Introduction

Wildlife traditionally refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all plants, fungi, and other organisms that grow or live wild in an area
without being dintroduced by humans.

Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems. Deserts, forests, rain forests, plains, grasslands, and other areas including the most developed urban areas, all
have distinct forms of Wildlife .While the term in popular culture usually refers to animals that are untouched by human factors, most scientists agree that
much wildlife is affected by human activities.

Humans have historically tended to separate civilization from wildlife in a number of ways including the legal, social, and moral sense. Some animals,
however, have adapted to suburban environments. This includes such animals as domesticated cats, dogs, mice, and gerbils. Some
religions declare certain animals to be sacred, and in modern times concern for the natural environment has provoked activists to protest against the
exploitation of wildlife for human benefit or entertainment.

Importance of wildlife Traditionally speaking wildlife encompasses all non-domesticated animals like birds, fox, bison, frogs, coyotes and so on.
However, the term wildlife has come to envelope all kinds of undomesticated life from microorganisms to vegetation and fungi as well. The scope of wildlife
is vast and there is no possible way to discuss the importance of each contributor to the ecological system as a whole in this article. The most important
lesson to take away from this is that without wildlife human life would not exist.

Ecology
Broadly speaking, ecology is the study of environmental systems and everything that resides within those environments. Ecology is particularly focused on
how organisms living within an ecosystem interact with the living and non-living environment that surrounds them. An ecosystem is a community of natural
bodies that live and work together in an interconnected web for survival. The best way to think about this is the food chain.Population ecology focuses on
the variable amount of wildlife within an ecosystem and the distribution of that population. Ecosystem ecology is the general study of all living things in a
defined environmental community (desert, arctic tundra, rainforest, ocean and so on) and its interaction with the abiotic, or non-living, environment.
Community ecology focuses on both of the above, ecosystems and populations; combined. The food chain is a complex ecological model that represents
the importance of wildlife not only for wildlifes sake, but for the human race and society as a whole.

Balanced Ecosystems
Imbalanced ecosystems have detrimental effects on wildlife and humans.The World Health Organization released a report in 2005 claiming the state of
ecosystems worldwide are contributing to increased illness and mortality rates of populations throughout South America, Africa, and Asia. Factors like
deforestation, natural disasters and animal migration are huge reasons why ecosystems become imbalanced. Deforestation causes native animals to
relocate bringing potential bacteria and illnesses with them to habitats that may be gravely affected by these unpredictable or miscalculated interferences
that we begin to see how ecosystems directly affect the health of the human population
Besides basic survival and global health, wildlife plays an important role in other facets of life like economics and recreation.

Economics
A lot of cultures sustain themselves on the buying and selling of animal products or the animals themselves. Leather and fur are hot commodities, but so
are goats and cows. In some communities these animals can be bartered in exchange for goods and services. Unfortunately, some wildlife dependent
economics revolve around illegal industries like poaching. Poaching involves the unethical and highly illegal slaughtering of endangered or regulated
animals like elephants for their ivory tusks. Additionally, gardeners and farmers world-wide enjoy running businesses based on their ability to grow plants,
flowers, food and market them to the public.

Recreation
On the flip side of illegal hunting (poaching) there is the legal kind of hunt. Game hunting is a widely enjoyed past time for many people around the world.
Often the animals are used for their meat and hides, or their heads for trophies. While this sounds a bit sinister, hunting is actually a really resourceful way
of population control. We discussed above about how out of control wildlife populations can wreak havoc on ecosystems and hunting is a well-organized
solution to this problem. In many states hunters must register and receive tags for the animals they are hoping to shoot. This system provides a way for
conservationists and biologists to monitor the current populations of certain animals while attaining population goals through legal hunting. In Bucks County,
Pennsylvania the deer population is soaring. There are 8 bucks (male deer) to every doe (female deer) and the population is beginning to cause issues for
the habitat (plant life is being destroyed) and for civilization (higher frequency of deer related car accidents).
Additional benefits to wildlife include bird watching, photography, fishing, hiking and the general aesthetics of living in a natural world.

Food web A food web (or food cycle) is the natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical representation (usually an image) of what-eats-what in
an ecological community. Another name for food web is a consumer-resource system. Ecologists can broadly lump all life forms into one of two categories
called trophic levels the autotrophs, and heterotrophs. To maintain their bodies, grow, develop, and to reproduce, autotrophs produce organic matter from
inorganic substances, including both minerals and gases such as carbon dioxide. These chemical reactions require energy, which mainly comes from the
sun and largely by photosynthesis, although a very small amount comes from hydrothermal vents and hot springs. A gradient exists between trophic levels
running from complete autotrophs that obtain their sole source of carbon from the atmosphere, to mixotrophs (such as carnivorous plants) that are
autotrophic organisms that partially obtain organic matter from sources other than the atmosphere, and complete heterotrophs that must feed to obtain
organic matter. The linkages in a food web illustrate the feeding pathways, such as where heterotrophs obtain organic matter by feeding on autotrophs and
other heterotrophs. The food web is a simplified illustration of the various methods of feeding that links an ecosystem into a unified system of exchange.
There are different kinds of feeding relations that can be roughly divided into herbivory, carnivory, scavenging and parasitism. Some of the organic matter
eaten by heterotrophs, such as sugars, provides energy. Autotrophs and heterotrophs come in all sizes, from microscopic to many tonnes - from
cyanobacteria to giant redwoods, and from viruses and bdellovibrio to blue whales.Food webs are limited representations of real ecosystems as they
necessarily aggregate many species into trophic species, which are functional groups of species that have the same predators and prey in a food web.
Ecologists use these simplifications in quantitative (or mathematical) models of trophic or consumer-resource systems dynamics. Using these models they
can measure and test for generalized patterns in the structure of real food web networks. Ecologists have identified non-random properties in the
topographic structure of food webs. Published examples that are used in meta analysis are of variable quality with omissions. However, the number of
empirical studies on community webs is on the rise and the mathematical treatment of food webs using network theory had identified patterns that are
common to all. Scaling laws, for example, predict a relationship between the topology of food web predator-prey linkages and levels of species richness.

5 animals
Indian Elephant or the Asian Elephant
Elephants are loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the Indian culture. The largest population of Asiatic Elephant is found in India. India
has the largest population of elephants but due to human encroachment, mining, construction of dam number of elephants are falling. It also is one of the
many endangered animal in India.The Indian Elephant can be found in Tropical forest habitats from moist, evergreen lowland forest to dry semi-deciduous
teak forests to cooler mountain forests up to 10,000 feet. They also frequent adjacent grasslands and farm areas. Elephants are classified as mega
herbivores and consume up to 150 kg of plant matter per day. They are generalist feeders, and both grazers and browsers. In a study area of 1,130 km2 in
southern India, elephants were recorded to feed on 112 different plant species, most commonly of the order Malvales, and
the legume, palm, sedge and true grass families. They graze on the tall grasses, but the portion consumed varies with season.
National Parks: Bennarghatta National Park, Karnataka, Kaziranga National Park, Assam, Periyar National Park, Kerala
Lion Tailed Macaque The lion-tailed macaque, or the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. The hair of the
lion-tailed macaque is black. Its outstanding characteristic is the silver-white mane which surrounds the head from the cheeks down to its chin, which gives
this monkey its German name Bartaffe - "beard ape". The hairless face is black in colour. With a head-body length of 42 to 61 cm and a weight of 2 to
10 kg, it ranks among the smaller macaques. The tail is medium in length, about 25 cm, and has a black tuft at the end, similar to a lion's tail. The male's
tail-tuft is more developed than that of the female. The lion-tailed macaque ranks among the rarest and most threatened primates. They do not live, feed or
travel through plantations. Destruction of their habitat and their avoidance of human proximity have led to the drastic decrease of their population.
National Parks: Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, Mundanthuri Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

Great Indian Rhinoceros Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros is a large mammal primarily found in north-eastern India and Nepal. It
is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary shelters the highest density of Indian rhinos in
the world.It is found only in the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Indian rhinoceros has a thick grey-brown skin with pinkish
skin folds and a black horn. Its upper legs and shoulders are covered in wart-like bumps. It has very little body hair, aside from eyelashes, ear fringes and
tail brush. Males have huge neck folds. Its skull is heavy with a basal length above 60 cm .Its nasal horn is slightly back-curved and rapidly narrows until a
smooth, even stem part begin. In captive animals, the horn is frequently worn down to a thick knob.
National Parks: Kaziranga National Park, Assam; Manas National Park, Assam

Asiatic Lion The great Indian Lion is one of the largest of Indian cats. The habitat of the Asiatic lion is very small they survive today only in the Gir
National park of Gujarat and only about 411 lions are left in the wild forest of Junagarh.It is found in Grasslands and plains. The Asiatic lion's fur ranges in
colour from ruddy-tawny, heavily speckled with black, to sandy or buffish grey. Males have only moderate mane growth at the top of the head, so that their
ears are always visible. The mane is scanty on the cheeks and throat where it is only 10 cm long. Skull length in adult males ranges from 330 to 340 mm
and in females from 292 to 302 mm. The most striking morphological character of the Asiatic lion is a longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly. Asiatic
lions live in prides. Mean pride size, measured by the number of adult females, tends to be smaller than for those in Africa lions. Most Gir prides contain just
two adult females, with the largest having five.
National Parks: Found only at the Gir National Forest, Gujarat

The Royal Bengal Tiger The Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India. The Bengal tiger is the second largest subspecies after the Siberian tiger;
recent studies have shown that Bengal Tigers are, on average, larger than the Siberian Tigers. Today India has the largest number of Tigers in the world;
Kanha National Park is famous for its majestic Royal Bengal Tigers. Mostly seen in habitats having dense thickets, long grass, or tamarisk shrubs along
river banks. The Bengal tiger's coat is yellow to light orange, with stripes ranging from dark brown to black; the belly and the interior parts of the limbs are
white, and the tail is orange with black rings. Male Bengal tigers have an average total length of 270 to 310 cm including the tail, while females measure
240 to 265 cm on average. The smallest recorded weights for Bengal tigers are from the Bangladesh Sundarbans, where adult females are 75 to 80 kg
.Bengal tigers have exceptionally stout teeth, and the canines are the longest among all living felids; measuring from 7.5 to 10 cm in length.
National Parks: Kanha National Park, MP; Bandavgarh National Park, MP

Project Tiger
Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure. The project
aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats and also to protect them from extinction, and preserving areas of biological
importance as a natural heritage forever represented as close as possible the diversity of ecosystems across the tiger's distribution in the country. The
project's task force visualized these tiger reserves as breeding nuclei, from which surplus animals would migrate to adjacent forests. The Funds and
commitment were mastered to support the intensive program of habitat protection and rehabilitation under the project. The government has set up a Tiger
Protection Force to combat poachers and funded relocation of villagers to minimize human-tiger conflicts. During the tiger census of 2006, a new
methodology was used extrapolating site-specific densities of tigers, their co-predators and prey derived from camera trap and sign surveys using GIS.
Based on the result of these surveys, the total tiger population has been estimated at 1,411 individuals ranging from 1,165 to 1,657 adult and sub-adult
tigers of more than 1.5 years of age. Owing to the project, the number of tigers has improved to 2,226 as per the latest census report released on 20
January 2015
Project Tiger's main aim was to:

Limit factors that leads to reduction of tiger habitats and to mitigate them by suitable management. The damages done to the habitat were to be
rectified so as to facilitate the recovery of the ecosystem to the maximum possible extent.
To ensure a viable population of tigers for economic, scientific, cultural, aesthetic and ecological values.

The Indian tiger population at the turn of the 20th century was estimated at 20,000 to 40,000 individuals. The first country-wide tiger census conducted in
1972 estimated the population to comprise a little more than 1,800 individuals, an alarming reduction in tiger population. In 1973, the project was launched
in the Corbett National Park. The Government of India has taken a pioneering initiative for conserving its national animal, the tiger, by launching the Project
Tiger in 1973. From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 47 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range
states. The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest
land, managed as a multiple use area. The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger reserves, with an inclusive
people oriented agenda in the buffer.

Crocodile conservation
Crocodilians were threatened in India due to indiscriminate killing for commercial purpose and severe habitat loss until enactment of the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972. All three species of crocodiles Gharial, Mugger crocodile and Saltwater crocodile, in the river systems of Odisha were on the verge of extinction
by the seventies. Crocodiles were very few because of ever increasing human activity in the rivers and their other traditional habitats, and consequent
reduction in the extent of habitable stretches. Also, the survival rate of the crocodile hatchlings in nature is low because of predation. Piecemeal efforts
were being made from the sixties onwards to save the crocodile. FAO Expert, Dr. H.R.Bustard engaged by UNDP/FAO and Government of India studied
the prospects of crocodile rehabilitation, and based on his report and guidance a Crocodile Conservation Project was launched in 1975 in different States.
The Gharial and Saltwater crocodile conservation programme was first implemented in Odisha in early 1975 and subsequently the Mugger conservation
programme was initiated, since Odisha is having distinction for existence of all the three species of Indian crocodilians. The funds and technical support for
the project came from UNDP/ FAO through the Government of India
To provide baseline data prior to commencement of the project, in 1974 a survey of the status of the three species of crocodiles present in Indian was
made.
The broad strategy adopted for rehabilitation of crocodiles was to protect them in their natural habitats, to rebuild the population quickly through captive
breeding and to build up trained personnel for the job.
The broad objectives of Crocodile Conservation Project are to
(a) To protect the remaining population of crocodilians in their natural habitat by creating sanctuaries.
(b) To rebuild natural population quickly through 'grow and release' or 'rear and release' technique involving the following phases of operation.
1. Collection of eggs from natural nests as soon as these were laid,
2. Incubation of these eggs under ideal temperature and humidity maintained in artificialhatcheries.
3. Hatching and rearing the young crocodilians in ideal captive-husbandry conditions,
4. Marking and releasing young crocodiles in protected areas, and
5. Assessing the result of release along with protection of the released crocodiles.
(c) To promote captive breeding.
(d) To take-up research to improve management. Some of the major research activities have been in the following directions.
1. Interpretation of the various types of data collected during survey and census.
2. Determination of parameters for maximum success in egg collection, egg incubation, hatching, rearin
and release, including husbandry aspects on feeding, food conversion and growth.
3. Study of habitat features and population structure.
4. Study of behavioral biology including reproduction, thermo-regulation, feeding, water-orientation, locomotion etc.
(e) To build up a level of trained personnel for better continuity of the project through trainings imparted at the project-sites and through the
erstwhile Central Crocodile Breeding and Management Training Institute, Hyderabad.
(f) To involve the local people intimately through the following:
1. The development of a strong level of acceptance of the project by the people, by locating the projects in rural areas where people could both see and
participate in the entire programme.
2. Protect the immediate and long-term interests of fishermen who reside within the sanctuaries, and whose livelihood depends on fishing, by, if
necessary, providing an alternative source of income that was not detrimental to the conservation aims.
3. Extend the conservation programme to village-level, commercial crocodile farming, so that people could earn an income from conserving crocodiles and
their habitats
Satkoshia Gorge sanctuaries.

National parks

Jim Corbett National park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest and one of the largest national parks .indias first and oldest national park, established in 1936 by legendary British
hunter named Jim Corbett. It is located in the most sacred state of India called Uttarakhand. Snuggled in the foothills of Himalayas, Corbett National Park is
an ultimate destination for tiger tourism in India. Spread over 500 Square Kilometers the place is dwelling for variety of wild species and animals. You have
to take canter or jeep Safari to explore the hidden mystery of the dense jungle. While enjoying safari, there is great chance to spot the tigers and other wild
species like jackals, leopards, fishing cats, sloth bears and many more. It can be explored by jeep safari, as well as on elephant back which is a thrilling
experience of its kind. There are over 488 different species of plants and 585 species of resident and migratory birds in the park including eagle, blossom-
headed parakeet and red junglefowl. Bengal tigers cannot be easily found due to abundance of camouflage in the reserve.

Ranthambore National Park :

Ranthambore National Park is famous for Spotting Royal Bengal Tigers. It enjoys the status of the largest wildlife reserves in India. Ranthambore National
Park is a blend of nature and history. Located in the Indian desert state of Rajasthan, 450 kilometers south west of Delhi and 185 kilometers from Jaipur,
the park features rocky plains and steep cliffs. It supports an assorted range of flora and fauna, including around 30 tigers. There is a formidable fort inside
the park that was built in the 10th century and coveted by many rulers due to its strategic position between north and central India. The best time to visit the
park is during the hot months of March and April, as most of the animals are seen that time when they come out in search of water. However it is
comfortable to visit during the winter months. The best thing about this park is that it lies in close proximity to Delhi and tigers can be easily spotted here.
Surrounded by Chambal and Banas River, the park is a natural habitat for majestic tigers and several wild animals. Apart from the wonderful wildlife
attractions you may pass through the many ancient ruins like Ranthambore Fort.

Sundarbans National Park :

Sundarbans National Park is home to Royal Bengal Tigers and it is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Declared as a world heritage by UNESCO; it is
situated on the lower end of Gangetic West Bengal. The park is bounded by the River Hooghly in the west, River Raimangal in the east and Bay of Bengal
in the south. The dense forest of Sundarbans is blessed with the large number of Sundari trees and it is believed that the forest derived its name from these
beautiful trees. It is a land of 54 tiny islands that is formed by the tributaries of the river Ganges.he region is a magnificent tangle of mangrove jungle thats
the only one of its kind in the entire world. The best time to visit the place is from December to February when the weather is cooler.

Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in the south Indian state of Karnataka. It was
once a private hunting reserve for the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore but has now been upgraded to Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Bandipur is known for its
wildlife, but dry deciduous forest is dominant. It is Famous for Tigers, Elephants, Gaur. Located 80 kms from Mysore. It is the most famous wildlife
sanctuary in southern India and is especially recognized for its Eco-Conservation efforts. Spread over 873 sq. kms it is surrounded by the beauty of the
Western Ghats Mountains. Bandipur is also considered as one of the most beautiful and well-managed national parks in India. Apart from tigers, which are
in huge numbers here, you can also get a glimpse of gaur, sambhar, chital, mouse deer, jackals and many more. Elephants roam in large herds and deer
are seen grazing lazily in the natures lap.

Kaziranga National Park :

Kaziranga National Park is a famous national park located in the Golaghat and Nagaon District of Assam. It is a world heritage site, famous for the great
population of one-horned Rhinoceroses. It was declared as a tiger reserve in the year 2006 by the Government of India as the park boasts the highest
density of tigers among protected areas in the world. Apart from these two animals Kaziranga is a home to a large breeding population of wild water buffalo,
elephants and swamp deer. It is a natures paradise on the earth where wildlife roam fearlessly, where man and nature become one where wildlife viewing
and nature watch in the park will surely take you to a different world where you can enjoy the natures beauty at its best. The Wildlife wing of the forest
department of the Government of Assam, headquartered at Bokakhat, is responsible for the administration and management of Kaziranga. The
administrative head of the park is the Director, who is a Chief Conservator of Forests-level officer. A divisional Forest Officer is the administrative chief
executive of the park. He is assisted by two officers with the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests.

Sanctuaries
Gir wildlife sanctuary
The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India. Flock of lions comes in front of the
eyes whenever we recall world-renowned Gujarats Gir Forest. So why not, it is the one and only one place in the world besides South Africa where Asiatic
Lions resides. The sanctuary has now expanded to approximately 258.71 square kilometers, where today 411 Singh breathe. Gir forest is a home to more
than 300 species of birds, many of which can be seen round the year. Fortunately Gir is blessed with the more kinds of birds than any other park in Gujarat.
If we watch birds in their natural habitats it fulfills many of our basic criteria for what makes good outdoor recreation. These wonderful creatures of nature
appeal to our sense of aesthetics. The count of 2,375 distinct fauna species of Gir includes about 38 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, 37
species of reptiles and more than 2,000 species of insects. The carnivores group mainly comprises Asiatic lions, Sloth bear, Indian leopards, Indian
cobras, jungle cats, striped hyenas, golden jackals, Indian mongoose, and honey badgers. Desert cats and rusty-spotted cats occur but are rarely seen.
The main herbivores of Gir are chital, nilgai, sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara and wild boar. Blackbucks from the surrounding area are sometimes
seen in the sanctuary.
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagar districts of Karnataka, India.
The Cauvery River passes through its midst. It was established on 14 January 1987 under Section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1973 with the objective
of providing protection, conservation and development of Wildlife and its environment. The sanctuary spans an area of 2, 53,910 acres. On its east, it
adjoins Dharmapuri forest division of Tamil Nadu state. The forest types in the sanctuary are of dry deciduous forest, southern tropical dry
thorn and riverine forests; and jambul are the two major species of trees.Among the many faunal species found in the sanctuary, malabar giant
squirrel , grizzled giant squirrel are under the highly endangered category. The sanctuary is also home to many reptile species, 280 bird species which
include 19 new species and 25 bird species of Malayan Tropical Dry Zone.
Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary

Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary established in 1979, also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary of Maharashtra is a wildlife sanctuary for
the great Indian bustard at Solapur, Maharashtra, India. The land is drought-prone and semi-arid. Maharashtra is one of the six states of India where great
Indian bustards are still seen. The great Indian bustard at Nannaj and Karmala was first identified By Mr. B.S.Kulkarni in 1972 and with his constant efforts
to save the bird had resulted in Dr.Salim Ali visiting Nannaj and starting a research project. Mr. Kulkarni wrote extensively in local newspapers and made
people aware of its existence and he is still active in trying to protect the bird and its habitat at Nannaj, near Solapur. In former days the bustard was a
common bird in the dry districts of Maharashtra. In 1975 the Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), financed by the World Bank, was initiated
in Solapur district.

Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary

Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary is situated in Orissa, towards the south west of Puri. It covers an area of 1100 sq km. Many tourists get attracted to this place
as many beautiful and exotic birds reside in this sanctuary.
Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary
It has been estimated that around 9 lakh migratory birds visit this place in the winter season. White bellied sea eagles, graylag geese, purple moorhen,
jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species that migrate to Chilka lake bird sanctuary. Apart from birds, the animals like spotted dear,
hyenas, blackbuck and golden jackal are also found at this place. Around 160 species of fish, crustaceans and other marine creatures, including the famous
Chilka dolphin are found here.
Over the years, the ecosystem of the lake encountered several problems and threats such as:

Siltation due to littoral drift and sediments from the inland river systems
Shrinkage of water surface area
Choking of the inlet channel as well as shifting of the mouth connecting to the sea
Decrease in salinity and fishery resources
Proliferation of fresh water invasive species and
An overall loss of biodiversity with decline in productivity adversely affecting the livelihood of the community that depended on it
Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary,
Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary, also called the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, is a national sanctuary in Uttarakhand, India. Its alternate name comes
from its primary purpose of protecting the endangered Himalayan musk deer. Consisting of an area of 975 km2, it is the largest protected area in the
western Himalayas. It is internationally important for the diversity of its flora and fauna. Located in the Himalayan Highlands with an elevation ranging from
1,160 m to the Chaukhamba peak at 7,068 m ,it was a notified reserve forest between 1916 and 1920. It was changed to a sanctuary on January 21, 1972,
and has been designated a "Habitat/Species Management Area" by the IUCN. Since 1972, the area of the park has expanded from 2,3902,409 acres.The
sanctuary straddles a geographically diverse landscape and transitional environment. The sanctuary takes its name from the famous Hindu
temple of Kedarnath which is just outside its northern border. The entire 14 km route from Ghauri Khund to Kedarnath temple 3,584 passes through the
sanctuary.

Disadvantages of zoo
1. Lack of Freedom
Zoos are prisons for animals who long to be free in their own habitats, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals website. Although many
modern zoos go to great lengths to make the animals in their care comfortable, they are unable to provide the freedom associated with the animal's natural
world. Animals are not able to communicate properly with zookeepers, but supports of organizations, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
or PETA, claim that the animals are very unhappy in their virtual jail cells and that the conditions are often dirty and unhealthy, both physically and
psychologically, for the animals contained in the zoo enclosures.
2.Unnatural Habitats
Try as they might, a zoo cannot accurately duplicate the natural habitat of the animals within the enclosures. The best enclosures may seem impressive to
guests of a zoo, but they pale in comparison to the freedom and space the animals have in the wild. There are far less diverse plant and animal
interactions, if any at all, and this can lead to extreme boredom and loneliness for the animals.
3. Rarely Helps Endangered Survive
One of the common focuses of zoos is an attempt to help protect endangered species. To increase numbers of a particular species, they obviously need to
breed. Zoos try to arrange breeding for these animals, but according to the Wildlife New Zealand website, very few endangered species are successfully
bred in captivity. Of 1,370 species involved in a survival plan by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, only 1.4 percent of the species were
likely to be reintroduced to the wild after captive breeding in zoos.
4. Animals live in man made enclosures and dont get to live naturally. They always live in the same place all year round.
5.-Animals get easily stressed from small enclosures or crowding and limited privacy.
6. Animals lack mental stimulation and physical exercise.
7. Unregistered animals on a international species database, some animals in zoos are not even endangered so why are they in captivity!?
8. Apparentoly zoos have been known to supply
9. Zoos have apparently also been known to supply animals to the exotic meat industry.
10. Some zoo animals have ended up in circuses
11. Animals are said to die prematurely or at an earlier age in zoos
12. Some animals are forced to live in climates that do not suit them.

The Threats to Animals and Wildlife

Living things face a constant barrage of external stresses or threats that challenge their ability to survive and reproduce. If a species is unable to
successfully cope with these threats through adaptation, they may face extinction.

A constantly changing physical environment requires organisms to adapt to new temperatures, climates, and atmospheric conditions. Living things must
also deal with unexpected events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, meteor strikes, fires, and hurricanes.
As new lifeforms arise and interact, species are further challenged to adapt to one another to deal with competition, predation, parasitism, disease, and
other complex biotic processes.
In recent evolutionary history, threats facing many animals and other organisms have been driven primarily by the effects of a single species: humans. The
extent to which humans have altered this planet has effected countless species and has initiated extinctions on such a vast scale that many scientists
believe we are now experiencing a mass extinction (the sixth mass extinction in the history of life on earth).

PREVENTABLE THREATS
Since man is indeed part of nature, man-made threats are merely a subset of natural threats. But unlike other natural threats, man-made threats are threats
that we can prevent by changing our behavior.

As humans, we have a unique ability to understand the consequences of our actions, both present and past.
We are capable of learning more about the effects our actions have on the world around us and how changes in those actions could help to alter future
events. By examining how human activities have adversely impacted life on earth, we can take steps to reverse past damages and prevent future damage.

THE TYPES OF MAN-MADE THREATS

Man-made threats can be classified into the following general categories:
 Habitat Destruction & Fragmentation - The destruction or splitting up of once continuous habitat to enable humans to use the land for agriculture,
development of towns and cities, construction of dams, or other purposes.
Climate Change - Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, have altered the Earth's atmosphere and have resulted in global climate changes.

Introduction of Exotic Species - Accidental and intentional introduction of non-native species into regions never before occupied by the species have
resulted in the extinction of numerous endemic species.
Pollution - Pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of organisms.
Over-Exploitation of Resources - Exploitation of wild populations for food has resulted in population crashes (over-fishing, for example).
Hunting, Poaching, Illegal Trade of Endangered Species - Some endangered species are targeted for their value on illegal markets.
Accidental Deaths - Car hits, window collisions (birds), collisions with ships (whales).

Advantages of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks

In the modern, overpopulated world the need for dedicated space for wildlife is increasingly important. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries,
and protected spaces for nature help conserve the natural world and benefit us all in many ways. W hether a National Park is giving
someone space to walk and exercise, or a wildlife sanctuary is promoting conservation, these places play an important role in society. Here
we look at some of the benefits:

1. National Parks Help Protect Wildlife

Unfortunately many animal species today face extinction, mainly because their natural habitats are being steadily destroyed. National parks
safeguard these habitats, and provide a safe space for wildlife to breed and survive. W ithout national parks certain animal s pecies are at
greater risk of becoming extinct a landscape needs to be protected in order to provide habitat for wildlife. Animal sanctuaries give a
specific place where animals are kept in captivity in order to preserve the species.

2. National Parks Help Protect Landscapes

Animals are not the only things that are at risk of disappearing. Landforms like mountains, rainforests, gorges and dunes are at risk of
disappearing if they are not protected from the actions of humans and also the natural action of the environment. Many landforms are at risk
from pollution, and when they are controlled under national park status they have a better chance of survival. Landforms in n ational parks
are protected from development, destruction, and pollution.

3. Parks and Sanctuaries Preserve History

Historical structures built on national park land are preserved in order to give us a better idea of how people lived in the past, and how their
cultures worked. There are many different structures that can be preserved which allow people to learn from the past and continue building
for the future.

4. Helping Preserve Cultures and Tribes

In many national parks around the world people live generally apart from main civilization, and their culture and members are largely
protected thanks to the status of the national park. By setting up protected areas, tribes and indigenous peoples who would otherwise
struggle in the face of development are protected from these actions. National parks not only protect animals and wildlife, t hey can also
sometimes protect people too.

5. Giving People the Chance for Healthy Activity

National parks and to some extent wildlife sanctuaries also exist to provide members of the public with the space for healthy exercise and
recreation in the open air. It is important to conserve places where the natural environment is intact, so that people can slow down, enjoy
nature, and get some exercise by walking, running, or riding bikes. Many national parks in the US have established trail systems that offer
extensive routes for exploration on foot. People benefit from cleaner air to breathe and the chance to relax .

New discovery and extinction

New Discovery

It has been rich and eventful for wildlife discoveries of all sorts around the globe, from the discovery of a two-headed shark and a rare white giraffe to a caterpillar
that drums its anus to find friends, nature has never ceased to amaze. Here are eight new animal species found in India

1. Khaires Black Shieldtail This iridescent, bluish black snake discovered in the forests of Western Ghats was mistaken as another species of its cousin snakes. A team
of British and Indian scientists made the discovery. Khaires black shieldtail can grow up to 55 cm long. It lives deep underground and surfaces occasionally. The snakes
bullet-shaped head and small eyes are ideal for burrowing. The shiny scales help keep the body free of dirt and mud even during rainfall. So far, these snakes have been
reported from south Maharashtra, Goa and north Karnataka. Scientifically named Melanophidium khairei, the non-venomous snake was named after Neelimkumar Khaire,
founder of the Katraj Snake Park in Pune and the Herpetological Society of India, to acknowledge his efforts in the field of snake conservation.

2. Himalayan forest thrush Thanks to its distinct song that sounds like Adeles, an international team of scientists discovered this new bird species in the forests of
Arunachal Pradesh, India, and Yunnan province, China. According to a study published in the journal Avian Research, it gave itself away through its musical sounds with
rich, clear, drawn out notes unlike the raspy, scratchy voice of the similar looking Alpine thrush. Zoothera Salimalii, named in the honour of the famed Indian ornithologist
Salim Ali, is only the fourth new bird to be discovered in India since Independence in 1947. The six-year long study began in 2009 and concluded that the new bird had
shorter legs and tail with a longer bill than its Alpine counterpart. The new species is not under any threat as it is found in abundance in the Himalayan range.

3. The Indian Dancing Tadpole For the first time in 125 years, scientists discovered a new tadpole from the Indian Dancing frog family, Micrixalus, which is known
for waving its legs in territorial and sexual display. Tadpoles from this family had remained unknown due to their burrowing nature. Micrixalus herrei was discovered in
the rich biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats. The tadpoles remained unnoticed because they live deep in the sand until they turn into froglets. The tadpoles look like eels
with strong muscular structures. They have skin-covered eyes that protect them while burrowing in the sand.

4. Red Forest Crab This vibrant forest crab was discovered in the forests of Western Ghats in Maharashtra by Tejas Thackeray, an arts student. Found during the
monsoon season, it is active during the day and feeds on worms. It comes out when rain fills the rocky crevices of sloping hill formations in Ratnagiri district. The shell
and legs are bright red in colour while its pincers are orange-red and spoon tipped in shape. The shiny crabs long walking legs have brown bristles underneath them. The
pincers vary in length for males and females.

5. Sorting Hat Spider It is a unique new species of spider discovered in the Kans forest area of Karnataka. It resembles the Sorting Hat from J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter
series. It was named after the Sorting Hats fictitious wizard owner Godric Gryffindor by Javed Ahmed, a self-professed fan and independent naturalist. The
scientists described it as an ode to draw attention to the fascinating, but oft-overlooked world of invertebrates. They found the specimen in a bush four feet off the
ground. Its appearance helps it camouflage to look like a dried leaf and protect itself against predators. The spider measures only 7 millimeters in length and its discovery
was published in the Indian Journal of Arachnology.
6. Glyptotermes Chiraharitae (Termite) This new species of termite is named after the Western Ghats forests where it was spotted and discovered at Kayakkam in the
Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. These termites infect damp wood with high moisture content and do not require soil to survive. They are mostly found on wood that is
decaying and rotting. Amina Poovoli and K. Rajmohana, senior scientists with Zoological Survey of India made the discovery.

7. Fan-Throated Lizards V. Deepak from the Indian Institute of Science believed that with a biodiversity as rich as Indias, it was impossible to have just two species
of fan-throated lizards since 1829. After scouring 81 locations across 160,000 sq. km, he discovered 5 new species of fan-throated lizards in the drier parts of India. These
brightly coloured lizards live on the ground. Only the males have a fan-shaped, multi-hued fold of skin on their throats, which bloat to attract the opposite sex during the
mating season. The dewlap (fan) can be puffed due to the presence of a cartilaginous structure below the skin. During the breeding season, the males climb heights such as
top of boulders of trees and then arch their backs and puff out the fan-throat. As they live on dry soil with little vegetation, they begin to skitter about their hind legs during
the day when the heat increases.

8. Laterite Narrow-Mouthed Frog This thumb-sized frog chirps like a cricket and was discovered near Manipal, Karnataka. Its scientific name is Microhyla
laterite and it measures about 1.6 cm. They found the new species in the Indian laterite rock formations in an urban wasteland with less vegetation. It is a surprise to find
new wildlife in such areas as these lands are used for garbage dumping and mining, unlike biodiversity hotspots where new species get discovered most of the time. The
frog is pale brown with black patterns on its body. This wasteland frog survives in an area that is not environmentally protected and hence, it features under the
endangered species on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. It partly remained undiscovered for a long time because it sounds more like an insect than a frog by
its zeeeeee, zeeeeee calls.

Extinction There was a time when India was home for some of the most beautiful wild animals, Due to excessive hunting and poaching for sport and body parts by man,

these wild animals have become extinction. Some of the wild species are on the brink of extinction and some of them are already extinction such as Dangs Giant Squirrel

and Aldabra bandedsnail. Critically endangered species in India are the Great cats, one Horne rhinoceros, Ganges river dolphins, Purple frog; birds species such as

Himalayan Quail, Great Indian Bustard and Indian Horn-bill and many small mammals. The Indian government is planning a re-wilding project for Cheetahs.

Here are 5 extinct animals in India

Indian Cheetah: Indian Cheetah also known as Asiatic Cheetah have been known to exist in India for a very long time. Due to access hunting, Deforestation and habitat

loss, the fastest land animal on earth become extinct in India. The Asiatic Cheetah is a rare and critically endangered species of Big Cats family, now found today only in

Iran so also known as the Iranian Cheetah, worlds last few are occasional sightings in neighbor countries of India. Indian Cheetah was found in semi-desert areas of

Rajasthan and Gujarat and other open habitats where prey is available.

Indian Aurochs: The Indian Aurochs once lived in the hot and dry areas of India. The huge wild cattle was larger than most modern domestic cattle with height of 6.6 ft

and weight of 1,000 kilograms. The Indian bison or The gaur is the largest species of wild cattle found in India.zebu and gaur are the Indian cattle, who are quite similar to

the extinct wild Indian Aurochs. Extinct type of cattle was the most challenging hunting wild animal like the wild water buffalo and wild boar.

Sivatherium: Sivatherium was a very large approximately 7ft tall extinct animal found in India. The giant beasts was first discovered in India, where it was called as

Sivatherium due to the Hindu God Lord Shiva. The Sivatheres were the tallest and fastest monsters found in India ever.

Sumatran Rhinoceros: The Sumatran Rhinoceros has been declared as one of the extinct animal in India. The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest rhinoceros with two

horns and only extant species of the genus Dicerorhinus. The extinct Sumatran rhinoceros, once roamed and inhabited rainforests of India and neighbor north east Asian

countries. They are now critically endangered species and estimated to number fewer than 275 only and found in neighbor countries of India.

Pink-Headed Duck: Pink-headed Duck was a large diving blackish-brown duck; It was one of the most beautiful bird in India. The long-necked duck once found in

throughout India, but its beautiful appearance made it most hunted birds in India, Due to access of hunting this beautiful bird is fall in the category of extinct birds in

India. There is hope that the critically endangered species could still survive in some part of India our neighbor countries.

Wildlife conservation

Conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats. The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be
around for future generations to enjoy and also to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness for humans and other species alike. Many nations
have government agencies and NGO's dedicated to wildlife conservation, which help to implement policies designed to protect wildlife. Numerous
independent non-profit organizations also promote various wildlife conservation causes.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, wildlife in the United States gets a majority of their funding through appropriations from the federal budget,
annual federal and state grants, and financial efforts from programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program. Furthermore, a substantial amount of funding comes from the state through the sale of hunting/fishing licenses, game tags,
stamps, and excise taxes from the purchase of hunting equipment and ammunition, which collects around $200 million annually. Wildlife conservation has
become an increasingly important practice due to the negative effects of human activity on wildlife. An endangered species is defined as a population of a
living species that is in the danger of becoming extinct because of several reasons. Some of The reasons can be, that

1. the species have a very low population,

2. They are threatened by the varying environmental or prepositional parameters.

Major dangers to wildlife

Fewer natural wildlife habitat areas remain each year. Moreover, the habitat that remains has often been degraded to bear little resemblance to the wild
areas which existed in the past. Habitat lossdue to destruction, fragmentation and degradation of habitatis the primary threat to the survival of wildlife in
the United States. When an ecosystem has an ecosystem are some of the ways habitats can become so degraded that they no longer support native
wildlife.

Climate change: Global warming is making hot days hotter, rainfall and flooding heavier, hurricanes stronger and droughts more severe. This
intensification of weather and climate extremes will be the most visible impact of global warming in our everyday lives. It is also causing
dangerous changes to the landscape of our world, adding stress to wildlife species and their habitat. Since many types
of plants and animals have specific habitat requirements, climate change could cause disastrous loss of wildlife species.
Unregulated Hunting and poaching: Unregulated hunting and poaching causes a major threat to wildlife. Along with this, mismanagement of
forest department and forest guards triggers this problem.
Pollution: Pollutants released into the environment are ingested by a wide variety of organisms. Pesticides and toxic chemical being widely
used, making the environment toxic to certain plants, insects, and rodents.
Perhaps the largest threat is the extreme growing indifference of the public to wildlife, conservation and environmental issues in general. Over-
exploitation of resources, i.e., exploitation of wild populations for food has resulted in population crashes
Deforestation: Humans are continually expanding and developing, leading to an invasion of wildlife habitats. As humans continue to grow they
clear forested land to crewe more space. This stresses wildlife populations as there are fewer homes and food sources to survive off of.
Population: The increasing population of human beings is the most major threat to wildlife. More people on the globe mean more consumption
of food, water and fuel. Therefore, more waste is generated. Every major threat to wildlife as seen above is directly related to increasing
population of human beings. If the population is altered so is the amount of risk to wildlife. The less is the population; less is the disturbance to
wildlife.

Today, the Endangered Species Act protects some U.S. species that were in danger from over exploitation, and the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) works to prevent the global trade of wildlife. But there are many species that are not protected from being
illegally traded or over-harvested.