< General Studies Home Page

Content

• Asian Wild Ass / Khur (Equus Hemionus Khur)
• Chiru/ Tibetan Antelope
• Markhor
• Slender Loris (Grey Slender Loris)
• Nilgai (Boselaphus Tragocamelus)
• Black Buck (Antilope Cervicapra)
• Pashmina Goat/ Changthangi Goat
• Fresh Water Dolphins
• Project Dolphin
• Oceanic Dolphins
• Herbivorous Marine Mammals
• Note: Whales, Dolphins, and Propoises are all Mammals
• Egg Laying Mammals (Monotremes)
• Marsupials

---

1) ASIAN WILD ASS / KHUR (EQUUS HEMIONUS KHUR)

• Locally known as GHUDKHAR
• Past Distribution: Once extended from western India, southern Pakistan, Afghanistan, Southeastern Iran etc.
• Today, Distribution:
  • Last refuge lies in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: NT (was moved from EN to NT in 2016)
  • WPA: Schedule 1 (2022 amendment)
• Threat
  • Diseases
    • In 1958-60, surra disease, caused by Trypanosoma evansi (a Protozoa) and transmitted by horse flies.
    • In 1961, outbreak of south African horse sickness.
  • Other Threats
    • Habitat degradation due to salt activities
    • Invasion of Prosopis juliflora shrub
    • Encroachment and grazing by the Maldhari
    • Uninformed release of water from Sardar Sarovar dam impacting short grasslands on which it depends.
    • Human wild-life conflict increasing (now 1/3rd of the Wild Ass Population lives outside the protected area)

A) BANNI GRASSLAND

• The grassland consists of an area of 2,500 sq km in the Kutch district. It is the largest natural grassland in the Indian subcontinent.
• In the past it was among Asia’s finest grasslands, with nearly 200 varieties of vegetation.
• The grassland has degraded over the years, owing largely to an invasion of an alien woody species – Proposis Juliflora, known locally as Gando baval.

B) CHARI DHAND WETLAND CONSERVATION

This is a seasonal reserve wetland and only gets swampy during a good monsoon, receiving water from north flowing rivers as well as the huge catchment areas of many surrounding hills.

2) CHIRU / TIBETAN ANTELOPE

• Details: The Tibetan antelope is a medium sized bovid native to the Tibetan Plateau.
• Habitat: Tibet Cold desert.
  • In India, it is found in the Ladakh region besides some places in Himachal Pradesh bordering Tibet, Sikkim and Nepal.
• Threat
  • Hunting
    » Soft and warm wool known as shahtoosh (usually obtained after death).
    » Magnificent horns
    » Meat
• Protection
  • Included under Schedule-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
    • It gets highest degree of protection.
    • Hunting of these species, and trade of its parts and products, including shawls made of Chiru wool are prohibited under the Act.
  • CITES
    • Selling or owning Shahtoosh was made illegal in all countries that
      signed the CITES in 1975.
• In 2017, Parliamentary Panel on Environment and Climate Change headed by Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury has recommended lifting ban, allowing weaving and trading in the world’s most expensive fabric, shahtoosh, made from the fine fur undercoat of the endangered Tibetan Antelope known as “Chiru”.
  • It recommended that MoEF&CC should conserve and breed the Chiru goat and vast tract of land should be utilized for conserving the Chiru goat.
  • These goats can be given to shawl makers for collecting hair. This would not only increase the number of goats but would also help in sustainable livelihood opportunities of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • China and Mongolia are already doing captive breeding of these animals.
  • Currently, Shawl’s sale or possession is banned in India and in many countries
• But in 2018, MoEF&CC refused to allow captive breeding as this species have poor survival rate in captivity.

3) MARKHOR

• Distribution: Northeastern Afghanistan, Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jammu and
  Kashmir, South Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• National Animal: The markhor is also national animal of Pakistan.
• Status: Till 2015, IUCN classified it as endangered, but now it has been down listed to Near Threatened, as their numbers have increased in recent years by an estimated 20% for last decade.
• Threats
  • Hunting: For meat and for its twisted horns.
  • Armed Conflict
  • Habitat loss

4) SLENDER LORIS (GREY SLENDER LORIS)

• Details
  • Slender Loris are small nocturnal animals. They are arboreal in nature as they spend most of their lives on trees.
  • IUCN status: NT
  • WPA: Schedule-1
• Benefits for farmers:
  • The species act as a biological predator of pests (insects) in agricultural crops and benefits farmers.
• Least Known behaviour: The behavior of the gray slender loris is amongst the least known of the primates, despite the relatively large number of studies undertaken since 2000s.
• Four Subspecies:
  • Malabar Slender Loris
  • Mysore Slender Loris
  • Northern Ceylonese Slender Loris
  • Highland Slender Loris
• TN notifies India’s first slender loris sanctuary (Oct 2022)
  • The state government notified ‘Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary’ under section 26(A)(1)(b) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • The Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary is to cover 11,086 hectares in Karur and Dindigul districts.
• Note: Red Slender Loris are native to Sri Lankan rain forests and are EN in the IUCN red list.
• Note: In recent times, TN government has also notified India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, the Kazhuvedi Bird Sanctuary in Villupuram, the Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary in Tiruppur, and a fifth elephant reserve at Agasthyamalai in the Tirunelveli district.

2) OTHER MAMMALS IN NEWS

1) NILGAI (BOSELAPHUS TRAGOCAMELUS)

Nilgai is the largest Asian Antelope. It is the sole member of genus Boselaphus.

It shows sexual diamorphism – Females and juveniles are orange to tawny, adult males have a bluish grey coat. Only males possess horn.

It is a diurnal animal (i.e., it is active mainly during daytime).

Distribution and habitat: Nilgai prefer areas with short bushes and scattered trees in scrub forests and grassy plains. Major population occur in the Indian and Nepali Terai. Pakistan and Bangladesh also have some population.

Other than Terai region of India, it is also found in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh etc.

It is also common in agricultural land, but rarely in dense forests. It is a herbivore and prefers grasses and herbs; woody plants are commonly eaten in the dry tropical forests of India.

The nilgai can survive for long periods without water and doesn’t drink regularly even in summers.

2) BLACK BUCK (ANTILOPE CERVICAPRA)

• Details:
  • Black Buck, also known as Indian Antelope, is an antelope found only on Indian subcontinent in Nepal, Pakistan and India.
  • In India it is found in Punjab Haryana in North to TN in south, and Rajasthan-Gujarat in the west to Odisha in the east. But it is not found in very vast herds anywhere.
  • Details: Only living specie of genus antelope. It shows sexual dimorphism.
  • Protection
    • IUCN: LC
    • WPA: Schedule -1 (i.e., highest protection)
  • Habitat: Grassland
  • Distribution: Today, Black buck population is confined to area of MHA, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
    • They occur in protected areas of India.
      • Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar in Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
        • Highest numbers here
      • Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Nagapattinam TN.
      • Tal Chhappar Sanctuary, Churu District, Rajasthan.
      • National Chambal Sanctuary, near the Tripoint of Rajasthan, MP and Uttar Pradesh.
      • Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
      • Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary in Ahmednagar district Maharashtra.
      • Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary, Haveri District Karnataka.
      • Guindy National Park, Chennai, TN
    • In Rajasthan, there are many areas such as Guda Vishnoiyan, Dhawa Doli and Kankania (where actor Salman Khan allegedly hunted in 1998), that are protected by the Bishnoi Community who consider blackbuck sacred. Similarly in parts of Haryana and Punjab a few thousand black bucks are surviving in Bishnoi dominated areas.
  • Threat:
    • Poaching, habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, urbanization, and neglect are the major causes for disappearance of Blackbuck.
    • A new menace is the free ranging village dogs which now roam all over India killing Blackbuck, Chinkara, Nilgai etc.
    • Excessive hunting for meat and sporting trophies, as well as habitat loss.

3) PASHMINA GOAT/ CHANGTHANGI GOAT 

Changthangi or Pashmina Goat is a special breed of goat indigenous to the high altitude regions of Ladakh. They are raised for ultra-fine Kashmere wool, known as Pashmina, once woven. The textile is home spun and were first woven in Kashmir.

These goats are generally domesticated and reared by nomadic communities called the Changpa in the Changthang region of Great Ladakh. They live in tough and hostile terrain of Changthang and are solely dependent on Pashmina for livelihood. At present there are around 2,400 families rearing around 2.5 lakh goats.

Ladakh produces around 50 MT of the finest grade Pashmina in the world (12-15 microns).

IUCN: LC

In 2019, PASHMINA products have received BIS Certifications.

• BIS has published an Indian standard for identification, marking and labelling of Pashmina products to certify its purity.

Significance of BIS Certification

• It will discourage counterfeit or substandard products presently mislabled and sold as genuine Pashmina in the market.
• It will also ensure better prices for the goat herding community in Ladakh as well as Local handloom artisans producing genuine Pashmina products. They are till now disadvantaged due to rampant marketing malpractices.

3) MARINE MAMMALS

1) FRESH WATER DOLPHINS

• Fresh Water Dolphins of India: Ganga River Dolphin (‘Susu’)
  • Habitat/ Distribution: India, Bangladesh, Nepal.
• At present World has 7 Fresh Water Dolphins
  • Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) (VU)
  • Bolivian River Dolphin (Inia boliviensis) (VU)
  • Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) (EN)
  • Indus River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) (EN)
  • IrrawaddyRiverDolphin (Orcaellabrevirostris)(EN)(not a true freshwater dolphin can be found in brackish water also)
    • It traverses three rivers in South and Southeast Asia: the Irrawady, the Mahakam, and the Mekong.
  • The Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) (CR)
    • Note: The difference between a dolphin and a porpoise has to do with their appearance: dolphins have longer snouts, bigger mouths, more curved dorsal fins, and longer, leaner bodies than porpoises
  • Tucuxi from Amazon and Orinco river basin (Sotalia fluviatilis) (EN)
    • With the latest update it was moved from DD to EN, which has effectively led to all the world’s freshwater dolphin species being listed as threatened.
• Species in the subcontinent: Species in Indian Subcontinent are divided into two subspecies. (Recent studies have shown that they are two separate species)
  • Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) ~ 3000 individuals
    • Assam: 962 (based on the Jan-March 2018 assessment)
    • UP: 1,272 (assessment in 201
  • Indus River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) ~ 1500 individuals.
• Note: Both sub-species are effectively blind.

2) PROJECT DOLPHIN

• Details
  • The plans about the project were announced by PM Modi during his Independence Day speech in Aug 2020.
  • It will be aimed at saving both river and ocean dolphins.
  • The project will be on lines of Project Tiger which has helped in increasing tiger population. Such an initiative got in-principal approval in December 2019 itself, at the first meet of the National Ganga Council headed by the PM.
  • The proposed project is aimed at saving both river and marine dolphin.

A) GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN

- Conservation Status: » IUCN: Endangered » WPA: Scheduled 1 (even after the 2022 amendment) » CITES: Appendix 1 » CMS: Appendix 1 - Habitat/Distribution: Ganges and Brahmaputra River, and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. » In India, distributed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Assam. » Note: Various examples of the dolphin found in rivers of Odisha. - National Aquatic Animal of India. - WB got India's first river dolphin reserve on Hoogly river. - Key threats » Loss of habitat due to increased development work on the river.  National Waterway Project is threatening Gangetic Dolphins: Conservationist » Rising salinity in Sundarbans is also causing a decrease in population of Gangetic Dolphin. » Biological Resource Use  Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources.  Depletion of prey base  Accidental mortality in fishing net » Accidental deaths due to vessel propellers » Invasive & other problematic species » Pollution  Domestic, industrial and agricultural pollution - Other features: Essentially Blind - Hunt by ultrasonic sound - Why its crucial to save Gangetic Dolphin? » Aquatic life is an indicator of the health of the river ecosystems. Since the Gangetic Dolphin is at the top of the food chain, protecting the species and its habitat will ensure conservation of aquatic lives of the river.

Important Steps for Protection: » Project Dolphin: In his Independence Day speech on 15th Aug 2020, PM Modi announced Project Dolphin on lines of the Project Tiger and Project Elephant. It was officially launched in 2021. • The project will focus on both river dolphins and sea dolphins and strengthen biodiversity, create employment, and attract tourism. » National Ganga River Dolphin Day - 5th Oct • It was on this day, the then PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, while presiding over the meeting of NGRBA, declared Ganga Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal. » Declared National Aquatic Animal » Protected Areas: • Vikramshila Sanctuary (Bihar) -1991 • Hastinapur Sanctuary (UP) -Proposed

REPORT: ‘RESCUING GANGES RIVER DOLPHINS FROM IRRIGATION CANALS IN UTTAR PRADESH, NORTH INDIA, 2013-2020 (OCT 2023)

• Thepublicationsaysthat RESCUE OF GANGETIC RIVER DOLPHIN FROM ODISHA (JAN 2024)
• A fisherman in Odisha’s Balasore district captured a rare and endangered Gangetic dolphin in the Jalaka river on 18th Jan 2024. Forest authorities then rescued the dolphin from a pond locals put it in and are planning to release it into Budhabalang river soon.

dams and barrages have severely affected river habitat and dolphin shave moved into irrigation canals where they were at risk of injury or death due to multiple factors, such as rapidly receding waters, heat stroke and human interference.

B) INDUS RIVER DOLPHIN (EN)

• Habitat/Distribution: Indus River in Pakistan and its Beas and Sutlej tributaries.
• Also called Bhulan

3) OCEANIC DOLPHINS

A) IRRAWADY RIVER DOLPHIN

• It is an euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in discontinuous sub-populations near sea coasts and estuaries and rivers in parts of Bay of Bengal. It is also found in South-east Asia.
• Protection Status
  • IUCN: EN
  • WPA: Schedule 1
  • CITES: Appendix 2

 

                               

 

B) VAQUITA PORPOISE

• Why in news?
  • The plight of the vaquita forces International Whaling Commission to issue first extinction alert (Aug 2023)

Drastic Decline in Population: The Species global population is down to only 10. The species has seen a 98% decline in population in 2 decades. » It is the world's smallest cetacean and the most endangered marine mammal. » IUCN: CR Where is it found? » They are all found in northern part of the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortex. » It has smallest range of any whale, dolphin or porpoise and live in small 1500 square mile area in Mexico's upper Gulf of California, near the town of San Felipe.

Extinction Alert: The first extinction alert by IWC was released on 7th Aug 2023. it is to encourage wider recognition of the warning signs of impending extinctions, and to generate support and encouragement at every level for the actions needed now to save the vaquita. The vaquita is caught as bycatch in gillnets meant for totoaba, a fish the swimbladders of which are priced in Chinese cuisines.

4) HERBIVOROUS MARINE MAMMALS

A) DUGONG (DUGONG DUGON)

• Why in news?
  • World Dugong Day – 28th May
• About Dugong
  • Dugong is commonly known as sea-cow as it is a herbivorous marine mammal. It is a medium sized marine mammal which is fighting for its survival in Indian waters.
  • IUCN: VU, WPA (Schedule – 1), CITES (Appendix – 1)
  • Habitat: Swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal marine waters.
  • Threats: Hunting (meat and oil), habitat degradation, and fishing related fatalities.
  • Distribution in India – According to a study by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), there are only 250 Dugongs left in India.
    • Marine National Park in Gulf of Kutch, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
      • First Marine National Park of India.
      • Only remaining population of Dugong in Western India.
    • Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and Palk Strait
      • Here population is seriously depleted.
    • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
      • State Animal of the territory.

B) MANATEES (VU) – ALSO KNOWN AS SEA COWS

• Habitat/Distribution: Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Basin, and West Africa.
• Threat: Coastal development, red tide, hunting.
• Also known as West Indian Manatees (referring to West Indies)

5) NOTE: WHALES, DOLPHINS, AND PROPOISES ARE ALL MAMMALS

• In face Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises belong to the Cetacean family and share several physiological traits with one another including blowholes, breathing oxygen, maintaining constant awareness of their breathing and being able to dispose of additional salt that are taken in by their body when they consume food.
• As marine mammals they are also warm-blooded animals that give birth to their young and produce milk to feed their babies.

4) FEW UNIQUE MAMMALS

1) EGG LAYING MAMMALS (MONOTREMES)

• The unique feature of monotremes a subdivision of mammal, is that monotremes lay eggs rather than giving birth to the young ones.
• Only 5 living monotremes
  • Duck Billed Platypus
  • 4 species of Spiny Anteaters (also known as echidna)
• Habitat
  • Australia and New Guinea Region

A) PLATYPUS

• A semi aquatic animal – endemic to eastern Australia including Tasmania.
• The female retires to a burrow in the bank of a river or pond. The burrow is lined with dry vegetation, and there the eggs are laid.
• The male is poisonous – its venom can kill a small dog or cause excruciating pain among humans.

B) ECHIDNAS (SPINY ANT EATERS)

• Habitat / Distribution: Australia and New Guinea
• In Echidnas eggs are carried in a pouch on the female’s belly until the young hatches, at which point the barely developed young must finds a mammary gland and latch onto it for nourishment.

Note: Organisms which roll up to protect vulnerable parts

• • Hedgehog
  • Pangolin

OTHER SPINY MAMMALS

Hedgehog - they are small, spiny mammals that roll themselves up into a tight ball when threatened
Armadillos - they are small armored mammals that can roll themselves up into a ball to protect themselves

• Echidnas
• Pangolins

2) MARSUPIALS

• Group of mammals commonly thought of as pouched mammals (like the wallaby and Kangaroo). They give live birth, but they don’t have long gestation times like placental mammals. Instead, they give birth very early and the young animal, essentially a helpless embryo, climbs from the mother’s birth canal to the nipples. There it grabs on with its mouth and continues to develop, often for weeks or months depending on the species.
• Like other mammals, the marsupials are covered with hair. Mother nurse their young – a young Kangaroo may nurse even when it has grown almost to the mother’s size.
• E.g. of Marsupials

A) KANGAROO (LC)

B) KOALAS

• The Koala is an arboreal, herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.
• It is found in coastal areas of mainland’s eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is a major attraction for tourists in Australia.
• Physical features: It is easily recognizable by its stout, tailless body, and large head with round, fluffy ears and large spoon – shaped nose.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: VU
• Key threats faced:
  • Habitat destruction due to agriculture, urbanization and forest fires.

C) THYLACINE (TASMANIAN TIGER, TASMANIAN WOLF)

• Tasmanian government has recently released a document, reporting eight sightings of a Tasmanian tiger from across the continent in past three years (Nov 2019)

D) TASMANIAN DEVIL

• Details
  • Current distribution:
    • Till recently, it was only found in Island state of Tasmania, but it has now been reintroduced to New South Wales xin mainland Australia, with a small breeding population.
  • They had become extinct from Australian mainland thousands of years ago most probably by Wild Australian Dogs known as dingoes.
  • The birth of these babies is a baby step towards bringing Tasmanian devil back in Australia’s wilderness.
  • It remains unclear how the animals would fare outside the fenced 1,000 acre wildlife preserve where they were born.

Other Examples of Marsupials: Wallabies, Possums, Opossums, Wombats etc.