FUTURE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES


Published on 30 May 2025

Syllabus

GS 3: Biodiversity


WHY IN NEWS?

Rapid human population growth and urbanisation over the past five decades have caused extensive deforestation and habitat loss, driving many wildlife species toward extinction. A 2020 IUCN Red List analysis warns of an accelerating sixth mass extinction,

INTRODUCTION

  • An endangered species is one that is at serious risk of extinction in the near future, mainly due to a sharp decline in its population or the destruction of its natural habitat. Recognized by bodies like the IUCN, this status highlights the growing threats posed by human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change. The loss of these species leads to reduced biodiversity, which in turn weakens ecosystem stability and poses long-term risks to human well-being.

Historical Context of Extinction Events

Earth has witnessed several mass extinction events in its history, largely caused by natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts. However, the current extinction crisis stands apart. Species are disappearing at an alarming rate, and human activities are now the primary drivers. This marks a shift from natural to anthropogenic causes.


Need for Wildlife Conservation Projects

  • Since 1970, the planet has lost over 58% of its wildlife, indicating we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.

  • Unlike earlier extinctions caused by natural events, this crisis is largely driven by human activities such as unsustainable land use, energy consumption, and climate change.

  • The Living Planet Report highlights that 30% of all biodiversity-rich land has been converted for agricultural use.

  • Agriculture alone contributes to 80% of global deforestation and consumes 70% of the world’s freshwater, severely disrupting ecosystems and threatening countless species.


Main Threats to Endangered Species

  • Habitat Destruction: 

    • The fires that swept across the Amazon and Australia rightly drew attention to just how fragile the most important ecosystems are. Half of the world’s original forests are gone, and what remains is being cut down ten times faster than it can be replaced.

  • Poaching & Illegal Trade: Illegal Wildlife Trade: The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest criminal industry in the world, after drugs, arms, and human trafficking. 

    • Gathering in over $US20 billion a year, it is also one of the biggest threats to some of the most iconic species on the planet, like the rhino and the elephant. 

  • Pollution: 

    • There are 500 times more pieces of microplastic in the sea than there are stars in our galaxy. 

    • Eight hundred million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year, washing up on previously pristine parts of the planet and is a threat to the survival of more than 600 species of marine wildlife

  • Invasive Species: 

    • Whether accidentally or intentionally introduced, the non-native species grow and reproduce rapidly, then spread across ecosystems aggressively. They are one of the leading threats to native wildlife, putting 42% of threatened or endangered species at risk.

  • Climate Change:

    • From more regular and fiercer storms to more prolonged and more intense droughts, the impact of climate change is rising ocean temperatures and diminishing Arctic sea ice affecting marine biodiversity, shifting vegetation zones and forcing species to adapt to new conditions.

Wildlife Conservation Projects in India and its success

Project Tiger (1973)

  • Launched in Jim Corbett National Park.

  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

  • Tiger population in India has shown a steady increase from 2,226 in 2014 to 3,682 in 2022, growing at an annual rate of 6.1%, largely due to the success of Project Tiger.


Project Elephant (1992)

  • Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC).

  • Focus: Elephant reserves, habitat management, anti-poaching, and human-elephant conflict mitigation.

  • Asian Elephant population rose from 26,786 in 2018 to 29,964 in 2022, thanks to continued efforts under Project Elephant.

Project Lion

  • Focus: Habitat development, disease control, community participation.

  • Target species: Panthera leo persica (Asiatic Lion), found only in Gir, Gujarat.

  • Asiatic Lion population in Gujarat increased from 411 in 2010 to 674 in 2020, leading to improved conservation status and support through Project Lion.

Project Snow Leopard (2009)

  • Focus: Conservation in high-altitude habitats, reduce human-wildlife conflict.

  • Involves local communities and sustainable land use


Project Cheetah (2022)

  • World’s first inter-continental carnivore translocation.

  • Cheetahs reintroduced in Kuno National Park from Namibia & South Africa.

  • Goal: Restore extinct species to Indian ecosystem.

Project Hangul 

  • Focus: Captive breeding, habitat expansion, community involvement.

  • Current population: ~261.

Project Crocodile (1975)

  • Focus: Conservation of Mugger, Gharial & Saltwater Crocodiles.

  • Strategies: Captive breeding, 'rear & release', habitat protection.

Project Great Indian Bustard

  • Target species: Ardeotis nigriceps (Critically Endangered).

  • Focus: Habitat protection, collision mitigation (e.g., firefly diverters), grassland restoration.

Indian Rhino

  • Aim: Increase Assam’s rhino population to 3,000.

  • Success in reintroducing rhinos to Manas National Park.

  • One-Horned Rhinoceros population, especially in Kaziranga National Park, rose to 2,613 in 2022, supported by the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 and the National Rhino Conservation Strategy.

Project Dolphin (2020)

  • Target species: Gangetic River Dolphin (National Aquatic Animal).

  • Focus: Habitat conservation, pollution control, anti-poaching tech.

  • Status: Slow implementation; ~3,700 dolphins in India.


WAY FORWARD

Strengthening Policy and Legal Frameworks
Enforce stricter wildlife protection laws and ensure robust implementation of international treaties like CITES.
Promote habitat corridors and critical wildlife zones through national legislation to reduce fragmentation.
Harnessing Technology for Conservation
Expand the use of satellite monitoring, drones, and bioacoustic sensors for real-time wildlife tracking and habitat surveillance.
Invest in genetic research to strengthen vulnerable species and

CONCLUSION


The extinction crisis is not inevitable—it is preventable. Success stories from around the world demonstrate that well-planned interventions can lead to remarkable recoveries. By blending scientific innovation, community involvement, effective governance,

PYQ MAPPING

Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (2019)
What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. (2018)

SAMPLE QUESTION

"The extinction crisis is a preventable tragedy, not an inevitable outcome."Discuss how science, community action, and governance can help reverse the decline of endangered species, with suitable examples. (250 words)


Keywords:

Prelims Current Affairs

Brown Trout

Bonnet Macaques

New Aspergillus Species Discovered in Western Ghats

Mains Current Affairs

Ragging in Campus

Time Use Survey 2024

Amir Khusrau and Persian Influence in Indian Culture

Backgrounder

HYPOTHETICAL IMPACTS ON MODERN INDIAN HISTORY IF KEY EVENTS DID NOT HAPPEN

Gandhism vs. Moderates

Satyagrahis vs. Revolutionaries