Beyond the Roar: India's Diverse Conservation Tapestry

Exploring targeted initiatives safeguarding India's threatened species and vital ecosystems, beyond the well-known flagship projects.

Unveiling Broader Conservation Efforts

While Project Tiger and Project Elephant are monumental, India's commitment to biodiversity extends to a multitude of other species and ecosystems. This digital explorer delves into these crucial, often unsung, conservation stories.

Snow Leopard Conservation

Panthera uncia - Ghost of the Mountains

Vulnerable

Habitat: High-altitude Himalayas & Trans-Himalayas (Ladakh, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh).

Threats

Poaching (fur, bones)

Retaliatory killings (livestock depredation)

Habitat degradation, prey decline

Climate change impacts

Key Initiatives

Project Snow Leopard (2009): Landscape-level, participatory.

SECURE Himalaya Project: Livelihoods, conservation, habitat restoration.

Protected Area strengthening (Hemis NP, Great Himalayan NP).

Community-based programs (ecotourism, insurance).

Research & transboundary cooperation (GSLEP signatory).

WLPA Schedule I

Vulture Conservation

Gyps species - Nature's Cleanup Crew

Critically Endangered

Crisis: >95-99% decline since 1990s (White-rumped, Indian, Slender-billed).

Primary Cause: Diclofenac (NSAID) in livestock carcasses leading to kidney failure.

Ecological Impact of Decline

Reduced carcass disposal, disease spread.

Increased feral dogs, higher rabies risk.

Key Initiatives

Ban on Veterinary Diclofenac (2006): Most critical step.

Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (APVC 2020-2025).

Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres (VCBCs by BNHS).

Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs).

Monitoring, awareness, testing alternative NSAIDs.

WLPA Schedule I

Indian Rhino Vision 2020

Rhinoceros unicornis - Assam's Pride

Vulnerable (Upgraded)

Objective (Now Concluded): Increase Assam's rhino population to 3,000 in at least 7 PAs by 2020.

Strategy & Partners

Translocation from Kaziranga, Pobitora to Manas, Laokhowa etc.

Partners: Assam FD, WWF-India, IRF, USFWS.

Outcomes & Lessons

Success in Manas, increased overall numbers.

Valuable lessons for large mammal translocation. New strategies post-2020.

WLPA Schedule I

Sangai Conservation

Rucervus eldii eldii - Manipur's Dancing Deer

Critically Endangered

Habitat: Endemic to floating phumdis of Keibul Lamjao NP, Loktak Lake.

Threats

Habitat degradation (phumdis, pollution).

Poaching, disease, inbreeding.

Key Initiatives

KLNP protection & phumdi management.

Captive breeding program.

Seeking second suitable habitat.

WLPA Schedule I, State Animal of Manipur

Dugong (Sea Cow) Conservation

Dugong dugon - Gentle Marine Herbivore

Vulnerable

Habitat: Shallow coastal waters with seagrass beds (Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Kutch, A&N Islands).

Threats

Seagrass habitat loss (development, pollution, trawling).

Accidental entanglement in nets, poaching.

Key Initiatives

Identification & protection of critical habitats.

Awareness for fishing communities.

India's first Dugong Conservation Reserve (Palk Bay, TN).

WLPA Schedule I

Marine Turtle Conservation

Ancient Mariners of Indian Coasts

Species: Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback.

All legally protected.

Threats

Nesting site degradation, artificial lighting.

Incidental capture in nets, egg poaching, pollution.

Key Initiatives

Protection of mass nesting sites (arribadas in Odisha).

Mandatory Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).

Hatchery programs, community nest protection.

Satellite telemetry, National Marine Turtle Action Plan.

WLPA Schedule I

Gangetic River Dolphin

Platanista gangetica gangetica - National Aquatic Animal

Endangered

Habitat: Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems. Indicator of river health.

Threats

Habitat degradation (dams, barrages), pollution.

Accidental entanglement, poaching for oil, vessel noise.

Key Initiatives

Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (Bihar).

Project Dolphin (2020): River and oceanic dolphins.

Surveys, monitoring, awareness programs.

WLPA Schedule I

Red Panda Conservation

Ailurus fulgens - Arboreal Himalayan Gem

Endangered

Habitat: Temperate broadleaf/coniferous forests with bamboo (Eastern Himalayas).

Threats

Habitat loss/fragmentation, poaching, feral dog predation.

Key Initiatives

Protection in PAs (Khangchendzonga, Singalila NPs).

Community-based conservation, research, captive breeding.

WLPA Schedule I

Hangul (Kashmir Stag)

Cervus hanglu hanglu - Pride of Kashmir

Critically Endangered

Habitat: Dachigam NP its primary stronghold; dense riverine forests.

Threats

Habitat fragmentation, poaching, livestock grazing, low genetic diversity.

Key Initiatives

Protection in Dachigam NP, captive breeding, habitat improvement.

WLPA Schedule I, State animal of J&K

Lion-tailed Macaque

Macaca silenus - Endemic to Western Ghats Rainforests

Endangered

Habitat: Highly arboreal in tropical wet evergreen forests.

Threats

Habitat loss/fragmentation (plantations, dams, roads), hunting.

Key Initiatives

Protection in PAs (Silent Valley NP, Kalakkad Mundanthurai TR).

Corridor conservation, awareness programs.

WLPA Schedule I

Agrobiodiversity Conservation

Seed Villages & Community Seed Banks

Crucial for conserving crop genetic diversity and local landraces.

Seed Village:

Farmers trained in quality seed production of local varieties.

Community Seed Banks:

Local collection, storage, exchange, and multiplication of traditional seeds.

Supported by PPV&FRA and NGOs.

Preserving agricultural heritage

Traditional Water Body Rejuvenation

Reviving Ancient Wisdom for Water Security

Efforts to revive Johads, Talabs, Stepwells etc., often with community participation.

Benefits

Groundwater recharge.

Water for communities and wildlife.

Restoration of aquatic/riparian biodiversity.

Ecological and community resilience

Case Study: Indian Rhino Vision 2020 - A Timeline

Objective Set (Early 2000s)

To increase Assam's rhino population to at least 3,000 individuals across minimum seven Protected Areas by 2020, reducing risk from concentration in Kaziranga NP.

Strategy: Translocation & Partnership

Involved translocating rhinos from source populations (Kaziranga, Pobitora) to new PAs like Manas NP, Laokhowa-Burachapori WLS. Key partners included Assam Forest Dept, WWF-India, IRF, USFWS.

Implementation Phase (2008-2020)

Active translocations, habitat assessments, community engagement, and intensive monitoring efforts were undertaken.

Outcomes & Conclusion (By 2020)

Significant success in establishing new populations (notably in Manas NP) and increasing overall numbers. While not all targets were fully met by 2020, the program provided invaluable lessons for large mammal translocation and landscape conservation. Rhinoceros unicornis status upgraded to Vulnerable.

Post-IRV 2020: Future Strategies

Learnings from IRV 2020 are informing new strategies for rhino conservation in India, focusing on continued population growth, habitat management, and human-rhino coexistence.

Cross-Cutting Themes in Initiatives

Scientific Approach

Emphasis on research, monitoring, and use of technology (camera traps, GIS, DNA analysis).

Habitat Focus

Core strategy involves habitat protection, restoration, and corridor connectivity.

Community Engagement

Involving local communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods for long-term success.

Capacity Building

Training frontline staff and stakeholders to enhance conservation effectiveness.

Cooperation

Inter-agency and international collaboration, especially for transboundary species.

Legal Protection

Most species covered under Schedule I of WLPA, 1972, offering highest legal protection.

UPSC Exam Relevance & Insights

Prelims Focus Areas

  • Specific project names (Project Snow Leopard, Project Dolphin, IRV 2020) and target species.
  • IUCN status and WLPA schedule of key threatened species.
  • Geographical locations of habitats/PAs associated with these species.
  • Unique characteristics/facts about species (e.g., Sangai's phumdi habitat, Dugong's diet).
  • Objectives of programs like MIKE (though not detailed here, it's a PYQ type).
  • Key organizations involved (e.g., BNHS for Vultures).

Mains (GS Paper III - Environment) Perspectives

  • Analysis of species-specific conservation programs: objectives, strategies, achievements, challenges.
  • Critical evaluation of efforts for critically endangered species (e.g., GIB, Hangul).
  • Role of community participation in species recovery.
  • Challenges in conserving wide-ranging vs. habitat-specific species.
  • Human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies embedded in these initiatives.
  • Broader biodiversity conservation strategies (in-situ, ex-situ examples from these initiatives).

PYQ Example Logic:

Questions like lion translocation (Prelims 2017) or implications of WLPA Schedule I (Prelims 2017) show UPSC's interest in specific conservation actions and legal frameworks. Understanding these initiatives provides rich examples.