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ndangered species is the second most severe conservation status for wildlife in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data Book, after critically endangered. Any wildlife species is classified as endangered if any of the following criteria is met i.e. population size less than 250 mature members; reduction in population at the rate of 70% in the last 10 years; probability of extinction in wild is 20% in the next 20 years; facing high risk of extinction in the wild.
Species are considered as the building blocks of biodiversity. However, due to unprecedented proportions of threat because of urbanisation, pollution and other authropogenic interventions, the biodiversity is shrinking.
Today, due to extinction of species, the biodiversity of world is threatened. Around the world there are 35 hotspots which support 43% birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians as endemic. India is home to three such hotspots—Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma and Western ghats. These areas also supports myriad wildlife population. However, many of these wildlives are threatened due to trespassing by man.
IUNC has compiled a list called 'Red Data Book'. 'Red' is symbolic of the danger that these species presently experience. IUCN has defined various categories or level at which different species are ranked in the list. The classification is extinct, extinct in wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern.
IUNC classifies the species under various categories by assessing them under following definitions
Extinct species are the species whose last member has died, therefore leaving no surviving individual to reproduce.
Critically endangered is the highest risk category assigned for wild species. It means that the species number have decreased or will decrease by 80% within three generations.
Endangered species is the population of organisms which are at a risk of becoming extinct because either they are very few in number or are threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters.
Vulnerable species are the species which are likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve.
Extinct in the wild are the species known only by living member kept in captivity or as a naturalised population outside its historic range due to massive habitat loss.
Near threatened species are species that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future.
Least concern species are the ones which are evaluated by not qualify for any other category to bring attention to them.
Data deficient species are the species which indicate that there is inadequate information to make a direct or indirect, assessment of taxons' risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status.
According to IUCN Red Data List, there are 76 extinct, 2 extinct in the wild, 188 critically endangered, 448 endangered, 505 vulnerable, 323 near threatened, 3109 least concern and 836 data deficient species. In India statistics of few important species are Royal Bengal Tiger (Project tiger): Population 2226; Gangetic River Dolphin : Population 1200-1800 Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary Asian Elephant : Population 40000-50000 Project Elephant; Snow Leopard : Population 4080-6590 Project Snow Leopard.
In India, some critically endangered species are Sumatran Rhino, Kashmir Stag, Pygmy hog etc. Under the endangered category are Lion tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Great Indian one horn Rhinoceros etc. Some vulnerable animals are Black Buck, Gaur, Red Panda etc.
The causes of extinction of species can be analysed by two methods. Firstly, cause and effect, where due to extraneous reasons it happens e.g. ice age, anthropogenic causes, forest fires etc. Secondly, the extinction may be caused due to some random events viz food shortage, increase in number of predators, extreme weather events etc.
To conserve wildlife and protect endangered species, India adopted the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This act basically prohibited trade in rare ▪ and endangered species. Government at a central level assisted the State Government to strengthen their managerial and protectional infrastructure, protection of wildlife, control on poaching and illegal trade, captive 41006 • breeding programmes, wildlife education and interpretation, development of zoos, conservation of Rhinos in Assam and protection of Tiger, Elephant etc. The Act was amended in 2002 for making even more effective provisions for the endangered plants and animals. The Indian Board of Wildlife was also reconstituted to oversee and guide the implementation of various schemes.
The Government of India runs various projects like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Hangul, Indian Crocodile Conservation Project, Protected Area Network, Action Plan for Vulture Conservation in India and many more.