Did You Know?

5.16 Did You Know?

Description

Quick Overview

This section outlines fascinating facts about India's biodiversity and conservation status, emphasizing the critical need to preserve wildlife and natural habitats.

Standard

The section reveals India's significant role in global biodiversity, including its substantial populations of wild tigers and elephants. It discusses the major threats to wildlife, particularly habitat destruction, and highlights the importance of conservation efforts, such as the Red Data Book, which documents endangered species.

Detailed

Did You Know?

India is a resplendent country marked by rich biodiversity, housing a significant share of the world's wildlife. Over half of the world's wild tiger population resides in India, alongside 65% of the Asian elephants and 85% of the great one-horned rhinoceros. Remarkably, India ranks sixth among the twelve mega-biodiversity nations globally, with biodiversity hotspots such as the Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats. However, wildlife faces severe threats predominantly due to habitat destruction caused by encroachment.

Notably, India is home to 172 species of animals classified as globally threatened, which is about 2.9% of the world's total. This includes many rare species like the Bengal fox and Indian elephant. To track and facilitate conservation efforts, documents like the Red Data Book have been established, which keep detailed records of these endangered species. Moreover, this section prompts readers to think critically about how human activity impacts wildlife and what measures can be taken to bolster conservation initiatives.

Key Concepts

  • India's wildlife holds over half of the world's tigers, significant populations of various species, and ranks high globally for biodiversity.

  • Habitat destruction primarily threatens wildlife today, leading to various consequences including loss of species.

  • The Red Data Book is crucial for tracking endangered species and facilitating conservation efforts.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • For every tiger's grace, in the wilds they pace, protect our lands, so they find their place.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once upon a time, in the lush jungles of India, tigers ruled their domain, but as their forests disappeared, so did their reign.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember 'WILD' for wildlife: 'W' for 'wild plants', 'I' for 'important species', 'L' for 'long-lasting ecosystems', 'D' for 'diversity'.

🎯 Super Acronyms

CATS - Conservation Aids for Tiger Survival.

Examples

  • The Bengal tiger, one of the most iconic species endemic to India, is listed as endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.

  • The Indian elephant is found in various regions of the country and faces threats from habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: Biodiversity

    Definition:

    The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or on Earth as a whole.

  • Term: Endangered Species

    Definition:

    Species at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat, changes in climate, and other factors.

  • Term: Habitat Destruction

    Definition:

    The process in which natural habitat is rendered unable to support the species present.

  • Term: Red Data Book

    Definition:

    A record maintained by the IUCN detailing the conservation status of different animal and plant species.

  • Term: Endemic Species

    Definition:

    Species that are found in a certain area and nowhere else in the world.