Wondering if some species are extinct within your lifetime! This is a harsh fact as there is a long list of Indian extinct animals which you might never see again after a few decades. Some charismatic and enchanting extinct animals from India are listed below.
Many exotic animal species have already faded away from the Indian continent due to heinous activities like human hunting, habitat destruction and poaching. Using animal skin and hair for commercial purposes is another reason behind the cruelty that animals face.
India is rich with its 11.5% flora share globally, and it comprises 6.49% fauna. The extinction of animal species has been an old tale but witnessing the phase yourself might be disheartening.
Top 15 Extinct Animals from India 2022
Asiatic Lion-
It is one of the most royal Indian extinct animals that’s getting obsolete, and it is the mightiest lion specie globally. You can get a glimpse of these heroic creatures at only Gir National Park and other hinterlands of Gujarat. These animals have consistently decreased since 2010, and at present, we only own 650 of them, which is pretty intimidating.
Bengal Tiger-
Also referred to as the ‘Big Cats’; Bengal Tiger comprises over 70% of the total living population in India. This species has been on the verge of extinction for the past 4 years due to the poaching activities here. The total number of Bengal tigers in India are now down to 2000, which is quite low.
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Snow Leopard-
It is a huge cat found in large numbers at several mountain ranges of Asia and look enigmatic at first sight. Human intervention has led to the reduced count of these leopards, and now there are just 500 of them existent as of date. And that too only in the hinterlands of Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. You can also spot them in several parts of the eastern and western Himalayas.
Nilgiri Thar-
Count of Indian extinct animals, continues with the Nilgiri Tahr, another rare animal species found at distant areas of Kerela. Absence of natural habitat and survival threats led to a considerable decrease in the existence of this wonderful animal species. There are in all just 2500 Nilgiri Tahr present globally today.
Kashmiri Red Stag–
These are already an endangered animal species popularly known as ‘Hangul’. They are rare and spotted only in the riverine forests of the Kashmir Valleys and some areas of Himachal Pradesh. There are just a handful of Kashmiri red stags present despite various conservation drives that officials conduct for their preservation.
Blackbuck-
The Indian antelope or ‘Blackbuck’ is a popular yet obsolete animal species found in some Nepal, Pakistan, and India regions. They are already in a very low count in India due to poaching and the destruction of forests to create more lands. Stringent measures are taken in Argentina and United States to raise the count of these animal species.
One-Horned Rhinoceros-
These Indian rhinoceros ranges amongst the extinct animals from India observed in the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal. Many wildlife sanctuaries are taking measures to converse and increase their count. There are just 2000 such rhinos left in the wilds of India.
The Indian Auroch-
These Indian extinct animals are large and muscular by nature. They have a resemblance similar to extant Gaur and appear a bit larger than them. Hunting, crossbreeding, and habitat loss are the few reasons for reducing these species in India.
Malabar Civet-
This animal has a feared extinct which was once found in abundance in the coastal regions of the west. They were last observed in 1990 and post that all measures to capture their sight have turned futile.
Pink-headed Duck-
Habitat loss and hunting also led to the decreased count of pink-headed ducks spotted at the Ganges and are already a very rare animal. They are on the verge of disappearance as they already have been hardly seen in the past 80 years.
Himalayan Quail-
The last record of quails was available in 1867, and then they were found in some areas of Mussoorie. These are also Indian extinct animals who appear as medium-sized birds spotted in various regions of Uttarakhand.
Indian Javan Rhinos-
Indian Javan rhinos are already very few in the count and are slowly being the most endangered species globally. Earlier, they used to thrive in regions of Bengal and Assam across southeast Asia. They are declining due to excessive poaching.
Asiatic Cheetah-
India holds the pride of being home to wild Asiatic cheetah, but this is diminishing at a rapid rate now. These appealing and vibrant cheetahs were every hunter’s paradise, and they are hardly spotted in the past 70 years.
Sumatran Rhino-
They originally belonged to Malaysia, but some of them managed to find shelter in the wilds of India. These are petite rhino species that are now listed amongst the extinct animals from India.
Chinese Paddlefish-
They are the biggest freshwater fish spotted in the regions of the Yangtze River of Asia. The survey stated that their existence was once recorded at Indian waters, but since 2019, there have been no traces of them anymore.
Other Extinct animals from India are:
Catarina Pupfish
Indochinese Tiger
Sunderban dwarf rhino
Gharial
Snow leopard
Red panda
Lion-Tailed Macaque
Wrap Up
The evolution of concrete jungles and carelessness about environmental conservation is a big reason why the wildlife of India is reducing at an unnatural rate. It is worrisome to know that now the extinction rate is going down to 1000 times that of the natural rate. Indian extinct animals are slowly becoming a global concern as we step into the 6th mass of massive extinction witnessed by the earth!