Discover India

The 26 vanishing natural treasures of our nation

I vividly remember my first safari, driving down a jungle path with scattered sunlight. To my young mind, everything seemed sharper the smell of trees and flowers was stronger, the air fresher and the silence uncanny. We passed herds of elephant’s drinking water and wide-eyed antelopes grazing. Then there was silence, with our guide whispering that there was a tigress nearby. After a long wait, we finally saw her. It was mesmerizing-she was less than 200 meters away and looking directly at us. It was an unforgettable, life-changing moment and the start of a lifelong fascination with animals. 

All these years later, I am saddened by the fact that so many species in India are on the verge of extinction. Here are 26 of them.

Namdapha Flying Squirrel 

NAMDAPHA FLYING SQUIRREL 

The flying squirrel is certainly a delight to watch if you are lucky enough to spot it. It has a furry membrane along the length of the body on both sides which act as a parachute once the squirrel is airborne. It has been sighted only around the eastern Himalaya and some parts of North-East India. 

Interesting fact This nocturnal flying squirrel has a breakaway tail to protect itself from predators. 

Best place to spot Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh. 

Navigator Dibrugarh is the nearest airport. Then a drive of six hours follows. 

Snow Leopard  

SNOW LEOPARD 

These mysterious cats are difficult to spot. They are medium- sized, with a beautiful grey coat, and mostly inhabit steep, rugged terrain. They can be spotted over a large part of the western and eastern Himalaya. This elusive leopard is most active from dusk to dawn and preys on ibex, blue sheep and tahr. Winter is the best time to spot them. 

Interesting fact Snow leopards cannot roar as they lack the requisite throat structure, they can only growl, hiss and wail. 

Best place to spot Hemis National Park, Jammu & Kashmir. 

Navigator Leh is the nearest airport, an hour’s drive away. 

Asian Elephant 

Asian Elephant

Asian elephants have reduced in number drastically in the last century. They are much smaller than their African counterparts and mostly move in herds. Disappearance of forest area, urbanisation and poaching for ivory are the biggest causes of their dwindling population. Mostly found in scrub forests and grasslands around India, they are fond of water. In summer, they can be seen spraying water over themselves with their trunks. And it is a delight to watch the calves splash around in water. 

Interesting fact An adult elephant can consume up to 136 kg of food a day. 

Best place to spot Periyar National Park, Kerala. 

Navigator Fly to Kochi (200 km from Periyar) or Madurai (140 km) or take a train to Kottayam (114 km). 

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Dhole (Wild Dog)  

Dhole (Wild Dog) 

Made famous by Rudyard Kipling as the red dog in the Jungle Book series, they arc rusty red to orangish in colour and live in packs of 10 or more. These wild dogs resemble foxes more and can be found in a wide variety of habitat—from evergreen:. forests to alpine steppes. A pack of dholes can bring down an animal 10 times a dhole’s weight. Their numbers have plummeted to 2,500 in the wild due to lack of prey and canine disease.

Interesting fact Dholes are good swimmers and often chase prey into water.

Best place to spot Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh. 

Navigator Khajuraho airport is an hour’s drive from Panna. 

Gharial 

Gharial

One of the most magnificent of reptiles, the garial has the longest length of all living crocodiles; it is dark-brown to olive in colour with an extremely thin snout which has 110 visible teeth. It is a riverine species and prefers fast- flowing rivers and deep pools. Gharials can be seen basking on sandbars, which they also use as nesting sites. The building of dams, fishing and river pollution are pushing gharials into extinction. 

Interesting fact The word ‘gharial’ comes from the Hindi ghara or earthern pot. 

Best place to spot National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. 

Navigator There are frequent trains between New Delhi and Agra, which is 70 km from the sanctuary. 

Tiger 

Tiger 

There are only a little over 3,000 tigers left in the wild. Over half of the world’s tiger (Pantliera tigris) population is scattered in tiger reserves in India. Highly adaptable, they are found in terrain ranging from the Himalaya to mangrove swamps, grassland and rain forests. Solitary by nature, they scent-mark their territory and arc great swimmers. Essentially shy, sighting of these big cats needs both patience and luck. Summer is the best time to see them w1en they venture out often to watering holes. 

Interesting fact The Royal Bengal Tiger’s night vision is six times better than that of humans. 

Best place to spot Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan. 

Navigator The railhead is Sawai Madhopur, 15 km away. From New Delhi the drive takes more than five hours. 

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Western Hoolock Gibbon 

Western Hoolock Gibbon 

The only apes found in India, these agile creatures are mostly arboreal. Swift, with long arms, they are among the most endangered primate species with a more than 90 per cent drop in their population. There are now less than 5,000 of them in the wild. They can only be spotted in North-East India, mostly in dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forest. They are tail-less apes and the male can be distinguished by the white brow. ‘l’hcy can he located through their high-pitched calls.

Interesting fact 1 loolock gibbons can swing up to six metres in one go. 

Best place to spot Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam. 

Navigator Fly to Jorhat, 22 km from the sanctuary. A permit to visit the park has to be procured from the divisional forest office in Jorhat.

Nilgiri Ibex 

Nilgiri Ibex 

Vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss, the Nilgiri ibex is endemic to India but is fast dwindling. It is a goat antelope found in the Western Ghats, mostly on grassy plateaus surrounded by crags. It has curved horns and short, coarse hair. Herds vary in size from six to 50 heads. 

Interesting fact When the herd rests, a doe keeps watch. 

Best place to spot Eravikulam National Park, Kerala. 

Navigator Kochi is 148 km away. You can club a visit to the park with a visit to the city of Munnar (14 km from the park). 

Kashmir Stag 

Kashmir Stag 

The last of the red deer family in India, the Kashmir stag is also popularly called hangul. Dachigam is the last bastion of the majestic Kashmir stag, where it is seen between an elevation of 1,700 m and 3,500 m. Males have a brown coat with a small white tuft on the chest and magnificent antlers with anywhere between nine and 16 branches. Winter is the best time to spot them as they move down to the Valley. They are extremely vulnerable and less than 200 are left in the wild due to extensive poaching and encroachment of forest area. 

Interesting fact It is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Best place to spot Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir. 

Navigator Srinagar is the nearest airport (22 km away). 

Sloth Bear  

Sloth Bear 

These are solitary, mostly nocturnal creatures. They feed on termites and ants, and love honey. They mostly inhabit thorn forests and grassland. Constant conflict with humans and vulnerability to poaching as well as capture are the reasons they are fast disappearing. 

Interesting fact Only sloth bears carry their cubs on the back. 

Best place to spot Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Gujarat. 

Navigator The closest airport is Ahmedabad (190 km). 

Red Panda  

Red Panda 

Nitich smaller than the black and white panda, they have a reddish orange coat and a rail as long as 18 inches. They are also called cat bears as they resemble in size an overfed house cat. They inhabit high-altitude forests as well as the eastern I limalaya. Nocturnal and acrobatic, they are mostly perched high up in the trees and love to feed on bamboo. Their numbers are fast dwindling due to heavy defore station and habitat loss. 

Interesting fact It is the state animal of Sikkim, with a population close to 300. 

Best place to spot Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Bagdogra from where the drive to Yuksom takes about five hours. 

One-Horned Rhinoceros  

One-Horned Rhinoceros  

The last encounter I had with Indian rhinos involved them running after our Jeep. They can run fast, close to 55 kmph, considering their size. They have a single horn whose size varies between 20 and 60 cm. The Indian rhino has poor eyesight but really sharp ears and excellent sense of smell. They are great swimmers, and can be seen spending much time in water. Essentially herbivores, they are mostly concentrated in tall grass habitat in North-Eastern India. It is fairly easy to spot them in Kaziranga National Park, which has the largest population of Indian rhinos.

Interesting fact An adult male rhino weighs close to 2,000 kg and a female around 1,600 kg. 

Best place to spot Kaziranga National Park, Assam.

Navigator The nearest airport is Jorhat (96 km away). 

Asiatic lion 

Asiatic lion  

Your only chance to see a lion in the wild in Asia is in the dry deciduous fore st of Gujarat. The Asiatic lion is a subs pecies of the African lion. The only distinguishing feature is a long fold of skin running across the belly and a smaller mane. Unlike other cats, who arc solitary and shy, lions live in groups called prides. It is comparatively easier to Spot them in Gir National Park as they spend most of the day resting and hunt only at night. 

Interesting fact In 1907, there were only a handful of Asiatic lions left, which prompted the Nawab of Junagadh’s conservation efforts. Now there are close to 400. 

Best place to spot Gir National Park, Gujarat. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Ahmedabad (415 km away). 

Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodile

Living mostly in brackish water around coastal areas and rivers, the saltwater crocodile is reputed as the largest in the crocodile family. Known for its hunting ability, it lurks beneath the water’s surface. Dark-brown to grey in colour, it has strong, webbed feet which enable it to swim fast for long distances. Unlike the gharial, it can move quite fast on land as well. You can spot it sunbathing on river banks. 

Interesting fact They are extremely lazy and can go without food for months after a feast on a big prey. 

Best place to spot Bhitarkanika National Park, Ddisha. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Bhiiibaneswar (160 km). 

Takin 

Takin 

An eye-catching mix of a goat and an antelope, takin are stocky with elongated noses and sturdy horns. They arc social animals and mostly sighted in groups. They are only found in the Himalayan region and alpine zones. When in danger, they give loud alarm calls and retreat into the forest. Winter is the best month to spot them as they descend to lower altitude. 

Interesting fact They spend a lot of time near a mineral deposit as salt constitutes an important part of their diet. 

Best place to spot Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Dibrugarh and the nearest railhead is Tinsukia. You have to drive to Anini, which is 360 km from Dibrugarh. 

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Forest Owlet 

Forest Owlet  

Small and stocky with large, golden eyes, this bird is dark-brown with beautiful white markings. It is found only in dry deciduous forest areas in central India, in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Mostly sighted through its call, winter is the best time to see a forest owlet perched on a tree. However, sighting is extremely rare due to the decline in population which is now estimated at around 250. 

Interesting fact It was believed to be extinct for over 100 years until rediscovered in 1997. 

Best place to spot Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. 

Navigator The most convenient airport is Nagpur, 225 km from the reserve. 

Pygmy Hog  

Pygmy Hog 

Hailed as the smallest wild pig, it is one of the most threatened species in the world. The estimated number in the wild is as low as 250. It is quite difficult to spot them due to their small size. They live mostly in tall grass, not far from a water source, and feed on roots, leaves and grass. Mostly grey-black in colour with sparse hair on the back, they arc very easily mistaken for wild boar cubs. 

Interesting fact They work on building a sleeping nest throughout the year, laying dry grass over a hole. 

Best place to spot Manas National Park, Assam. 

Navigator Fly to Guwahati and then drive to Manas National Park (176 km away). 

Clouded Leopard 

Clouded Leopard 

They move like shadows and are known to be the best climbers in the eat family due to their short legs and broad paws. These leopards have a light coat with beautiful cloud-like markings in black. They are found in a wide range of habitat, from tropical forest to mangrove swamps and the Himalaya. They are hunted for their pelts and other body parts, and have almost vanished from Indian forests. 

Interesting fact They are highly acrobatic, hanging upside down by their hind feet and balancing on thin branches. 

Best place to spot Manas National Park, Assam. 

Navigator Guwahati to Manas by road takes about five hours. 

Himalayan Goral 

Himalayan Goral

This is another species specific to the Himalayan range. They are concentrated in steep mountainous regions. With greybrow coats and short legs, the Himalayan goral is the smallest of the goatantelope family. Extremely agile, they can easily hop on rocky terrain and climb up to 4,000 m. They have excellent sight, which helps them protect themselves. They are difficult to spot, as they blend quite well into rocks and cliffs.

Interesting fact The female goral raises her young without any help from the male. 

Best place to spot Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Dehradun and the nearest railhead is Harjdwar Hire a car for the 285 km to Govind Ghat. 

Bengal Fox

Bengal Fox

This is another species found only in India. They arc quite small, with reddish brown fur. They live mostly in the foothills, Open grassland and semi-arid regions. They live in pairs and hunt lousily at night. In the daytime, Bengal foxes hide in their dens, which have complex tunnel system and escape routes. The best way in locate a fox is by way of its high-pitched growl-bark. 

Interesting fact Though they live in pairs or with cubs, they prefer t hunt alone. 

Best place to spot Bandipur National Park, Karnataka. 

Navigator The most convenient airport is Bengaluru. Bandipur is 220 km from Bengaluru and 80 km from Mysore. 

Barasingha  

Barasingha  

Also known as swamp deer, these animals inhabit marshy grassland, floodplains and meadows. They get their name from the 12 tines on the antlers. They move mostly in herds and are active in the morning and late afternoon. Stags are quite Casanova-like, during the breeding season they attempt to gather a harem of more than 30 does. Sighting is fairly easy-their population is largely concentrated in central India and Kaziranga. 

Interesting fact They emit a shrill cry of alarm when a large predator is around. 

Best place to spot Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Jabalpur (165 km away). 

Lion-Tailed Macaque  

Lion-Tailed Macaque  

With a silvery grey mane around the face and black body, lion-tailed macaques are good looking. They are found only in India, restricted to the Western Ghats in Kerala, Thmil Nadu and Karnataka. Their habitat varies from rainforests to evergreen forest. Mostly surviving on a diet of fruits and foliage, they are tree- dwellers. With the fragmentation of habitat, their numbers are dwindling and less than 2,500 are left in the wild. Follow the loud shrieks of males, used to defend their territory, to spot them. 

Interesting fact Lion-tailed macaques have a cheek pouch which they use to store food. 

Best place to spot Silent Valley National Park, Kerala. 

Navigator Coimbatore is the nearest airport (90 km away). 

Indian Wild Ass  

Indian Wild Ass  

Resembling a horse more than an ass, the Indian wild ass is one of the last three species of wild asses. Sandy to dark-brown in colour with liberal streaks of white, it merges well into barren landscape. An extremely fast runner, reaching speeds of up to 70 or 80 kmph, it makes for an enthralling sight in motion. Stallions are mostly territorial and can be spotted alone while mares with foals stay in herds. 

Interesting fact The life span of an Indian wild ass is between 20 and 25 years.

 Best place to spot Little Rann Wild Ass Sanctuary, Gujarat. 

Navigator Fly to Ahmedabad, which is 130 km from the sanctuary. 

Wild Water Buffalo 

Wild Water Buffalo 

Wild water buffaloes are massive and have dark-grey coats and backward curving horns. They love water and can be seen immersed for long periods in shallow pools or muddy pits. They are found in grassland, marshy areas and swamps as proximity to water is essential for their survival. They are slowly disappearing due to hybridisation with domesticated buffaloes. 

Interesting fact Wild water buffaloes are powerful beasts, weighing up to 1,000 kg. 

Best place to spot Kaziranga National Park, Assarn. 

Navigator The nearest airport is Jorhat (96 km away). 

Himalayan Musk Deer 

Himalayan Musk Deer

They have a hare-like appearance due to their ears and a shiny dark-brown coat. They occupy alpine scrub and fir forests in the Himalaya. They arc solitary and shy, and it is difficult to spot them as they can camouflage themselves well. ‘[he reason for their decline is the presence of a musk sac in the male. It is in high demand in the perfume and ancient medicines industries. 

Interesting fact The Himalayan musk deer has a curved posture, hence it leaps rather than runs. 

Best place to spot Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand.

Navigator Fly to Dehradun, then drive to Harsil (245 km), which is the nearest town to the park. 

Ganges River Dolphin 

Ganges River Dolphin 

The national aquatic animal of India, it is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra river belt. They are freshwater dolphins and, being mammals, cannot breathe in water. Hence, they surface every 30-100 seconds to breathe. Grey in colour, with a thin snout, they are also called blind dolphins as they lack lenses in the eyes. Once easil y spotted, now with rampant Construction of dams and extreme river pollution, less than 1,500 dolphins are left. It requires great patience to sight one and they only surface for a fragment of a second. 

Interesting fact Ganges river dolphins hunt fish and turtles by emitting ultrasonic sounds.

Best place to spot Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary Bihar. 

Navigator Patna is the nearest airport (75 km).  

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