General Studies: Indian Geography-Animals in India for Competitive Exams

General Studies: Indian Geography Animals in India

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with its headquarters in Kolkata and 16 regional stations is responsible for surveying the faunal resources of India. Possessing a tremendous diversity of climate and physical conditions, India has great variety of fauna numbering over 90,000 species. Of these, protista number 2,577, mollusca 5,072, anthropoda 69,903, amphibia 240, mammalia 397, reptilia 460, members of protochordata 119, pisces 2,546, aves 1,232 and other invertebrates 8,329.

     The mammal's include the majestic elephant, the gaur or Indian biscon-the largest of existing bovines, the great Indian rhinoceros, the gigantic wild sheep of the Himalayas, the swamp deer, the thamin spotted deer, nilgai, the four-horned antelope, the Indian antelope or black-buck-the only representative of these genera. Among the cats, tiger and the lion are the most magnificent of all other splendid creatures such as the clouded leopard, the snow leopard, the marbled cat, etc., are also found. Many other species of mammals are remarkable for their beauty, colouring, grace and uniqueness. Several birds, like pheasants, geese, ducks, mynahs, parakeets, pigeons, cranes, hornbills and sunbirds inhabit forests and wetlands.

     Among the crocodiles and gharials, the salt water crocodiles is found along the eastern coast and the in the Andaman and Nicobat Islands. A project for breeding crocodiles which started in 1974, has been instrumental in saving the crocodiles from extinction.

The great Himalayan range has a very interesting variety of fauna that includes the wild sheep and goats, markhor, ibex, shrew and tapir. The panda and the snow leopard are found in the upper reaches of the mountains.

     Depletion of forest cover due to expansion of agriculture, habitat destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, introduction of toxic imbalance in community structure, epidemics, floods, droughts and cyclones, contribute to the loss of flora and fauna.

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Animal Welfare:

The Animal Welfare Division is entrusted with the implementation of the provisions of the prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The mandate of the Animal Welfare Division is to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain of suffering on animals. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been constituted through amendment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2008. The powers and functions of the bureau have been defined under Section 38z of the Act.

Animal Welfare Regulations:

• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• Performing Animals(Registration) Rules, 2001.
• Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, 2001, 2009.
• Prevention of Cruelty (Slaughter Houses) Rules 2001, 2010.
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Establishment and Regulation of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules, 2001.
• Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001.
• Breeding of and Experiment on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998 as Amended.

Project Tiger: 39 reserves in 17 States [launched in April, 1973]

The centrally sponsored 'Project Tiger' aims "to ensure maintenance of the viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values, and to preserve for all times, areas of biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people". According to a refined methodology for estimating tiger population, an estimated land of 93,697 km square has been observed as tiger habitat. The estimated number of tigers is 1411 (with an upper limit 1657 & lower limit it 1165).

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More Reserves:

• Ratapani- MP.
• Sunabeda- Odisha.
• Pilibhit- UP.
• Biligiri Ranganatha Temple- Karnataka.
• Mukudara Hills-Rajasthan.
• Satyamangalam- TN.
• Nagzira- Navegaon. 
• Bor- Maharashtra.
• Suhelwa- UP.

Project Elephant: [27 + 5 new ones in 16 State]

Project elephant was launched in Feb 1992 to assist States having free ranging populations of wild elephants to ensure long term survival of identified viable populations of elephants in their natural habitats. The project is being implemented in states, viz AndhraPradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jarkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamilnadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Important Links:

• General Studies: Indian Geography- Details about Indian Rivers
• General Knowledge: List of Important Days to Remember for Competitive Exams
• General Studies: Indian Ministry of Defence for Competitive Exams