List of Extinct Animals of India -- Environmental Changes
Extinction of a particular animal or
plant species occurs when there are no more individuals of that species
alive anywhere in the world, or the species has died out, and endangered
species on the other hand, are animals and plants considered to be in danger of
extinction. A species may be listed as endangered at the state, federal, and
international levels. The endangered species list is managed nationally under
the Endangered Species Act.
What are endangered
species?
The Endangered Species Act includes lists of globally and
nationally protected species of flora and fauna. When the ESA protects a
species, it is considered a "listed" species. Many other species are
being evaluated for possible ESA protection and are referred to as “candidate”
species. The Endangered Species Act is important because it prevents our native
fish, plants, and wildlife from extinction. Once gone, they are gone forever,
and there is no way back. The loss of a single species can have disastrous
effects on the rest of the ecosystem, as these effects will be felt throughout
the food chain. From providing cures for deadly diseases to maintaining natural
ecosystems and improving the overall quality of life, the benefits of
conserving endangered species are priceless, including the critically
endangered ones.
An example of a critically endangered species is the
Malabar large-spotted civet.
How to protect species?
When a species is listed as "threatened" or
"endangered," that species receives special protection from the
federal government. Animals are protected from "grabbing" and
trading. A listed tree is protected if it is on federal property or if federal
actions are involved, such as issuing a federal permit on private
land.
The term "take" is used in the Endangered
Species Act to include "to harass, injure, pursue, chase, shoot, injure,
kill, confine, capture or collect, or attempt to perform such acts." The law
also protects against interference with vital reproductive and behavioral
activities or the degradation of critical habitat.
The main purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to make
populations of species healthy and viable so that they can be removed from the
Endangered Species Act. Under the Endangered Species Act, the United States
Fish & Wildlife Service oversees listing and protecting all species of
terrestrial animals, plants, and freshwater fish. NOAA's National Marine
Fisheries Service monitors marine fish and wildlife. Both organizations
actively invest time and resources to help bring endangered or threatened
species back to the brink of extinction.
What are the
laws governing wildlife in India?
Animals rights are enshrined under the Indian
Constitution, and even wildlife protection is mentioned under Section 51A(g);
citizens have a fundamental duty to protect wildlife and have compassion for
living things. In addition, Article 48A states that the state also must
protect, secure, and work to improve forests and wildlife in the country. The
topic of protection of wild animals and birds is included in the concurrent
list of the Constitution, which is Schedule VII, and Schedule III. This shows
that the Union and the state government have the right to dominate the subject.
Over the past two decades, several species have been
driven to extinction, largely through human intervention. Sometimes this
interference is direct, poaching for big game titles or animal tusks. And
sometimes, it's indirect, including disrupted land development and climate
change. However, we can do things to reduce extinction rates, such as
designating an area as a wildlife refuge or a species as "protected"
or even creating a wildlife-friendly space.
List of Extinct
animals in India
Slippery handfish
The red handfish, a close relative of the now extinct catfish, was abundant in the waters around Australia just 200 years ago. Named for its uncanny resemblance to human arms and hands, the catfish - declared extinct in 2020 - also has a mohawk-like spike on its head (much like humans). Its cousins are shown here.) Currently, there is only one known preserved specimen of the extinct catfish worldwide.
Northern white rhino
Causes of Extinction: Poaching has decimated this
population, and habitat loss has pushed the rhinoceros to
extinction.
Spix's macaw's
Spix's Macaw currently exists in captivity, with numbers
ranging from a frighteningly low 60 to 80. This bird is also known as the
"Little Blue Macaw" because It is known for its brilliant blue
plumage.
Cause of Extinction: Spix's Macaw is extinct in the wild
due to habitat destruction, trapping, and illegal trade.
Golden Toad
The golden toad isn't the only species that have gone extinct over the past 40 years; the small toad was last sighted in 1989 in a rainforest in Costa Rica before being declared extinct in 1994. The deadly skin disease chytridiomycosis is thought to have wiped out the already established toad population. This vulnerability is due to what science calls "limited habitats and small populations."
Causes of Extinction: Pollution, global warming, and
chytrid skin infections have led to the extinction of this species.
The Indian Auroch
These magnificent creatures were bigger, stronger
variations of regular cattle. They supposedly looked exactly like the existing
Gaur, though slightly larger, and were very identical to them. Even though they
were finally put to domestic use, auroch hunting continued.
Cause of extinction- Hunting, Habitat Loss, and
crossbreeding.
Pink-headed duck
The pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa Caryophyllaceae), a huge
diving duck, was once common in the riverine marshes of Myanmar, Bangladesh,
and the Gangetic plains of India, but it has been thought to be extinct since
the 1950s. This huge duck, already a rare animal discovered near the Ganges,
hasn't been seen in 80 years.
Cause of extinction- hunting and habitat loss.
Himalayan quail
This bird has been listed as possibly extinct since the
last verifiable report of it was made in Mussoorie in 1867. The Uttarakhand
region used to be home to this medium-sized bird.
Cause of extinction- human hunting activities.
Indian Javan Rhinoceros
The Javan Rhino, once one of the most common rhinoceros
species, is now one of the world's most endangered species. They are currently
extinct in India. They once flourished throughout south-east Asia, including
the Assam and Bengal areas, but today the only population is found in Java's
Ujong Kulon National Park.
Cause of extinction- Stealing their horns.
What are the
criteria for "Endangered species"?
·
The
population size has decreased significantly.
·
The
high percentage in recent years steady decline.
·
The
geographical area is rapidly shrinking.
What is
Extinction Rate in India?
The extinction rate of animals today is between 1,000 and
10,000 times higher than the natural rate of extinction, which is the rate of
extinction without human encroachment and activity.
What makes a
species extinct?
When there are very few animals left in the range where
they can safely interbreed with other animals and raise young, and there is no
habitat containing large numbers of these same animals, their species can have
the ability to be extinct due to
Over-hunting or over-exploiting
This is the fate of most large animals, slow animals, and
delicious animals when humans migrate to a previously uninhabited area. History
abounds with stories of animals going extinct as a result of hunting and the
consequent death of predators, if not from direct hunting, and subsequently
starvation because they no longer have a food source. And it's a long story
about wildlife decline leading to extinction and often their extinction. An
extinct species, the Passenger Pigeon, is a prime example of how humans
over-hunted one species, causing the entire species to become extinct.
A recent study found that the reason for the mass extinction of large mammals such as mammoths, mastodons, and camels in the Americas between 13,300 and 15,000 years ago was due to humans today. hunted them until they became extinct. This is the cause of some of the most endangered species today, such as elephants for their tusks and rhinos for their horns. The horn is sold at exorbitant prices as a cure for everything from hangovers to cancer
.
A rhinoceros resting
The population of black rhinos was 65,000 in 1970,
but a strange phenomenon occurred. Rising oil prices due to the OPEC oil
embargo have made many formerly impoverished Yemenis very rich. Ceremonial
daggers were issued to young Yemeni men as a rite of passage, and the most
prized was made of black rhino horn, causing prices to skyrocket and black
rhino numbers to drop.
Loss of habitat
This is one of the main causes of the drastic decline of
species in the animal and plant worlds. Many species in our world today are
threatened with extinction due to the loss of their primary habitat.
Deforestation, the spread of agriculture, water extraction, mining, and human
migration have destroyed the only habitat in which the species can survive or
pushed the species into a severely fragmented habitat. , which usually only
means a slower extinction of the species.
Highly specialized species
Rarity has its problems. Highly specialized species with
specific habitat needs do not perform well in changing environments, such as
climate change or habitat loss. A few or very few local populations only have
problems due to a lack of suitable mates, and inbreeding causes many other
problems. The higher the degree of inbreeding, the more than doubled the dose
of the defective gene passed on, often resulting in sterility and premature
death.
Pollution
The amphibian decline is one of the clearest measures of
our biosphere's decline due to pollution. In Minnesota, many amphibians have
extra legs or lack limbs due to birth defects caused by exposure to chemicals
sprayed into the water to kill mosquitoes. Although biologists have been
unable to pinpoint a single cause of the recent rapid population decline and
the extinction of many species, it appears to be largely due to
pollution.
For example, the peregrine falcon was nearly extinct in
Canada when DDT was widely used before being banned.
Introducing and competing for new
species
Invasive species are the main cause of loss of plant and
animal diversity. It can take over when a new species arrives with no natural
enemies in control.
What are the
benefits of conserving endangered species?
A well-balanced ecosystem maintains the health of the
environment. This ensures that people have access to clean air, water, and
fertile soil for agriculture. Clean air and water improve our quality of
life, and fertile soil for agriculture ensures that we can produce enough food
for our consumption. A balanced ecosystem also provides us with plants with
healing properties. So when the ecosystem is not maintained, our health
can also suffer. That's why when you contribute to efforts to conserve
endangered species, you also contribute to human life.
How to
contribute to the conservation of endangered species?
Governments, nonprofits, international organizations,
local communities, and individuals work together to help grow populations of
endangered species. They also rely on awareness campaigns to engage more people
in important conservation work. we can make an impact by learning and raising
awareness about endangered species in your area and around the world. A
sustainable way to do this is to volunteer and partner with governments and
organizations on existing marine or wildlife conservation projects.
Cheetah
Re-Introduction
The Supreme Court approved the return of cheetahs to
India in January 2020. Since then, wildlife enthusiasts have eagerly awaited to
see cheetahs in the wild in India. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the
process, especially due to the emergence of the Omicron variant in South
Africa, where some cheetahs have had to relocate. However, the situation is
improving and the process has accelerated again.
An Indian delegation visited Namibia in February 2022 to
discuss transit logistics with the Namibian government. Namibia will donate
three cheetahs to move to India and become the first country from which jaguars
will be moved to the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The
cheetah, scientifically known as Acinonyx yangatus, is one of the oldest
species of the big cat. It is also the fastest land mammal in the world and can
run at speeds of 80 to 128 km/h. They are considered to be native to Africa and
central Iran.
Cheetahs are found in various habitats, such as steppe
grasslands in the Serengeti (Kenya-Tanzania, Africa), arid mountain ranges in
the Sahara, and mountainous desert terrain in Iran. The cheetah is threatened by
several factors, such as habitat loss, conflict with humans, poaching, and high
susceptibility to disease. In 2016, the global cheetah population was estimated
at 7,100 adults.
Historically distributed over most sub-Saharan Africa and
extending eastward into the Middle East and central India, cheetahs are now
mainly distributed in small populations dispersed in central Europe. Africa,
Iran, and southern, eastern, and northwestern Africa.
Image: Special Plane to transport the 8 cheetahs to india
What is the action plan for the cheetah
reintroduction in india?
Under the action plan, the Indian government will bring
in 50 cheetahs over the next five years to form a founding population of the
species. In addition, the previous coverage states of the cheetah i.e. Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, will be accurately analyzed by
experts. Under the plan, India will move about 12 to 14 cheetahs from South
Africa, Namibia, and Botswana to Kuno Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Kuno National Park was chosen for its suitable habitat and adequate prey base.
KNP is 748 km2. In the area, there are no human settlements, and it is
estimated to have the potential to support 21 species of cheetahs. Each
cheetah will also be fitted with a Satellite/GSM-GPS-VHF radio collar before
releasing them into the wild to enable remote tracking. It could be the world's
first transcontinental leopard transfer project.
What are the
expected benefits of reintroducing cheetahs?
1. Suitable Living Conditions: Cheetahs have lived and thrived in the
Indian subcontinent for centuries, so bringing them back is a practical step.
In addition, the proposed site Kuno is a forest, and leopards are known to be
able to survive in the forest. Jaguars are pretty good at navigating thorny
shrubs and acacias in places like Kenya's Maasai Mara Game Reserve (adjacent to
Tanzania's Serengeti National Park).
2. Enough prey: Kuno National Park has good prey for
cheetahs, including four-horned antelope, chinkara, nilgai, wild boar, spotted
deer, and sambar. Stabilize the ecosystem: Saving the cheetah requires not only
saving its prey, including several endangered species but also endangered
grasslands and woodland ecosystems. other strains.
3. Less likelihood of human-animal
conflict: It
has also been observed that among large carnivores, conflict with human
interests is lowest for cheetahs. They pose no threat to humans and do not
easily attack large herds.
4. Economic implications: The rebirth of an iconic species such as
the cheetah will attract significant tourism to the states of the cheetah
range. This will boost other sectors like transportation, hotels, etc., and
create more jobs. What are the challenges associated with reintroducing
cheetahs? Genetic differences: Many experts expressed concern about the
inclusion of the African cheetah instead of the Asian cheetah. They think the
Asian cheetah would be a better choice, given the species' historical existence
in the region.
Conclusion
Extinction is hard to see. We may not realize how much of
the natural world has been lost because the "baseline" changes from
generation to generation. Previous generations would consider what we consider
natural today to be horribly corrupt, and what we consider perverse today, our
children will regard as natural.
Here are some things we can do to protect
endangered species and prevent their extinction:
·
Eat
less meat. Soybean production is one of the main causes of deforestation, and
most soybean meal is used as animal feed.
·
Buy
organic food because organic farmers only use natural or non-synthetic pesticides
on their crops.
·
Synthetic
pesticides can be toxic to other organisms.
·
Choose
sustainable seafood The Marine Stewardship Council provides a list of certified
sustainable fish for responsible eating.
·
Do
not purchase products from endangered or threatened species, such as turtle
shells, ivory, coral, certain animal skins, or "traditional"
medicines.
·
Be
aware of the origins of palm oil used in countless food and cosmetic products.
·
Many
tropical forests are being cleared to grow palm oil. If a product contains palm
oil, make sure it comes from non-deforested plantations.
·
Reduce
your plastic consumption. If you have a garden, plant native shrubs and flowers
that attract butterflies and other pollinators.
·
Cheetah
reintroduction is viable in India, considering the species that used to exist
within the area for centuries. However, the related worries ought to be duly
addressed to ensure their long-term survivability.
Comments
Post a Comment