.

IUCN RED List| Important Critically Endangered Species of India| UPSC

Share it

IUCN RED List (Critically Endangered Species of India)

IUCN Red List

The IUCN Red List is based upon precise criteria to evaluate the rate of extinction of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The IUCN red list provides taxonomic data, conservation status, and distribution information on species that are facing a high risk of global extinction.

Purpose of the IUCN Red List Data

The information cited in the IUCN Red List is used by various organizations in the following ways:

  • International Agreements such as CITES, Ramsar Convention use the Red List data to make important decisions in sync with the status of nature as and when required.
  • World Bank Group performance standard uses the IUCN Red List data to evaluate the risk of damage to biodiversity due to large-scale infrastructures and global projects.
  • Zoos and National parks use this information to upgrade important policies like parks regulations from time to time.

categories in the IUCN red list

Following are the 9 categories in the IUCN red list:

  • Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
  • Critically endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered soon.
  • Least concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at-risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
  • Data deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess its risk of extinction.
  • Not evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria

IUCN Conservation Plan

The strategy for the conservation of nature by IUCN is as follows:

  1. Assess – Focus on monitoring species and informing the world about the status and trends of biodiversity, thus providing measures for the protection of our biosphere.
  2. Plan – Aims to enhance collaborative and science-based strategies to ensure the most effective species conservation actions.
  3. Act – Improve the status of biodiversity, by mobilizing actions involving governments, educational institutions, civil society, and the private sector.
  4. Communicate – The effectiveness of IUCN’s species conservation work is enhanced through strategic and targeted communications.

Critically Endangered Bird Species (CR)

Critically Endangered Birds

SpeciesProtection StatusGeographical Range/HabitatUnique Feature/Remarks
White-bellied HeronIUCN Status: CRFoothills of the eastern Himalayas in India and MyanmarIt is mostly solitary and occurs in undisturbed riversides or wetlands.
Siberian CraneIUCN Status: CRArctic tundra RegionThey migrate for breeding during Winter to China, Iran and India (Bharatpur)
The Siberian crane is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
White-rumped VultureIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Gangetic plains of IndiaIndia is home to nine species of vultures, but most of them face the danger of extinction.
The major reason behind the vulture population getting nearly wiped out was the drug Diclofenac.
The government has launched Vulture Conservation 2020-2025 to conserve the vulture in India.
Indian VultureIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Gangetic plains of India
Slender-billed VultureIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Sub-Himalayan regions and Southeast Asia.
Red-headed VultureIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Indian Subcontinent and SouthEast AsiaAlso known as the Asian king vulture, Indian black vulture or Pondicherry vulture
Bengal FloricanIUCN Status: CR
UN Convention on Migratory Species: Appendix I
Grasslands of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basin in India and Nepal.It is a representative or an indicator species of dry grasslands in the Brahmaputra, as well as Ganga.
Himalayan QuailIUCN Status: CRState of UttarakhandThe last population estimate was less than 50 individuals.
No sightings have been recorded since 1876.
Jerdon’s CourserIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Eastern GhatsEndemic to Andhra Pradesh.
Pink-headed DuckIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Riverine swamps of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar
Sociable LapwingIUCN Status: CROpen grassland in Russia and KazakhstanMigrates to Kanwar lake, Bihar (Bihar’s first Ramsar Site) during winter.
The bird migrates through the central Asian flyway.
Great Indian BustardIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
UN Convention on Migratory Species: Appendix I
It usually resides in dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent (especially in Rajasthan, Gujrat, in Pakistan)It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
It is the state bird of Rajasthan.
Project Godawan has been launched by Rajasthan Government for its conservation.
GIB : Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered Mammals

Critically Endangered Mammals

SpeciesProtection StatusHabitat
Malabar CivetIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES Appendix III
Western Ghats
Sumatran RhinocerosIUCN Status: CRThey are spread across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Left mainly in Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia.
These countries are also known as Asian Rhino Range Countries.
Javan RhinocerosIUCN Status: CRThe three species of Rhino in Asia — Greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran.
Javan and Sumatran Rhino are critically endangered and the Greater one-horned (or Indian) rhino is vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.
Only the Great one-horned rhino is found in India.
Large Rock-rat or Elvira RatIUCN Status: CRTropical dry deciduous shrub land forest, seen in rocky areas.
Namdapha Flying SquirrelIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule II
Found in Arunachal Pradesh in the Namdapha National Park
Asiatic CheetahIUCN Status: CR
CITES: Appendix I
Open lands, small plains, semi-desert areas, and other open habitats where prey is available.
Only 40-50 remain in Iran.
Andaman White-toothed ShrewIUCN Status: CRFound on Mount Harriet in the South Andaman Islands
Nicobar ShrewIUCN Status: CRFound in the southern tip of Greater Nicobar Island and Campbell Bay National Park
Jenkin’s ShrewIUCN Status: CRFound on Wright Myo and Mount Harriet in the South Andaman Islands
Chinese PangolinIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.

Critically Endangered Fishes

Critically Endangered Fishes

SpeciesProtection Status
Pondicherry SharkIUCN Status: CR
Knifetooth SawfishIUCN Status: CR
Narrow snout or Green SawfishIUCN Status: CR
Ganges SharkIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I

Critically Endangered Reptiles

Critically Endangered Reptiles

SpeciesProtection StatusHabitat
Fish-eating Crocodile or GharialIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES Appendix I
Freshwaters of the northern part of India.
Primary Habitat: Chambal river
The population of Gharials is a good indicator of clean river water.
Four-toed TerrapinIUCN Red List: CR
CITES Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act, Status: Schedule I
Sundarbans eco-region
Red-crowned Roofed TurtleIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix II
Currently, the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only area with a substantial population
LeatherbackIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Indo-Pacific
Hawksbill TurtleIUCN Status: CR
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I

Critically Endangered Amphibians

SpeciesProtection Status
Anaimalai Flying FrogIUCN Status: CR
Kerala India FrogIUCN Status: CR

Endangered Species (EN)

SpeciesProtection StatusHabitatUnique Feature/Remarks
TigerIUCN Status: EN
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Mostly found in 13 Tiger range countries viz.: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
70% of Tigers are found in India.
Referred as Flagship and “umbrella species.
52 Tigers reserves in India.
India has achieved the TX2 goal, which is a global commitment to double the world’s wild tigers by 2022.
Asiatic lionIUCN Status: EN
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion.Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions.
The most striking morphological character, which is always seen in Asiatic lions, and rarely in African lions, is a longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly.
Gangetic DolphinIUCN Status: EN
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix II
Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.Only live in freshwater
They are essentially blind and hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds.
They are also called ‘susu’.
It is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem.
It was recognised as the National Aquatic Animal in 2009, by the Government of India.
Pygmy HogIUCN Status: EN
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
It thrives in wet grassland.Today found mainly in a small population in Assam.They are the world’s rarest and smallest wild pigs.
Kondana RatIUCN Status: ENOnly found in the small Sinhagarh Plateau near Pune in Maharashtra.
Tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forests and tropical scrub.
They are nocturnal and live in burrows.
Forest OwletIUCN Status: EN
CITES: Appendix I
Dry deciduous forestEndemic to the forests of central India
Red PandaIUCN Status: EN
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China.
Mixed deciduous and conifer forests with dense understories of bamboo.
The only living member of the genus Ailurus.
It is also the state animal of Sikkim.
Nilgiri TahrIUCN Status: EN
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Open montane grassland habitat of rain forests ecoregion.Endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats.
It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu
Also, called Saddlebacks.

Other Important Species

SpeciesProtection StatusHabitatUnique Feature/Remarks
Snow LeopardIUCN Status: VU
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Mountainous regions of central and southern Asia.Indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem.
Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh.
Flagship species for the high altitude Himalayas.
Project Snow Leopard was launched in 2009 for the conservation of snow leopards.
Pied CuckooIUCN Status: NTIt is found in Africa and Asia.Pied cuckoo is known for its close association with the monsoon in India.
It is a brood parasite i.e. It lays its eggs in nests that belong to other birds.
It is one of the few species that come to India in the summer.
Olive Ridley TurtleIUCN Status: VU
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery.The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world
Amur FalconIUCN Status: LCSoutheastern Siberia and northern ChinaWorld’s longest travelling raptors.
Doyang Lake in Nagaland is better known as a stopover for the Amur falcons
Nagaland is also known as the “Falcon Capital of the World”.
DugongIUCN Status: VU
Wildlife Protection Act Status: Schedule I
Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.Only existing species of herbivorous mammals live exclusively in the sea.
Dugong is also called ‘Sea Cow’

Also refer :

Scroll to Top