* The Red List of 2012 was released at the Rio +20 Earth Summit.
* It contains 132 species of plants and animals in India listed as critically endangered.
* The Critically Endangered list included 18 species of amphibians, 14 fishes and 10 mammals. There are also 15 bird species in the category.
* Please refer the below article of Mrunals which gives details about IUCN, CITES etc
http://mrunal.org/2012/11/enb-iucn-red-list-cites-meaning-working-mock-csat.html
* This article gives you an overview of birds, amphibians and mammals which are critically endangered.
Birds
* The latest International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Birds (2013) shows that fifteen bird species in India continue to be Critically Endangered (CR).
* Migratory wetland species:
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Baers Pochard
* It is adiving duck found in easternAsia
* Hunting and wetland destruction are thought to be the causes of the declineVegetated coastal wetlands, or around lakes and ponds surrounded by forestFreshwater lakes and reservoirsSoutheastRussia and NortheastChinaMigrating in winter to southern China,Vietnam,Japan, andIndiaIn 2012 it was further uplisted from Endangered toCR.It is legally protected in Russia, Mongolia and Hong Kong (China) and in some provinces in China.
Siberian Crane
* It is a large, strikingly majestic migratory bird that breeds and winters in wetlands.
* Also known as theSiberian White Craneor theSnow Crane.Wetland areasKeoladeo National Park in Rajasthan.The last documented sighting of the bird in India was in 2002It is subject ofthe MoU concerning Conservation Measures for the Siberian Craneconcluded under theBonn Convention.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper
* The most distinctive feature of this species is itsspatulatebill
* Requires highly specialized breeding habitat, a constraint that has always kept its population scarceCoastal areas with sparse vegetationWest Bengal, Orissa, Kerala and Tamil NaduThe main threats to its survival are habitat loss on its breeding grounds and loss of tidal flats through its migratory and wintering rangeIt was reclassified toCR status in 2008
* Non-migratory wetland species:
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
White-bellied Heron
* also known as theImperial HeronorGreat White-bellied Heron
* It is mostly all dark grey with white throat and underparts.
* It is inherently rare, and populations have never been known to be very high.Rivers with sand or gravel bars or inland lakesBhutan and North-East India to the hills of Bangladesh and North MyanmarIt has therefore been uplisted from Endangered to CE status in the 2007IUCN Red List.
* Grassland species:
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Bengal Florican
* It is a rare bustard species that is very well known for its mating dance
* They are normally silent but when disturbed utters a metallicchik-chik-chikcall.Grasslands occasionally interspersed with scrublands.Native to only 3 countries in the world -Cambodia, India and Nepal. In India, it occurs in 3 states Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.It is known to have become increasingly threatened by land conversion for intensive agriculture, particularly for dry seasonrice production + Poaching.
Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
* One of the worlds heaviest flying birds.
* The bird population estimate in 1980s was around 1,500, during 2003-04 was 500, in 2011 it is around 250-300 birds.
* It breeds mostly during the monsoon season.
* They are omnivorous and feed on insects, lizards, frogs, herbs, wild berries, oil seeds, and legume podsDry plains of theIndian subcontinentIt used to be in 11 states, now it is limited to 6 Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra PradeshRajasthan: has the largest stronghold of the GIB, is the first Indian state to initiate a project Great Indian Bustard under the campaign ofConservation India.
Jerdons Courser
* It is a nocturnal bird endemic to India.
* It is a flagship species for the extremely threatened scrub jungle.Undisturbed scrub jungle with open areas
* Found only in the northern part of the state of Andhra Pradesh in peninsular India
* Old records do attribute its presence in the neighboring areas of the state of MaharashtraThe species was considered to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1986 and the area of rediscovery was subsequently declared as the Sri Lankamaleswara Wildlife Sanctuary
Sociable Lapwing
* It is a winter migrant to India.
* This attractive medium-sized lapwing has longish black legs and a short black billFallow fields and scrub desert.
* In India, distribution is restricted to the north and north-west of the countryIn 2004BirdLife Internationalcategorized this bird as critically endangered, due to a very rapid population decline for poorly understood reasons
* Forest species:
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Forest Owlet
* Anowlthat is endemic to the forests of centralIndia.
* They have a relatively large skull and beak
* They appear to be strongly diurnal although not very active after 10 AMDry deciduous forest.South Madhya PradeshNorth-west MaharashtraNorth-central Maharashtra.It had been lost for more than a century. After 113 long years it was rediscovered in 1997 and reappeared on the list of Indian birds.
* Scavengers:
* The decline in vulture populations has associated disease risks, including increased risk of spread of rabies and anthrax.
* Diclofenac is given to working animals it can reduce joint pain and so keep them working for longer
* The drug is believed to be swallowed by vultures with the flesh of dead cattle which were given diclofenac in the last days of life. Diclofenac causes kidney failure in several species of Vultures
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Indian Vulture
* The Long-billed Vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald head, very broad wings and short tail feather
* They have suffered a 97%99% population decrease inPakistan andIndia
* The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drugdiclofenac..Forests, villages etc.Across IndiaCaptive-breeding programmes for several species of Indian vulture have been started. The vultures are long lived and slow in breeding, so the programmes are expected to take decades
Red-headed Vulture
* Also known as theAsian King Vulture,Indian Black VultureorPondicherry Vulture
* The adult has a prominent deep red to orange naked head and the juvenile being of paler red.Forests, villages etc.Mainly found in theIndian SubcontinentSome parts ofSoutheast AsiaThe widespread use of the DiclofenacinIndiahas caused its population to collapse in recent years
White-backed Vulture
* It is calledAfrican White-backed Vultureto distinguish it from the Oriental White-backed Vulture
* Its a typical vulture with only down feathers on the head and neck, very broad wings and short tail feathers.Forests, villages etc.The savannah of West and EastAfricaAcross IndiaIn 2013 it was uplisted from Endangered toCritically Endangered
Slender-billed Vulture.
* It is about the same size as its sister species, theIndian Vulture
* They have suffered a huge decline. The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drugdiclofenac.Forests, villages etc.Gangetic plainnorth, West to Himachal Pradesh, Northern Odisha, AssamSoutheast AsiaIt is a protected species listed on the appendix II list ofCITES.Captive-breeding programs in India are aiming to conserve the species
* Now considered Extinct for all practical purposes.
* But still under CE category
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Himalayan Quail
* The red bill and legs of this small dark quail and white spots before and after the eye make it distinctive.
* It is presumed to be extinct since no reliable records of sightings of this species exist after 1876.Tall grass and scrub on steep hillsidesWestern HimalayasIndiscriminate hunting during the colonial period along with habitat modification.
Pink-headed Duck
* is (or was) a largediving duck
* Males have a deep pink head and neck from which the bird derives its name.
* It has not been conclusively recorded in India since 1949. Overgrown still-water pools, marshes and swamps in lowland forests and tall grasslandsRecorded in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Maximum records are from north-east IndiaWetland degradation and loss of habitat, along with hunting are the main causes of its decline
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* The species that have been uplisted (facing greater danger) in 2013 IUCN list are
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
River Lapwing
* It has a black crest, crown, face and central throat and grey-white neck sides and nape.
* It feeds on insects,worms crustaceansandmollusksin nearby wet grassland and farmland
* It is expected to undergo a moderately rapid population decline over the next three generations owing to human pressures on riverine ecosystems and the construction of dams.It inhabits larger rivers and lakes preferring wide, slow-moving rivers with sand or gravel bars and islandsIt occurs in southernChina, much of South-East AsiaNorthern and northeasternIndia, stretching towardsMyanmar, to Cambodia, ThailandandVietnam.Uplisted from Least Concern to Near Threatened
River Tern
* This is a medium-sized tern, dark grey upperparts, white underparts, a forked tail with long flexible streamers, and long pointed wings.
* The bill is yellow and the legs red.
* Increasing human disturbance and dam construction projects are expected to drive a moderately rapid population decline over the next three generations.rivers and freshwater lakes, also occurring rarely on estuaries, and breeds on sandy islandsoccurs across a wide range in southern Asia, being found inPakistan,India,Nepal,Bhutan,Bangladesh,Myanmar,Thailand,Laos,Cambodia,Vietnamand southernChina(Yunnan) (del Hoyoet al. 1996), with vagrant records from Iran and Afghanistan.Uplisted from Least Concern to Near Threatened Nesting areas are vulnerable to flooding, predation and disturbance
Long-tailed Duck
* They are mid-sized birds with long, dark tails and gray legs and feet.
* This species is fully migratory although its movements are poorly understoodreside in a variety of habitatsWinter in the open ocean or large lakes and summer in pools or lakes in the tundra.Vagrant records in India includes Nagaland, UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and MaharastraThey are found breeding on the Arctic coasts of Canada, Alaska, United States of America, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Russia. They winter further south in the United Kingdom, North America, Korea and on the Black and Caspian Seas.Uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable.The species is threatened by wetland habitat degradation and loss from petroleum pollution, wetland drainage and peat-extraction.
Reptiles and amphibians
* Turtles
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Red-crowned roofed turtle
* Also known as Bengal Roof Turtle
* At the end of the rainy season, the heads and necks of male turtles develop a brilliant courtship coloration of red, yellow, white, and blue, with 6 distinctive bright red stripes on top of the head
* The diet of turtles consists entirely of water plantsDeep flowing rivers with terrestrial nest sites.Found in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. In India it resides basically in the watershed of the GangaCP: 1. Since 2004,it has reproduced in captivity at theMadras Crocodile Bank Trust.2. Since 2006, the Chambal River Sanctuary Program has implemented projects to protect wild nests, collect and hatch wild eggs
Hawksbill sea turtle
* The species is migratory in nature and nesting occurs in about 70 countries across the world.Nesting occurs on insular, sandy beaches.In India they are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the coast of Tamil Nadu and Orissa.The CITES outlaws the capture and trade of hawksbill sea turtles and products derived from themAlso included in the Convention on Migratory Species
River terrapin
* Also known as four-toed river terrapin
* The omnivorous diet of the river terrapin and other terrapin species makes them an essential part of the efficient clean-up systems of aquatic habitats.Freshwater rivers and lakes.Bangladesh, Cambodia, India (West Bengal and Orissa), Indonesia and Malaysia.Illegally exported from Indonesia and traded in substantial numbers in China despite a CITES I listing
* Crocodile
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Gharial
* It is also called gavialandfish-eating crocodile
* It is one of the longest of all living crocodilians
* It is characterized by its extremely long, thin jawsClean rivers with sand banksOnly viable population in the National Chambal Sanctuary, spread across three states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in India.Now extinct in Myanmar, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh.Conservation programs have been undertaken in India and Nepal, based on the establishment of protected areas and restocking these with animals born in captivity
* Frogs
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Ghats wart frog
* Also known as Murthys frog.
* It is a montane species found at elevations of around 2,200m asl
* This species is known only from the type series, and further taxonomic studies are required.Tropical moist forest and is terrestrial in natureNative:India(Western GhatsinTamil NaduandKarnataka)The species appears to have been recorded from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and it is protected by national legislation
Indirana gundia
* It has thick brown strip that extends from nose passing through eyes
* It is found at an elevation of around 200 m above mean sea level
* Breeding takes place on wet rocks, and the larvae are found on wet rock surfaces next to streamsMoist tropical forestKnown only to exist in Gundia, Kempholey in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka.It is not known to be present in any protected areas
The Kerala Indian Frog
* Due to the presence of prominent warts and tubercles of various sizes and glandular folds on its dorsal surface, it is commonly also known as the toad-skinned frog.
* It is found at elevations of around 500 m above mean sea levelA terrestrial species associated with leaf-litter in tropical moist forestAnamalai Hills of the Western GhatsThe species is present in Indira Ghandi National Park and protected by national legislation.
Charles Darwin's frog
* It is found at elevations below 500 m above mean sea level. Arboreal species of tropical moist forestThis species is currently restricted to its type locality of Mount Harriet in South Andaman Island and Saddle Peak in the North Andaman Island, India.It has been recorded from Mount Harriet National Park and Saddle Peak National Park, and is protected by national legislation in India.
Rao's torrent frog
* The altitude of the type locality is not known, but it was most recently collected at an altitude of approximately 1,000m asl
* It was recently collected close to a road and a stream. Like other members of the genus, it probably has aquatic larvae in streams.Wet forestsThis species is known only from the type locality "Kottigehar, Kadur", and from a recently discovered population at Bhadrea, in Chicamangalore District, Karnataka, in the Western Ghats of India.It is not known whether or not this species occurs in any protected areas.
Amboli bush frog
* It was recently discovered in 2009 in Amboli forest in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
* It is found at elevations ranging from 550 m to 940 m above mean sea level. It was collected in extremely disturbed areas close to evergreen forest patches, although it is not known whether or not it occurs in primary evergreen forest.Known only from a few localities in the vicinity of the Amboli forest in Sawantwadi District, Maharashtra, in the northern Western Ghats of IndiaIt is not known to occur in any protected areas, making habitat protection an urgent priority.
The Chalazodes Bubble-Nest Frog
* It is a nocturnal, arboreal species.
* Also known as White-spotted bush frog.Tropical moist evergreen forestAll recorded specimens have been from the Western Ghats, IndiaIt was described in 1876 based on a single femalespecime, from Travancore, south India. There was no authentic report of this species since 1876 until its rediscovery in Febuary 2011.
Griet bush frog
* It is a small frog of snout to vent length ranging from 2-2.2 cm only.
* This species has beenrecorded from 1,500m asl. It is an arboreal species, found commonly in montane forest, and in secondary growth close to shoal forest, but can also be found in tea plantationsThis species appears to be restricted to one locality: Munnar, in the southern Western Ghats of IndiaIt is not known from any protected areas, and habitat protection is urgently required.
Munnar bush frog
* It was discovered in 2009 from Munnar in Idukki district of Kerala.
* It is found at an elevation of about 1,400It is known only from a small area (less than 20km) of secondary vegetation, adjoining the forest along the Ghat road. Specimens were found close to a tea plantation, but not inside the plantationCurrently known only to occur in two locations, Devikulam and Munnar, Idukki district, Kerala, south India.This threat is very serious as there are no other known areas in the surrounding region that could be considered as suitable habitat for the species.
Ponmudi bush frog
* It is the largest bush frog of India with a snout to vent length upto 4 cm.Evergreen forest surrounded by grassland.This species is known only from the type locality at 1,000 m asl on Ponmudi Hill, part of the Agasthyamala Hill range (=Ashambu Hills) in the Western Ghats of India. It might possibly occur more widely in Wynaad District.It might be present in Shenduruny Sanctuary and Wynaad Wildlife Sanctuary. Strengthening the existing protected areas network and maintenance of remaining habitat in the range of the species are recommended conservation actions.
Sacred Grove bush frog
* It isendemic toIndia.Associated with old growth, tropical, moist, semi-evergreen and mesic forest, and does not occur outside forestKnown only to occur in Kapildhara Falls, Amarkantak, Jabalpur District, Madhya PradeshImproved protection and maintenance of the habitat is needed
Shillong bubble-nest frog
* It isendemic toIndia.
* It has been recorded from elevations below 1,400m asl.Tropical moist forestThis species is restricted to a small area of forest, in and around Shilong, Meghalaya, in north-eastern India. It is not known whether or not this species occurs in any protected areas, but habitat protection and maintenance are urgent priorities for this species, and additional survey work is necessary to assess its current population status.
Anaimalai flying frog
* It is confined to rainforests of south- western Ghats
* It lives at elevations greater than 1,000 m above mean sea level. tropical moistmontane forestsand intermittent freshwatermarshesIt is found in Andiparai Shola, Pudothottam and the Anamalai Hills of Tamil Nada and KeralaWhile known to be present in the Indira Gandhi National Park in Tamil Nadu, further habitat protection is needed
********************End of CE REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS****************
Mammals
NameDetailsHabitatDistributionOthers
Namdapha flying squirrel
* It is an arboreal, nocturnalflying squirrelendemicto IndiaTropical forestFound only in Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal PradeshThe species is not protected by any legislation.
Andaman shrew
* This species is a nocturnal animal, endemic to IndiaLives in tropical moist deciduous and evergreen forests, where it inhabits leaf litter and rock crevicesSouth Andaman IslandsThis species has been recorded from Mount Harriet National Park
Jenkins' shrew
* It is endemic to India.
* It is a nocturnal / crepuscular and semi fossorial animalTropical moist deciduous forest.Found on Wright Myo and Mount Harriet in the South Andaman IslandThis shrew has been recorded from Mount Harriet National Park. There is a need to maintain areas of suitable forest habitat for this species
Nicobar shrew
* Also known as Nicobar White-tailed Shrew
* It is a nocturnal and semi fossorial speciesLives among leaf litter in tropical moist deciduous forestThis species is known only from the southern tip of Greater Nicobar Island (India) in the Bay of Bengal.It has been recorded from Campbell Bay National Park (possibly now extinct here) and Galathea National Park in Great Nicobar Islands.
Elvira rat
* Also known as Large Rock Rat.
* It is a medium sized, nocturnal and burrowing rodent that is endemic to India.
* It is recorded from an elevation of about 600 m above mean sea level.Tropical dry deciduous shrub land forest, seen in rocky areasKnown only from Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.It is listed in the Schedule V (considered as vermin) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Kondana soft-furred rat
* It is a nocturnal burrowing rodent that is found only in India.
* It is reported from an elevation of about 1,270 m above mean sea level.Tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forests and tropical scrub.Known only from the small Sinhagarh Plateau (about one km), near Pune in Maharashtra.It is listed in the Schedule V (considered as vermin) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Pygmy hog
* It is the worlds smallest wild pig, with adults weighing only 8 kgs.
* They live for about eight years, becoming sexually mature at one to two years oldRelatively undisturbed, tall terai grasslandsRestricted to only a single remnant population in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and its buffer reserves.Formerly, the species was more widely distributed along the southern Himalayan foothillsConservation program is conducted under the aegis of a formal International Agreement, that was originally signed at New Delhi in 1995 and later renewed as a MOU in 2001, between IUCN SSC Pigs Peccaries and Hippos Specialist Group, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT), the Forest Department, Government of Assam, and the MOEF, GOI
Sumatran rhinoceros
* It is the smallest and most endangered of the five rhinoceros speciesRainforests, swamps, andcloud forestsSumatra, Borneo, and theMalay Peninsula.It is now thought to be regionally extinct in India, though it once occurred in the foothills of the Himalayas and north-east India
Javan rhinoceros
* Also known as lesser one-horned rhinoceros
* The Javan rhino is smaller than Indian rhinoceros, and is close in size to theblack rhinoceros
* Like Indian rhino, the Javan rhinoceros has a single hornLowland tropical rainforest areasNative:Indonesia; Viet NamRegionally extinct:Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Myanmar; ThailandIt is legally protected in all range states. The species has been on CITES Appendix I since 1975.A Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) has been established for the protection of this species on Java (Sectionov and Waladi pers. comm.). It occurs in two protected areas: Ujung Kulon National Park on Java and the Cat Loc part (Dong Nai province) of the Cat Tien National Park in Viet Nam.
Malabar large-spotted civet
* It also known as theMalabar civet, endemic to theWestern GhatsofIndia.
* The species is nocturnal and probably elusive.Wooded plains and hill slopes of evergreen rainforestsWestern GhatsConservation Action: It is listed in Schedule I, part I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and on CITES Appendix III (India).
* Though Kashmir stag and Himalayan wolf have been mentioned as CE in Wiki, the iucnredlist.org has no mention of the same.
**************************End of CE MAMALS*******************************
References:
http://www.iucnredlist.org
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/15-bird-species-in-india-in-critically-endangered-list/article5393581.ece
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/372160-iucn-lists-great-indian-bustard-as-critically-endangered/c
http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/critically_endangered_booklet.pdf
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species
http://www.zooreach.org/ZOO_WILD_Projects/indian%20aze%202012-13%20activities.pdf
Name: Divya.V. Prabhu
