IUCN Species in News
Species that have appeared in UPSC-linked current affairs — IUCN status, WPA schedule, habitat, distribution, and exam-ready facts.
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Kashmir Stag (Hangul)
Cervus hanglu hanglu
IUCN: Critically EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Alpine meadows and river valleys
Distribution
Dachigam National Park and surrounding Kashmir Himalaya
Key facts
- State animal of Jammu and Kashmir; endemic to the Kashmir valley.
- Population heavily concentrated in Dachigam National Park.
- Faces habitat fragmentation and disturbance from livestock grazing.
Asiatic Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus venaticus
IUCN: Critically EndangeredExam high-yield
Habitat
Open grasslands and semi-desert plains
Distribution
Extinct in India since 1952; surviving population mainly in Iran
Key facts
- Declared extinct in India in 1952 after the last confirmed records.
- Smaller and lighter built than the African cheetah subspecies.
- Iran holds the last wild Asiatic cheetah population; not part of India's reintroduction plan.
Namdapha Flying Squirrel
Biswamoyopterus biswasi
IUCN: Critically Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Tropical evergreen forest canopy
Distribution
Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh (India endemic)
Key facts
- Nocturnal gliding rodent known only from a handful of specimens.
- Named after Namdapha, the only protected area where it has been recorded.
- Habitat loss in eastern Himalayan forests remains the primary threat.
Malabar Civet
Viverra civettina
IUCN: Critically Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Lowland evergreen and riparian forests of the Western Ghats
Distribution
Western Ghats of Kerala and Karnataka
Key facts
- Elusive nocturnal viverrid; one of the rarest carnivores in India.
- Civetone from its perineal gland is used in perfumery and traditional medicine.
- Habitat conversion to plantations has sharply reduced suitable forest patches.
Great Indian Bustard
Ardeotis nigriceps
IUCN: Critically EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Arid and semi-arid grasslands
Distribution
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Key facts
- Among the heaviest flying birds; endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
- Grassland loss, hunting, and collision with power lines drive decline.
- Supreme Court (2021) directed underground cabling in critical bustard habitats.
Jerdon's Courser
Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
IUCN: Critically Endangered
Habitat
Scrub jungle on lateritic plateaus
Distribution
Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Key facts
- Nocturnal ground bird rediscovered in 1986 after long being thought extinct.
- Restricted to sparse scrub habitats on the Sri Lankamalleswara plateau.
- Not listed under WPA schedules despite its critical status.
Indian Vultures (White-rumped, Indian, Slender-billed, Red-headed)
IUCN: Critically EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Open country, cliffs, and carcass disposal sites near human settlements
Distribution
Indian subcontinent; nine vulture species occur in India
Key facts
- Four of India's nine vulture species are Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- Veterinary NSAIDs like diclofenac cause renal failure in vultures feeding on treated cattle.
- Population collapse since the 1990s triggered national vulture conservation programmes.
Lesser Florican
Sypheotides indicus
IUCN: Critically Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Tall grasslands and monsoon croplands
Distribution
Indian subcontinent; strongholds in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh
Key facts
- Smallest member of the bustard family; males perform spectacular leaping displays.
- Breeds in tall grasslands that are rapidly converted to agriculture.
- Endemic breeder to the Indian subcontinent with highly seasonal movements.
Gharial
Gavialis gangeticus
IUCN: Critically EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Deep, fast-flowing freshwater rivers with sandbanks
Distribution
Chambal, Girwa, and Rapti-Narayani systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh
Key facts
- Fish-eating crocodilian with a distinctive elongated snout; nests on sandy riverbanks.
- Functions as an indicator of clean, free-flowing river ecosystems.
- Intensive captive breeding and river sanctuaries support wild reintroduction efforts.
Northern River Terrapin
Batagur baska
IUCN: Critically Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Estuaries and tidal rivers with mangrove edges
Distribution
Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia
Key facts
- One of Asia's largest freshwater turtles; omnivorous diet shifts with age.
- Sundarbans region holds important remnant populations for India.
- Egg collection and habitat degradation pushed the species to the brink of extinction.
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical forests, grasslands, and scrub
Distribution
India holds roughly 60% of the global wild Asian elephant population
Key facts
- Matriarchal herds with a gestation period of about 20–22 months.
- Only some adult males develop prominent tusks compared to African elephants.
- Human–elephant conflict and habitat corridors are major conservation challenges.
Tiger
Panthera tigris
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Forests, grasslands, and mangroves across diverse biogeographic zones
Distribution
India hosts the largest tiger population among 13 range countries
Key facts
- Each individual has a unique stripe pattern used for camera-trap identification.
- Project Tiger (1973) established a network of dedicated tiger reserves.
- India's tiger census uses a double-sampling approach combining camera traps and sign surveys.
Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiritragus hylocrius
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Montane grasslands (sholas) of the Western and Eastern Ghats
Distribution
Nilgiri Hills and adjoining ranges; Eravikulam NP holds the largest population
Key facts
- Diurnal ungulate endemic to the southern Western Ghats hill chain.
- Covered under the Species Recovery Programme for targeted population monitoring.
- Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is the species' population stronghold.
Western Hoolock Gibbon
Hoolock hoolock
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests
Distribution
Northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar
Key facts
- India's only ape species; brachiating locomotion through forest canopy.
- Monogamous pairs produce loud territorial calls at dawn.
- Forest fragmentation in Assam and Meghalaya is the primary threat.
Sangai Deer
Rucervus eldii eldii
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Floating phumdi wetlands of Loktak Lake
Distribution
Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur (endemic subspecies)
Key facts
- Also called brow-antlered or dancing deer for its delicate gait on floating vegetation.
- Keibul Lamjao is the world's only floating national park.
- State symbol of Manipur; habitat degradation of phumdi threatens survival.
Indian Pangolin
Manis crassicaudata
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Tropical forests, scrubland, and agricultural edges
Distribution
Most of India except Northeast, Thar Desert, and trans-Himalaya
Key facts
- Nocturnal burrowing mammal with keratin scales and a long sticky tongue.
- Natural pest controller feeding on ants and termites.
- Most trafficked mammal globally; scales fetch high prices in illegal wildlife trade.
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Cool temperate bamboo forests at 2,200–4,800 m elevation
Distribution
Eastern Himalaya — India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and China
Key facts
- Arboreal bamboo specialist despite its carnivore classification.
- Included in the Species Recovery Programme with ex-situ breeding support.
- Singalila and Neora Valley landscapes are key Indian strongholds.
Asiatic Lion
Panthera leo leo
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Dry deciduous Gir forest and adjoining agro-pastoral landscapes
Distribution
Gir National Park and surrounding areas, Gujarat (only wild population)
Key facts
- Single wild population globally; no fixed breeding season unlike many mammals.
- Mane is sparser than African lions; historically ranged from Greece to eastern India.
- Translocation to Kuno National Park aims to reduce catastrophic disease risk in Gir.
Indian Skimmer
Rynchops albicollis
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Large rivers and coastal estuaries with sandbars
Distribution
Ganga-Brahmaputra basin and coastal estuaries of western and eastern India
Key facts
- Lower mandible longer than upper, enabling skimming feeding on water surface.
- Breeds on exposed sandbars vulnerable to flooding and human disturbance.
- Chambal and Mahanadi river systems hold important breeding colonies.
Greater Adjutant Stork
Leptoptilos dubius
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Wetlands, garbage dumps, and tall nesting trees near human settlements
Distribution
Assam's Brahmaputra valley is India's main breeding area
Key facts
- Large scavenging stork that nests high in village trees near wetlands.
- Global population under 1,500 mature individuals; Assam hosts a major share.
- Community conservation at Dadara (Assam) helped stabilise nesting colonies.
Gangetic Dolphin
Platanista gangetica
IUCN: EndangeredExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Deep pools and braided channels of large Himalayan rivers
Distribution
Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh
Key facts
- Functionally blind river dolphin navigating by echolocation — called 'Tiger of the River'.
- National Aquatic Animal of India; indicator of river health and flow regime.
- Dam construction, pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear threaten populations.
Red Sanders
Pterocarpus santalinus
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule II
Habitat
Tropical dry deciduous forest tracts of the Eastern Ghats
Distribution
Endemic to specific forest patches in Andhra Pradesh
Key facts
- Prized red timber used in musical instruments and traditional crafts.
- Export restricted and import prohibited under CITES and Indian trade rules.
- Illegal felling and smuggling remain persistent enforcement challenges.
Golden Langur
Trachypithecus geei
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forests
Distribution
Assam and Bhutan (restricted range along the Indo-Bhutan border)
Key facts
- Old World monkey with distinctive golden coat; discovered scientifically in the 1950s.
- Found only in a narrow belt of forests in western Assam and Bhutan.
- Habitat loss from encroachment and road projects fragments remaining groups.
African Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
IUCN: VulnerableExam high-yield
Habitat
Open savannas and grasslands
Distribution
Reintroduced at Kuno NP and Gandhi Sagar WLS, Madhya Pradesh (from Africa/Namibia)
Key facts
- India's cheetah reintroduction uses African cheetahs, larger than the extinct Asiatic form.
- Cheetahs do not roar — they chirp, purr, and yelp unlike other big cats.
- Project Cheetah aims to restore apex predator function in Indian grasslands.
Black Panther
Panthera pardus (melanistic)
IUCN: Vulnerable
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests
Distribution
Western Ghats, Northeast, Central India, and South India
Key facts
- Not a separate species — melanistic colour morph of the leopard.
- Melanism is more common in humid forest habitats of the Western Ghats.
- Kabini and Bhadra landscapes are famous for black leopard sightings.
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
IUCN: Vulnerable
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Wetlands, mangroves, and marshy river edges
Distribution
Sundarbans, Chilika Lake region, and Gangetic floodplains
Key facts
- Strong swimmer that dives to catch fish; also scavenges larger carcasses.
- Nocturnal wetland specialist threatened by mangrove and marsh reclamation.
- Partially webbed feet distinguish it from other small cats.
Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis
IUCN: Vulnerable
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests
Distribution
Western Ghats, Himalayas, and Northeast India
Key facts
- Called 'forest engineer' for dispersing large seeds of tall rainforest trees.
- Casque on bill is cultural symbol of the Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Requires large contiguous forest patches for nesting in hollow tree cavities.
Dugong
Dugong dugon
IUCN: Vulnerable
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Shallow coastal waters with seagrass meadows
Distribution
Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Key facts
- Only strictly marine herbivorous mammal in India; nicknamed 'sea cow'.
- Palk Bay hosts India's first Dugong Conservation Reserve (Tamil Nadu).
- Entanglement in fishing nets and seagrass loss are primary threats.
Snow Leopard
Panthera uncia
IUCN: VulnerableExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
High-altitude alpine and subalpine zones above 3,000 m
Distribution
Himalaya and trans-Himalaya of Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal
Key facts
- Nicknamed 'Ghost of the Mountains' for its elusive, solitary nature.
- GSLEP initiative coordinates range-country conservation across Central and South Asia.
- Hemis NP (Ladakh) is a flagship protected area for snow leopard tourism and research.
Mithun
Bos frontalis
IUCN: Vulnerable
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Hill forests and jhum fallows of Northeast India
Distribution
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and adjoining areas
Key facts
- Semi-domesticated bovine central to tribal economy and cultural identity.
- Recognised as a food animal by FSSAI for regulated meat processing.
- Free-ranging forest grazing system makes conservation and disease control complex.
Loggerhead Turtle
Caretta caretta
IUCN: Vulnerable
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Subtropical and temperate coastal waters; nests on sandy beaches
Distribution
Occasional visitor to Indian coastal waters; global subtropical distribution
Key facts
- Largest hard-shelled sea turtle species globally.
- Uses Earth's geomagnetic field for long-distance ocean navigation.
- Bycatch in fisheries and coastal development threaten nesting populations.
Olive Ridley Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea
IUCN: VulnerableExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Warm tropical and subtropical seas; mass nesting on sandy beaches
Distribution
Odisha coast — Gahirmatha and Rushikulya are key rookeries
Key facts
- Famous for arribada — synchronised mass nesting of thousands of females.
- Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary hosts one of the world's largest rookeries.
- Mechanised fishing and beach erosion near nesting sites remain major threats.
One-Horned Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros unicornis
IUCN: VulnerableExam high-yield
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule I
Habitat
Alluvial grasslands and riverine forests
Distribution
Assam (Kaziranga, Orang, Pobitora), UP, and West Bengal
Key facts
- Assam holds the largest global population of the greater one-horned rhino.
- Successful anti-poaching and habitat expansion raised numbers from near extinction.
- Also found in Nepal and Bhutan; Kaziranga hosts about two-thirds of world population.
Amur Falcon
Falco amurensis
IUCN: Least Concern
Wildlife (Protection) Act schedule
Schedule IV
Habitat
Open woodlands and grasslands during migration stopovers
Distribution
Breeds in East Asia; migrates through Nagaland and Manipur to southern Africa
Key facts
- Nagaland's Doyang Reservoir stopover earned the state the tag 'Falcon Capital of the World'.
- Undertakes one of the longest raptor migrations — roughly 22,000 km round trip.
- Community-led hunting ban in Pangti village transformed it into a conservation success story.
Mosquitofish
Gambusia affinis
IUCN: Least Concern
Habitat
Freshwater ponds, ditches, and slow-moving streams
Distribution
Native to USA; introduced widely in India for mosquito control
Key facts
- Small live-bearing fish stocked to eat mosquito larvae in stagnant water bodies.
- IUCN lists it among invasive alien species outside its native range.
- Outcompetes native fish and disrupts aquatic food webs where introduced.
Baobab Tree
Adansonia spp.
IUCN: Near Threatened
Habitat
Dry deciduous zones; drought-adapted savanna trees
Distribution
Mandu (Madhya Pradesh) and scattered sites; native to Africa and Madagascar
Key facts
- Called 'Tree of Life' for storing water in its trunk during prolonged droughts.
- Indian baobabs at Mandu were historically preserved by the Bhil community.
- Grandidier's baobab is Endangered; most other species are Near Threatened or Least Concern.