlife of India

India has the largest wild population oftigersin the world.

The most endangeredIndiantop predator of 2010, thedholeis on edge ofextinction. Less than 2500 members of the species remain in the world.

Snowleopard is an endangered species found along the HimalayasThewildlife in Indiacomprises a mix of species of different types of organisms.[1]Apart from a handful of the major farm animals such as cows, buffaloes, goats, poultry,pigs & sheep, India has an amazingly wide variety of animals native to the country. It is home toTigers,Lions,Leopards,Pythons,Wolves,Foxes,Bears,Crocodiles,Rhinoceroses,Camels,Wild dogs,Monkeys,Snakes,Antelopespecies,Deerspecies, varieties ofbisonand not to mention the mightyAsian elephant. The region's rich and diverse wildlife is preserved in 89 national parks, 18 Bio reserves and 400+ wildlife sanctuaries across the country.India has some of the most biodiverse regions of the world and hosts three of the worlds 34 biodiversity hotspots or treasure-houses that is the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas and Indo- Burma.[2]Since India is home to a number of rare and threatened animal species, wildlife management in the country is essential to preserve these species.[3]According to one study, India along with 17 mega diverse countries is home to about 60-70% of the world's biodiversity.[4]In recent decades, human encroachment has posed a threat to India's wildlife; in response, the system ofnational parksandprotected areas, first established in 1935, was substantially expanded. In 1972, India enacted theWildlife Protection ActandProject Tigerto safeguard crucial habitat; further federal protections were promulgated in the 1980s. Along withover 515 wildlife sanctuaries, India now hosts18 biosphere reserves, four of which are part of theWorld Network of Biosphere Reserves;26 wetlandsare registered under theRamsar Convention.

The endangeredBlack buckat theUndying National Parkwithin theChennaimetropolis

One of the world's rarest monkeys,Gee's Golden Langurtypifies the precarious survival of much of India'smega fauna.India is home to several well-known large mammals, including theAsian Elephant,Bengal Tiger,Asiatic Lion,Leopard,Sloth BearandIndian Rhinoceros. Some other well-known large Indian mammals are: ungulates such as the rareWild Asian Water buffalo, commonDomestic Asian Water buffalo, Gail,Gaur, and several species of deer and antelope. Some members of the dog family, such as theIndian Wolf,Bengal FoxandGolden Jackal, and theDholeor Wild Dogs are also widely distributed. However, thedole,also known asthe whistling hunter,is the most endangered top Indian carnivore, and theHimalayan Wolfis now acritically endangeredspecies endemic toIndia.[citation needed]It is also home to theStriped Hyena,Macaques,LanguorsandMongoosespecies.==Conservation==The need for conservation of wildlife in India is often questioned because of the apparently incorrect priority in the face of direct poverty of the people. However, Article 48 of the Constitution of India specifies that, "The state shall yendeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country" and Article 51-A states that "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures."[11]Large and charismatic mammals are important for wildlife tourism in India, and several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cater to these needs.Project Tiger, started in 1972, is a major effort to conserve thetigerand its habitats.[12]At the turn of the 20th century, one estimate of the tigerpopulationin India placed the figure at 40,000, yet an Indian tiger census conducted in 2008 revealed the existence of only 1,411 tigers. 2010 Tiger census revealed that there are 1700 tigers left in India.[13]The passing of theForest Rights Actby the Indian government in 2008 has been the final nail in the coffin and has pushed the Indian tiger to the verge of extinction. Various pressures in the later part of the 20th century led to the progressive decline ofwildernessresulting in the disturbance of viable tigerhabitats. At theInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) General Assembly meeting inDelhiin 1969, serious concern was voiced about the threat to severalspeciesofwildlifeand the shrinkage of wilderness in India. In 1970, a national ban ontiger huntingwas imposed, and in 1972 theWildlife Protection Actcame into force. The framework was then set up to formulate a project for tiger conservation with anecologicalapproach. However, there is not much optimism about this framework's ability to save the peacock, which is the national bird of India..Recent extinctions

Illustration of aHimalayan QuailfromA. O. Hume's work. Last seen in 1876The exploitation of land and forest resources by humans along with hunting and trapping for food and sport has led to the extinction of many species in India in recent times. These species include mammals such as the Indian/Asiatic Cheetah,Wild Zebu,Javan Rhinoceros, andSumatran Rhinoceros.[14]While some of these large mammal species are confirmed extinct, there have been many smaller animal and plant species whose status is harder to determine. Many species have not been seen since their description.Some species of birds have gone extinct in recent times, including thePink-headed Duck(Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) and theHimalayan Quail(Ophrysia superciliosa). A species of warbler,Acrocephalus orinus, known earlier from a single specimen collected byAllan Octavian Humefrom near Rampur in Himachal Pradesh, was rediscovered after 139 years in Thailand.[15][16]Biosphere reserves[edit]The Indian government has established eighteen Biosphere Reserves of India which protect larger areas of natural habitat and often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life. The Bio-reserves in India are:1. Achanakmar-Amarkantak2. Agasthyamalai3. Dibru Saikhowa4. Dihang Dibang5. Great Nicobar6. Gulf of Mannar7. Kachchh8. Kangchenjunga9. Manas10. Nanda Devi11. The Nilgiris12. Nokrek13. Pachmarhi14. Simlipal15. Sundarbans16. Cold desert17. seshachalam hills18. PannaNine of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of theWorld Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on theUNESCOMan and the Biosphere Programme(MAB) list.[22]1. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve2. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve3. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve4. Nokrek National Park5. Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve6. Simlipal National Park7. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve9. Nicobar Islands

The endangered animals

Royal Bengal Tiger Indian Lion

Indian Leopard Snow LeopardClouded leopard Asian black bear

Indian elephantIndian Rhinoceros

Red PandaIndian Crested Porcupine

Chital Indian Wild Dog(Dhole)

Striped hyena(Hyaena hyaena) Saltwater crocodile

Indian Peacock, India's national bird Brahminy Kite

Brown Fish-owl Indian Cobra

Lion-tailed Macaque Pariah Kite

Ring-necked Parakeet Shikra

Special situations and actsThe Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

An Act to provide for the protection of Wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto.

CitationAct No. 53 of 1972

Enacted byParliament of India

Date enacted9 September 1972

Amendments

Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1982Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1986Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1993Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006

TheWildlife Protection Act, 1972is anIndian legislationenacted by theParliament of Indiafor protection of plants and animal species. Before 1972,Indiaonly had five designatednational parks. Among other reforms, the Act established schedules of protected plant and animal species; hunting or harvesting these species was largely outlawed.The Act provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants; and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole ofIndia, except the State ofJammuandKashmirwhich has its own wildlife act. It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection.Schedule Iand part II ofSchedule IIprovide absolute protection - offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties. Species listed inSchedule IIIandSchedule IVare also protected, but the penalties are much lower.Schedule Vincludes the animals which may be hunted. The plants inSchedule VIare prohibited from cultivation and planting. The hunting to the Enforcement authorities have the power to compound offences under this Schedule (i.e. they impose fines on the offenders). Up to April 2010 there have been 16 convictions under this act relating to the death of tigers Other ActsWildlife Conservation in IndiaWildlife means all the flora and fauna, which are not domesticated by humans. It includes animals, plants and microorganisms.Wildlife tours in Indiais your chance to explore some of the well known tiger reserves and national parks sprinkled across different parts of the country.Wildlife Conservation Efforts in IndiaLast few decades have seen emergence of human encroachment to an extent that has never been seen. This is one of the greatest threat to India's wildlife. In order to overcome the result of human encroachment manynational parksas well as protected areas have been established so far and the first came in 1935. Also in 1972, to protect the tiger andwildlife in India, the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard were enacted.Yes, Plan My Trip!Project TigerNATIONAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROJECTSPROJECT TIGERProject Tiger is a wildlife conservation project initiated in India in 1972 to protect the Bengal Tigers. It was launched on April 1, 1973 and has become one of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted tiger reserves representative of various bio-geographical regions throughout India. In 2007, there were 28 Project Tiger wildlife reserves covering an area of 37,761 km. Project Tiger helped increased the population of these tigers from 1,200 in the 1970s to 3,500 in 1990s.At the turn of the 20th century, one estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 40,000. The first ever all-India tiger census was conducted in 1972 which revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers. In 1970, a national ban on tiger hunting was imposed and in 1972 the Wildlife Protection Act came into force. A task force was then set up to formulate a project for tiger conservation with an ecological approach.The project was launched in 1973, and various tiger reserves were created in the country based on a 'core-buffer' strategy. Management plans were drawn up for each tiger reserve based on the principles outlined below:- Elimination of all forms of human exploitation and biotic disturbance from the core area and rationalization of activities in the buffer zone.- Restricting the habitat management only to repair the damages done to the eco-system by human and other interferences so as to facilitate recovery of the eco-system to its natural state.- Monitoring the faunal and floral changes over time and carrying out research about wildlife. Initially, 9 tiger reserves were established in different States during the period 1973-74, by pooling the resources available with the Central and State Governments. These nine reserves covered an area of about 13,017km -- viz Manas (Assam), Palamau (Bihar), Similipal (Orissa), Corbett (U.P.), Kanha (M.P.), Melghat (Maharashtra), Bandipur (Karnataka), Ranthambhore (Rajasthan) and Sunderbans (West Bengal).The World Wildlife Fund For Nature has given Project Tiger assistance in the form of equipments, expertise and literature worth US $ 1 million. The various States have given up forestry operations in the reserves leading to a loss of revenue. Project Tiger was a pet project of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.

The main achievements of this project are excellent recovery of the habitat and consequent increase in the tiger population in the reserve areas, from a mere 268 in 9 reserves in 1972 to above one thousand in 28 reserves in 2006. Tigers, being at the apex of the food chain, can be considered as the indicator of the stability of the ecosystem. For a viable tiger population, a habitat should possess a good prey base which in turn will depend on an undisturbed forest vegetation. Thus, 'Project Tiger' is basically the conservation of the entire ecosystem and apart from tigers, all other wild animals population have also increased in the project areas. PROJECT ELEPHANTProject Elephant (PE), a centrally sponsored scheme, was launched in February 1992 to provide financial and technical support to major elephant bearing States in the country for protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors. It also seeks to address the issues of human-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants. The Project is being implemented in 13 States / UTs , viz. Andhra Pradesh , Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Jharkhand , Karnataka , Kerala , Meghalaya , Nagaland , Orissa , Tamil Nadu , Uttranchal , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. 25 Elephant Reserves (ERs) extending over about 58,000 sq km have been formally notified by various State Governments till now. The estimated population of wild elephants in 2002 was 26413.Main activities of the Project are as follows:- Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants;- Development of scientific and planned management for conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic elephants in India;- Promotion of measures for mitigation of man elephant conflict in crucial habitats and moderating pressures of human and domestic stock activities in crucial elephant habitats;- Strengthening of measures for protection of Wild elephants form poachers and unnatural causes of death;- Research on Elephant management related issues;- Public education and awareness programmes;- Eco-development- Veterinary care PROJECT HANGULThe Kashmir stag (Cervus affinis hanglu) also called Hangul is a subspecies of Central Asian Red Deer native to northern India. This deer lives in groups of two to 18 individuals in dense riverine forests, high valleys, and mountains of the Kashmir valley and northern Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it's found in Dachigam National Park at elevations of 3,035 meters. These deer once numbered from about 5,000 animals in the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, they were threatened, due to habitat destruction, over-grazing by domestic livestock, and poaching. This dwindled to as low as 150 animals by 1970. However, the state of Jammu & Kashmir, along with the IUCN and the WWF prepared a project for the protection of these animals. It became known as Project Hangul. This brought great results and the population increased to over 340 by 1980. INDIAN CROCODILE CONSERVATION PROJECTThe Indian Crocodile Conservation Project is considered among the more successful of conservation initiatives in the world. The Project has not just produced a large number of crocodiles, but has contributed towards conservation in a number of related fields as well.The broad objectives of activities under crocodile project were as follows :- To protect the remaining population of crocodilians in their natural habitat by creating sanctuaries.- To rebuild natural population quickly through `grow and release' or `rear and release' technique - more than seven thousand crocodiles have been restocked - about 4000 gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), 1800 mugger (Crocodylus palustris) and 1500 salt- water crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)- To promote captive breeding,- To take-up research to improve management.- To build up a level of trained personnel for better continuity of the project through training imparted at project-sites and through the (erstwhile) Central Crocodile Breeding and Management Training Institute, Hyderabad.- To involve the local people in the project intimately The Himalayan Musk Deer Ecology and Conservation Project, Project Lion, the Snow Leopard Project and several Pheasant Projects have also been initiated.

GOI UNDP SEA TURTLE PROJECTWith the objective of conservation of olive ridley turtles and other endangered marine turtles. Ministry of Environment & Forests initiated the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in collaboration of UNDP in November, 1999 with Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun as the Implementing Agency. The project is being implemented in 10 coastal States of the country with special emphasis in State of Orissa. Total financial allocation for the project is Rs.1.29 crores. The project has helped in preparation of inventory map of breeding sites of Sea Turtles, identification of nesting and breeding habitats along the shore line, and migratory routes taken by Sea Turtles, development of guidelines to safeguard and minimize turtle mortality, development of national and international cooperative and collaborative action for Sea Turtle Conservation, developing guideline plans for tourism in sea turtle areas and developing infrastructure and human resources for Sea Turtle Conservation. One of the important achievements have been demonstration of use of Satellite Telemetry to locate the migratory route of Olive Ridley Turtles in the sea and sensitizing the fishermen and State Government for the use of Turtle Exclusion Device (TED) in fishing trawlers to check turtle mortality in fishing net.