World Wildlife Conservation Day | 05 Dec 2024
World Wildlife Conservation Day (4th December) serves as a reminder of India’s rich biodiversity and the urgent need for action to protect its critically endangered species.
- History: Originating from a 2012 pledge by the US State Department, the day encourages global action for wildlife preservation and sustainability.
- India's Biodiversity: India, a megadiverse country with only 2.4% of the world's land area, accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species, including 91,000 species of animals.
- India hosts four out of 34 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots, namely the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland.
- Threats to Wildlife: Rapid economic development and population growth in India increase demand for natural resources, conflicting with wildlife habitats.
- Poaching, trafficking, and land cultivation lead to significant man-animal conflicts. Despite the importance of wildlife sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves, they lack fencing and face ongoing challenges.
- While big cats like tigers and lions receive attention, birds like the Great Indian Bustard are often overlooked despite threats.
- As of 2022, India has 73 critically endangered species, up from 47 in 2011, including 9 endemic mammal species.
