Conservation Challenges and Management of Endangered Animal Species in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2025.v10.n11.051Keywords:
Endangered species, wildlife conservation, human-wildlife conflict, protected area management, India, biodiversityAbstract
India, a megadiverse nation harboring approximately 7-8% of all recorded species globally, faces an unprecedented crisis in endangered species conservation. Despite hosting iconic conservation success stories such as the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), whose population increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022, the country grapples with complex, multidimensional challenges that threaten its rich biodiversity. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the conservation challenges confronting endangered animal species in India and evaluates current management strategies within the framework of contemporary conservation science. Drawing upon peer-reviewed research, government technical reports, and recent IUCN assessments published between 2022-2026, we analyze the ecological, socioeconomic, and policy-related obstacles to effective wildlife conservation. Key challenges examined include habitat fragmentation and loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, infrastructure development including green energy projects, and genetic threats such as hybridization. The article critically evaluates existing management approaches, including India's protected area network encompassing 1,014 protected areas covering 5.32% of the country's geographical area, species-specific recovery programs, community-based conservation initiatives, and innovative legal frameworks. Through detailed case studies of endangered species—including the tiger, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), and Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)—this review synthesizes current scientific understanding and identifies priority actions for strengthening conservation outcomes. We conclude that future conservation success in India depends critically on integrating ecological science with social equity considerations, adopting adaptive management frameworks, and reconciling developmental aspirations with biodiversity preservation goals.
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This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
