1. Hangul (Kashmir Stag) The Lost Monarch of Kashmir Once known as the ‘pride of Kashmir,’ the Hangul’s numbers have collapsed from thousands to under 250. It’s now restricted to a single park. Found in: Dachigam National Park, Jammu & Kashmir Population Trend: 5,000 (1940s) → ~250 (2023)
A Forest Without Its King For Kashmiris, the Hangul isn’t just a deer—it’s a living symbol of their heritage. Its absence would mean not only ecological imbalance but cultural loss.
What’s Driving the Decline: – Encroachment, poaching, lack of genetic diversity Efforts to Save It: – Project Hangul revival under Project Tiger – Anti-grazing zones and monitoring in Dachigam Calls for establishing second breeding populations to prevent collapse
2. Great Indian Bustard The Last Dance in the Grasslands Once roaming freely across India’s plains, this graceful bird is now among the rarest on Earth—fewer than 150 remain. Found in: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra Population Trend: ~1,260 (1969) → 150 (2023)
When the Grasslands Go Quiet The Bustard isn’t just a bird—it’s the beating heart of India’s forgotten grasslands. Its extinction would wipe out entire food webs that depend on this habitat.
What’s Driving the Decline: – Power line collisions, intensive farming, and shrinking habitat Efforts to Save It: – Supreme Court-mandated underground power lines – Captive breeding centre in Jaisalmer Grassland reserves declared in Rajasthan
3. Ganges River Dolphin The Blind Guardian of the Rivers This nearly blind dolphin once thrived in Indian rivers. Now it fights for survival in waters choked by pollution and dams. Found in: Ganga, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Son Population Trend: 6,000 (1980s) → ~3,500 (2023)
When the River Falls Silent These dolphins are more than aquatic mammals—they're sentinels of freshwater life. If they vanish, it signals that India’s rivers are no longer alive.
What’s Driving the Decline: – Industrial pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, habitat fragmentation Efforts to Save It: – National Dolphin Conservation Plan (2021) – Integrated into Namami Gange Mission Rescue operations in Bihar and Assam, community monitoring
4. Red Panda The Flame in the Forest Small, elusive, and endangered, the red panda is a rare gem of India’s eastern Himalayas—one that’s quietly disappearing from treetops. Found in: Sikkim, Arunachal, North Bengal Population Trend: ~20,000 globally (1990s) → <6,000 today (~1,000–1,200 in India)
A Forest Without Its Soul Red pandas help forests flourish by dispersing seeds. But their magic lies in more than ecology—their disappearance marks a loss of mystery, beauty, and balance.
What’s Driving the Decline: – Habitat loss, poaching for fur and illegal pet trade Efforts to Save It: – Red Panda Network partnerships in India – Wildlife corridors in Singalila & Neora Valley Joint India-Nepal cross-border conservation initiatives
5. Nilgiri Tahr The Cliff-Dweller of the Western Ghats Endemic to India and found nowhere else on Earth, this mountain goat once faced extinction from overhunting. It’s slowly rebounding—but still at risk. Found in: Kerala & Tamil Nadu (Eravikulam NP, Anamalai Hills) Population Trend: ~100 (early 1900s) → ~3,000 (2022)
Holding the Highlands Together The Nilgiri Tahr shapes and protects the fragile shola-grassland ecosystems of the Western Ghats. Without it, the region’s delicate balance would unravel.
What’s Driving the Decline: – Climate change, habitat encroachment, invasive species Efforts to Save It: – Protected under Wildlife Act, IUCN red list – Research by Nature Conservation Foundation Habitat fencing and movement tracking by forest departments