Wild world

Wildlife of India

India covers just 2.4 percent of the Earth’s area, but accounts for 7.3 percent of its species of wildlife. Its diverse wilderness areas encompass rainforests, moist and dry deciduous forests, thorn forests, deserts, mangroves, grasslands, and coniferous forests in the Himalayas. The Indian constitution 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.”

Wildlife of India – Wikipedia Excellent article from Wikipedia

The wildlife of India is a mix of species of diverse origins. The region’s rich and diverse wildlife is preserved in numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country. Since India is home to a number of rare and threatened animal species, wildlife management in the country is essential to preserve these species. According to one study, India is home to about 60-70% of the world’s biodiversity.

India WSC

“Jungle”—the Hindi word for wilderness in India—was adopted into the English language, and over time has come to denote lush, tropical forests everywhere. Yet India’s diverse wilderness areas encompass far more. In addition to rainforests, they include moist and dry deciduous forests, thorn forests, deserts, mangroves, grasslands, and coniferous forests in the Himalayas, not to mention a variety of freshwater and marine habitats. India’s diverse landscapes are home to numerous threatened and critically endangered species, including the Asiatic lion, Asian elephant, tiger, white-rumped vulture, Asian one-horned rhinoceros, and water buffalo. Many species of deer, antelopes, wild dogs, cats, and bears also live here. Resident primates include macaques, the hoolock gibbon, slender and slow lorises, and the golden langur—one of the world’s rarest monkeys. Besides mammals, there is a vast and diverse array of reptiles, amphibians, and birds, some of which are still unknown to science.

India has a long conservation history and began setting up national parks and protected areas in 1935. Today the country has more than 600 protected areas, including wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and Ramsar sites—which are wetlands of global significance. Though the country is rapidly urbanizing and modernizing, its culture is rooted in a worldview that considers humans as a part of nature. The large, charismatic mammals that live in close proximity to people are an integral part of their culture.

Official website of: Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests

WWF-India

Online Photo Galleries on Nature and Wildlife of India at “India Nature Watch (INW)” – spreading the love of nature and wildlife in India through photography India Nature Watch, usually referred to as INW is a non-commercial community website that focuses on sharing photographs of Indian wildlife. The site was started in 2005 and currently hosts more than 2,000 members.

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