Gargi Adhav, YFNINDIA
6 Sept 2021
National Threatened species day is commemorated across the country on 7th September.
The reason behind celebrating this day is to raise awareness of plants and animal species at the risk of extinction. On this day we highlight the importance of native plants, animals and ecosystems that are under threat and the measures that we can take to protect them into the future.
This day also celebrates the astonishing work that has been done to save this threatened species by passionate conservationists, researchers, volunteers and community experts.
The National Threatened Species Day initiative was introduced in 1996 on the 60th death anniversary of the last Tasmanian tiger.
IUCN provides scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at a global level and guides actions to protect these threatened species and conserve biological diversity.
Vulnerable species, Endangered species and Critically Endangered species, all these three categories of species falls under the common category of Threatened Species.
Today most species of plants and animals have become extinct because of habitat destruction, introduction of non native species, overfishing, hunting, climate change etc. Protection of these Threatened species is important to save them going extinct. Once gone they are gone forever. Losing even a single species can have disastrous impact throughout the food chain. Hence the benefit of preserving these threatened species are invaluable.
Below are some of the threatened species in India:
1. Amboli toad :
Xanthophryne tigerina, also known as the amboli toad is a species of toads. It is endemic to western parts of India and known only from the vicinity of Amboli in Maharashtra. At present it falls under critically endangered species according to IUCN.
2. Great Indian Bustard :
Ardeotis nigriceps, is found only in India and adjoining region and it is included in the IUCN Red list as Critically Endangered bird species. Due to heavy hunting and habitat loss the bird is now disappearing from many regions of India.
3. Asiatic lion :
Panthera leopersica, which is now restricted to Gir National Park is declared as Endangered by IUCN in 2010 because of the constant decrease of its population.
4. Snow Leopard :
Panthera uncia, were once found in large numbers but are now Endangered because of constant human interference in their natural habitat. Their number has dropped down to 500 and can be spotted only in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Eastern parts of Himalayas etc.
5. The Pondicherry shark :
Carcharhinus hemiodon, is an extremely rare species in the family Carcharhinidae. It was once found throughout Indo-Pacific coastal waters from the Gulf of Oman to New Guinea but now it is critically endangered.
Plants and animals maintain the health of an ecosystem. The interactions between all these ecosystems make up and maintain the enenvironment. Loss of one species often triggers the loss of others. Thus the conservation of threatened species helps to restore the balance in ecosystems and is important for us too. When we add to the conservation of these species we also contribute towards the well being of human life.
We can protect these threatened species by spreading the awareness regarding their importance. Avoid the use of hazardous pollutants that can affect wildlife. Fertilizers that run into rivers can kill the fishes, amphibians etc and also cause threat to marine ecosystem. Thus excess use of fertilizers should be avoided. We should not purchase the products made from body parts of these threatened species like ivory, coral, tortoise shell etc.
Make Yourself Wildlife Friendly….
Ref : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_IUCN_Red_List_critically_endangered_species
Gargi Shankar Adhav.
FY Bsc Forestry.
Team YFN INDIA