CONTENTS

Species Page No
Asiatic Lion 1
Gangetic Dolphin 2
Black Buck 3
Hoolock Gibbon 4
Hanuman Langur 5
Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros 6
Leopard 7
The Slender Loris 8
Wild Dog 9
Indian Python 10
Sarus Crane 11
Siberian Crane 12
The Peafowl 13
White or Rosy Pelican 14
Great Indian Hornbill 15
Painted Stork 16
Flamingo 17
Marsh Crocodile 18
Indian Cobra 19
Musk Deer 20
Asian Elephant 21
Wild Buffalo 22
Great Indian Bustard 23
Indian Wild Ass 24
Swamp Deer 25
Himalayan Black Bear 26
Sloth Bear 27
Smooth Indian Otter 28
White Tiger 29
Gaur Bos 30
Lion Tailed Macaque 31
Nilgiri Langur 32
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

ASIATIC LION
(Panthera leo persica)

T he Asiatic lion, Panthera leo

persica like its African
counterpart, lives in prides and is
the status of a National Park in
1965.

the most social among cats. The The total population of the Asiatic
members of the pride often hunt lion, in the wild, hovers around 250.
together. The behaviour and habits So long as the Asiatic lion population
of the Asiatic lion is very similar to remains restricted to a single
the African lion. location, it is at risk from
catastrophic events. Efforts are
The lions are a yellowish brown colour underway to establish a second
and the males can be distinguished population of this endangered cat
by the presence of the mane. They, in a suitable habitat. Palpur-Kuno,
on average, grow to about nine feet in Madhya Pradesh, has been
in length. The young cubs are often identified as the most viable area
spotted or striped. Asiatic lions prey for this purpose.
on chital, sambar, nilgai and other
Lions have played an important role
animals besides cattle.
in the folklore of Indian culture for
over 2000 years and have been
Though once widespread
celebrated as ‘Lord of Beasts’.
throughout south-west Asia from
Emperor Ashoka used the lion as a
northern Greece to central India,
symbol of power and strength. This
its numbers declined with the
depiction of the lion eventually has
disappearance of the scrub and
become the symbol of the modern
grasslands. Today, the Asiatic lion
Republic of India.
is restricted to Gir National Park,
Gujarat, in India – its last refuge
with a mixed deciduous forest. The
effort to conserve this species was
initiated as long ago as 1910 by the
Nawab of Junagadh who banned
the hunting of lions within his
province. After India gained
independence this ban was upheld
and an area of the Gir Forest given
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

GANGETIC DOLPHIN
(Platanista gangetica)

A quatic mammalian predators

are magnificent creatures,
which regulate the whole natural set
Farakka Barrages commissioned in
April 1975, has created a barrier to
the movement of the dolphins
up of aquatic ecosystem. Gangetic between lower reaches of the Ganga
dolphin popularly called as susu is system, including biologically rich
found in Ganga, Meghna, Sunderbans and the middle and
Karnaphuli and Brahamputra river upper Ganga.
systems. It is an indicator species
of the state of health of the riverine Other reasons which have
ecosystem. This species has been contributed to the decline are
listed in schedule I of the Indian Wild construction of dams, siltation of
Life Protection Act, 1972, and has rivers, accidental killings, excessive
been assessed as critically fishing, river pollution and increased
endangered by the IUCN since 1996. navigation.

About six to seven feet long when There is an urgent need of a mass
adult, this spindle shaped animal movement along its distributional
feeds on crustaceans and fish on range for the protection of this
the riverbed and breaks the surface unique freshwater cetacean.
every minute or so to breathe. It is
peculiar for its hissing sound, susu.

Recent estimation of its population

gives an impression that the
populations are rapidly declining.
Various development projects like
construction of barrages at the
heads of the Ganga and all of its
tributaries have resulted in the
extinction of species from the
upstream reaches of the river.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

BLACK BUCK
(Antilope cervicapra)

B lack buck is the only

representative of genus
antelope in India. An average buck
groups of 15-50 individuals. As the
young males approach maturity,
they are driven from the herd and
weighs about 25-45 kilograms. form small groups among
Sexual dimorphism is distinct. themselves. Usually the group is led
Males have dark brown to black coat by an old and vigilant female. Their
colour and 20-25 inches long sense of hearing is moderate
straight horns which are loosely whereas that of scent fairly well
wound about the longitudinal axis, developed. They have a keen
with ridges across. Females are eyesight and power to run at a very
usually hornless. high speed.
They occur in practically all the When a group of black bucks is
plain areas except along the Indian alarmed, a single member will
coast southward from the bound into the air to a surprising
neighbourhood of Surat. They avoid height, and is soon followed by other,
forest or hill tracts. Unfortunately, until the whole herd is in motion.
their population is declining rapidly These bounds are continued for a
despite being considered sacred in few strides after which the herd
several parts of the country. Black settles down to a regular gallop.
buck forms one of the constellations
Black bucks feed almost throughout
of Indian Zodiac. According to
the day, resting in shade during the
census of 1982, only 43,500 black
hottest part of the afternoon. The
bucks were present in the country.
short grass alongwith various cereal
The black buck is being protected
crops is the chief food of these bucks.
legally too. If proper
safeguard is provided, They breed in all seasons but the
they can very easily main rut takes place in February-
increase in number, March. They are particularly
thanks to their high pugnacious at this time. A buck
fecundity and absence of then struts about with a
major predators. peculiar mincing gait, uttering
short challenging grunts, with
Black bucks remain in
its head thrown upwards.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

HOOLOCK GIBBON
(Hylobates hoolock)

H oolock gibbon is the only ape

found in India. It is found in
eastern India in Assam and
branches which the gibbon grabs
as it makes its daily way through.
The food usually comprises of fruits,
Nagaland. Hoolock is relatively small leaves, young shoots, spiders,
for an ape but has long limbs and insects, grubs and bird eggs. It is
dense, shaggy fur. even reported to eat young chicks.

Hoolock gibbons live in hilly forests. They mate in early rainy season.
They are diurnal. They begin to howl Young are born in winter after a
as the day dawns by making their gestation period of 200–212 days. A
peculiar double call ‘Whoko, Whoko’ single young one is born at a time.
which is repeated several times by At birth, the young are plane greyish
several members of the group. They white with a yellowish tinge but the
retire during the hot hours of the face, palms and soles are black.
day and begin again in the evening, The lighter body colour usually
but this time the chorus is less darkens with age and becomes
noisy. They are completely arboreal completely black in a few months,
and swing on their arms from with a silvery white band above the
branch to branch. They are more eyebrow.
agile than many other apes because
of smaller size and less weight. They In males, the black colour remains
walk erect with their hands whereas it changes
outstretched. from black to pale
yellow brown in
They live in family groups consisting females during
of one male, one female and their puberty. They are
children. The family sleeps in the reported to live
sheltered valley and ascends upto 23 years in
hillsides and taller trees for feeding. captivity. Sexual
The family hunts within its territory maturity is
and follows the same path day after attained at the
day. The path can easily be traced age of seven
by the worn-out condition of the years.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

HANUMAN LANGUR
(Presbytis entellus)

L arge, black faced, gray bodied

with long limbs and a tail longer
than head and body, these animals
jungles and arid rocky areas with
xerophytic vegetation. In Himalayas,
it migrates seasonally, going up to
are represented by 16 sub species the mountains in the summer and
encompassing almost the entire coming down to lower altitudes in
Indian subcontinent. This most the winter.
popular and widespread non-human
primate, lives in social groups of Since the natural habitat of the
various sizes and compositions such langur is being eroded at a fast pace,
as unimale bisexual groups, its presence near human
unimale groups and multimale - habitations and religious places is
multifemale groups. Group size a common sight. Being chiefly
varies from two to three (in male vegetarian, surprisingly it can utilize
bands) to 80 – 90. In some cases, fruits of Strychnos nox–vomica
infant killing is observed following which is a source of poison
leadership changes. ‘strychnine’ as well as such repulsive
and evil smelling latex bearing
Hanuman langur is largely a plants as the aak , which are avoided
deciduous forest animal that prefers by most animals.
relatively dry tropical forests, scrub
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

GREAT INDIAN ONE HORNED RHINOCEROS

(Rhinoceros unicornis)

T he great Indian one horned

rhinoceros is one of the largest
rhinoceros existing in Asia. The skin
is believed to have aphrodosiac and
other medicinal values. But
scientifically, it has been proved that
of this massive creature is divided into the horns have no medicinal value.
great shields by heavy folds behind
the shoulder and in front of the thighs. The breeding takes place at all the
The fold in front of the shoulder is not times of the year. The mating takes
continued right across the back and place with a long pre-mating chase,
is a distinctive character of this and usually one calf is born after a
rhinoceros. The great Indian gestation period of 16 months. The
rhinoceros was earlier distributed in calf weighs about 60 kilograms at
the Gangetic plain, but today it is the time of birth. The young calf
restricted to parts of Assam, Nepal, remains with mother for two years.
West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The life span may be as much as
50 years or more. A rhino
These rhinoceros remain more or introduction programme was
less solitary. They usually seek to launched within Dudhwa National
escape rather than attack an enemy. Park, UP which harboured natural
They remain near water in which population of rhino in the past. To
they bathe daily, they also enjoy begin with, in 1984, five rhinos
wallowing in mud. Mornings and (two males and three females) were
evenings are the chief feeding tranquilized in
periods, the remainder of the day is Assam and
spent in slumber. The diet consists trans located
of grass, seeds and twigs. from there for
rehabilitation in
The rhinoceros is a social animal. Dudhwa National
They have a particular place for Park where a grassland
dropping their excreta. Large was specially fenced for the
amount of dung is formed within a purpose. A census done in 1996
few days. Due to this habit the revealed presence of 13 rhinos in
rhinoceros becomes an easy victim the area. According to 1999 census,
to the poachers. The poachers hunt there are 1847 one horned Indian
the rhinoceros for its horns, which rhinoceros in the jungles of India.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

LEOPARD
(Panthera pardus)

L eopard or Panther is a sleek,

short haired animal with a
fulvous or bright coat marked with
down with the hind legs well doubled
up underneath, and then leaps on
the prey, from a distance not more
small close-set black rosettes. There than 100 metres, quickly yet
are 11 races of leopard found in silently. The prey is seized by the
Asia, of which three are found in throat till it dies. Its ability to climb
India. Leopard is found all over India tree with ease enables it to attack
and also in Myanmar and Ceylon. arboreal animals like monkeys,
langurs, etc.
The Leopard in habit is very watchful
and stealthy. His well developed Leopard is a bold animal. It takes
sense of sight and hearing aids him risk to kill and eat its kill even when
in that. Sense of smell is not so well there is a danger of being shot.
developed in Leopard. Leopard is a
perfect predator. It will kill and eat There is no fixed time for breeding
anything it can overpower with and the gestation period is about
safety. A Leopard as well lives in an 90 days. Two or three blind cubs
open country near a village as in a are usually born at a time. Average
forest. Accordingly they are called weight of a cub at the time of birth
‘village leopards’ or ‘forest leopards’. is 700 grams. Leopard, being
endangered, is presently being
Village Leopards feed on sheep, protected in over 200 sanctuaries
poultry, goats and dogs, whereas, and national parks in India alone.
the choice is varied for forest
leopards. They prey on deer,
monkeys, porcupines, birds, reptiles
and even crabs.

When in pair, it is the female who

attacks unless the quarry is too big
for her to handle. It walks along
quite naturally to within a few yards
of the victim-stopping occasionally
to look around-then settles itself
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

THE SLENDER LORIS

(Loris tardigradus)

D uring the day, Loris tardigradus,

is a small brown ball of soft fur
tightly curled up in a tree hole or
helps marking its territory but also
to find its way. It also screeches like
an owl and makes chattering noises
among branches as it sleeps. Being to communicate.
nocturnal, it wakes up in the
evening. As it prepares for the night The slender loris is found in open
ahead, its whitish undersides, large tree jungle and not confined to the
owl-like eyes, long slender limbs, dense forests of south India and
large prominent ears, white muzzle Ceylon.
and a pointed snout become They come down to bushes to feed
obvious. and cross open ground. The habitat
The slender loris moves very slowly. preferred by these animals is
The thumb and the big toe of this constantly being taken over by
species are opposable as in all humans threatening their survival.
primates. This helps them to walk This apart, these animals are
on branches and also to grasp prey. constantly captured and sold. The
It spends hours of darkness moving eyes are believed to cure eye
among the branches of trees hunting diseases and also serve as an
insects, geckos, lizards and anything aphrodisiac. The survival of these
they can overcome. They approach ‘clowns’ (loris means clown in Dutch)
the prey with stealth and quickly can be ensured if the preferred
grab it when within reach. They are habitat is maintained and an end
also known to feed on lantana brought to the many superstitious
berries. practices that surround this animal.

This animal leads a India also has another

solitary life. It marks species of loris – the slow
its territory by soaking loris, found in dense forests
its hands and feet of north-east India and is
with its own urine, heavier than slender loris
thereby leaving a which weighs just about
scent trail wherever it quarter of a kilogram.
moves. This not only
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

WILD DOG
(Cuon alpinus)

T he Whistling hunter is
distinguished from Canis (Wolf,
Jackal) by more rounded ears and
With preference for hunting by day,
they hunt in packs, which are
usually family groups, the social life
a proportionately short muzzle, a originating from prolonged
characteristic that enables it to exert association between parents and
an extremely powerful bite. offspring.

Out of the nine sub-species of genus The animal is called ‘bloody’ because
Cuon, four are found in India. They it kills larger prey by biting off
are (i) Cuon alpinus adjustes (having chunks of meat and by evisceration.
global distribution in northeast and
Myanmar and current regional Not long ago, hunters and foresters
distribution of Namdapha area in thought that dholes were
Arunachal Pradesh) assessed as responsible for the decline of the
critically endangered (ii) C.a. deer species, which actually was
dekhanesis, a sub-species endemic due to overgrazing, habitat loss and
to peninsular India, its current poaching. Very recently, the truth
regional distribution is south of has come to light and people have
Ganges river. This sub-species has realized its importance as a useful
been assessed as Lower Risk (IUCN part in the general set up of nature.
red list categories), (iii) C.a. Now the dhole being in Schedule II
primaevus with a global distribution of the Indian Wild Life (protection)
in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and current Act 1972, enjoys total protection
regional distribution in Uttar from hunting.
Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and
Assam, has been assessed as
vulnerable and (iv) C.a. laniger, a
dhole endemic to India having a
current regional distribution in
Jammu and Kashmir are listed as
critical. (IUCN red list categories).
Wild dog occupies an enormous
variety of habitats.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

INDIAN PYTHON
(Python molurus)

C ommonly known as ajgar,

Indian python reaches upto six
metres in length. This is about the
victim. It hurls its head at the body
of the prey and strangulates the
victim with the coils of its strong
biggest and thickest snake of India. muscular body. The prey, unable to
It weighs upto a maximum of 100 breathe, succumbs itself shortly and
kilograms. The snake is brown on is swallowed head first. It preys on
top with rhomboid dark grey edged frogs, toads, monitor lizard, wild
spots on the body. There is a lancet ducks, peafowls, poultry, rats, hare,
shaped brown mark on the head porcupine, langur, deer, etc.
and tapering pink brown stripes at
the sides of the head, extending The snake does not move after a
beyond the eyes. The ventral side is heavy meal and if forced to move,
greyish with yellow and brown spots, hard parts of prey such as horns
seen more prominently in the tail may tear through the body wall.
region. After a fresh shedding of Digestion time depends on the
skin, the snake looks iridescent. condition of snake, time of the
Two races of python molurus are year and the size of the prey. A rat
found in the whole Indian or crow takes eight days and a goat
Peninsula. It lives in dense as well about three weeks to get digested
as open forests with rocky outcrops. in summer.
It has become endangered because Mating occurs during the cold
of being eaten in some parts of India season and eggs are laid after three
and far east. The flesh is slated to to four months. Eggs are soft, white
be ‘tough and too sweet’. The skin in colour and equally domed at both
is used commercially. poles. The female broods the eggs
Python is a good by coiling them. Incubation period
climber and a is 58 days after which the eggs
good swimmer. hatch. Mother does not take any
When on trees, further interest in young ones.
it lies motionless Hatchlings are about 75 centimetres
waiting for its long.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

SARUS CRANE
(Grus antigone)

S arus is the tallest bird of India

standing upto 150 centimeters.
It is a grey bird with long bare legs
They produce very loud trumpeting
sound, usually a duet by the pair
from the ground and during flight.
and naked red head and upper neck, The call serves as a display of
inhabiting cultivation and affection, an alarm signal, a greeting
marshland. It is a resident bird, and a means of maintaining contact
which moves locally with conditions between pair. The call can be heard
of drought and flood. during night as well as in day time.

The distribution of this bird was The breeding season is chiefly

extended through the northern part during monsoon, starting from July
of Indian subcontinent. It seems to to October. The nest is a large pile
occur in more isolated swamps and of reeds, straw and a metre in
marshes. In Australia, the Sarus diameter at the top, placed on a
crane was first identified in 1964. bund in the midst of flooded paddy
The crane occurs much in the same fields or on a hummock island in a
habitats, as does the Australian swamp or jheel. Both the birds
crane. contribute in building the nest.
Normally two eggs are laid in a nest.
Evidence indicates that Sarus is
highly omnivorous. Plant materials The incubation period varies from
that are eaten include grain, tubers, 31 to 36 days. The juveniles have
corns of acquatic and marsh plants, entirely feathered head and neck
green shots of grasses and cereal which are buff in colour. Both the
crops. In Keoladeo National Park, parents take
Bharatpur, the cranes feed on seeds, care of the
grasshoppers and other insects. young. It is
Sarus pairs for life. The faithfulness believed that
and devotion of couple to each other young birds
have become legendary in India and remain with their
the popular sentiment is responsible parents for 10
for the universal protection which months or until
the bird enjoys. the parents begin
breeding again.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

SIBERIAN CRANE
(Grus leucogeranus)

A mong the 14 species of cranes

found in different parts of the
world, five species of cranes are
centimeters and weight varies from
5.6 to 8.6 kilograms.

found in India. Most of the other The Siberian crane is not a very
cranes have a trumpet like voice social species.
that carries to great distances. The The cranes are more or less
voice of Siberian cranes is soft and vegetarian largely depending upon
flute like, a character which, when bulbs, corns, shoots and seeds of
combined with gleaming white aquatic plants for food.
plumage, bruited red face and
solman legs, endears the species to The young attain maturity at the
many as the ‘Lily of Birds’. age of three to four years. The
pairing in Siberian crane is
Historically, the Siberian cranes permanent and courtship simply
were abundant in USSR (now Russia serves to strengthen the bond
and other countries) in the Southern between the existing pair of birds.
half of western Siberia during the They display a beautiful nuptial
eighteenth century. But they dance. The eggs are laid between
became rare in the beginning of the May and mid of June, in a large
20th century. depression near the shore of lakes
The estimated population of Siberian or on a grassy mound. Generally
cranes at their habitat was 3000 two dull green eggs are laid. The
birds in 1993. The population of female incubates the eggs while
Siberian crane wintering in India male stays nearby. The incubation
declined at a very fast rate over the period
years. varies
between
The Siberian crane is also known 2 7 - 2 9
as Asiatic white crane. The adults days. Both
of both sexes are exquisitely the parents
beautiful, snow-white with reddish take care of
face, showing black wing quills in chicks.
flight. The height of the adult is 140
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

THE PEAFOWL
(Pavo cristatus)

P heasants, also known as

gamebirds, are spectacularly
colourful birds, and many of them
trees. A variety of vegetable foods,
including seeds, fruits, buds and
leaves is supplemented with worms,
have brilliant metallic plumage. snails, insects, and other small
They are heavy bodied with well animals. Foraging peafowl scratch
developed bills and powerful legs in the ground with their feet to
for pecking and scratching in the expose food hidden among dead
ground. They are known to mankind leaves or in the soil.
from a long time and adored for
their beautiful plumage. The nest is a shallow scrape in the
ground in a dense thicket, lined
Peafowl is a resident Indian bird, with sticks and leaves.
found in dense scrub jungles,
decidous forest, and also among Due to extreme hunting pressure
habitations, in small parties. and loss of habitat, these birds have
become endangered.
The Indian peafowl feeds mainly on
the ground, although a few peafowl In Delhi, peafowl are common in
species sometimes take food from Kishangarh forest, the Ridge near
bushes or the lower branches of Dhaula Kuan, and near Delhi
University. They are also common
in residential area such as
Mahipalpur, Vasant Kunj, Vinay
Nagar, Lodi Road.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

WHITE OR ROSY PELICAN

(Pelecanus onocrotalus)

T here are two species of pelican

found in India viz. Pelecanus
onocrotalus commonly known as
The pelicans are resident to some
extent. They are winter visitors in
the North India. A breeding colony
white or rosy pelican and Pelecanus was first discovered in Rann of
philippensis – of which two sub- Kutch in 1960. Their diet mainly
species exist viz. Pelecanus includes fish.
philippensis philippensis known as
Spotted Billed or Grey pelican and Pelicans float high on water and
pelecanus philippensis crispus they carry their wings slightly raised.
known as Dalmatian pelican. Since they have no wing pockets,
the beak rests on the slightly curved
The feathers are white, tinged with neck. In flight, the head is drawn
rose colour, with a tuft of yellowish back onto the shoulders. The flight
feathers on the breast. The primary is light and elegant; gliding often
and some secondary feathers are alternates with wing beats. They are
black. Legs are short and stout with sociable birds flying in small groups
large webbed feet. The beak is big, or larger flocks, mostly in a diagonal
heavy, flattened, underhung line with respect to the direction in
throughout its length by an elastic which they are travelling.
bag of dull purplish skin. This bag
serves as a dip or landing net for The Pelicans breed from February
scooping up fish, and when nesting to April in Great Rann of Kutch,
on the ground or in trees in the hot while in North India they have been
sun, acts as a cooling device for seen to breed from November to
dissipating moisture and promoting December. The nest is built by both
evaporation by constant pulsation. the parents. The nest is made up
In pelicans, syringeal muscles of dry twigs,
responsible for true voice production feathers and
are absent and thus, adults are rags spreading
usually silent. Rarely throaty grunts in area of one
or croaks like grunt of a buffalo are square metre.
heard. Young ones produce a variety Usually two
of groans for helps and chattering. white eggs are
laid in a nest.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

GREAT INDIAN HORNBILL

(Buceros bicornis)

G reat Indian Hornbill is found in

Western Ghats and tropical
East Himalayas. It is black in colour
Breeding occurs in March-April in
Himalayas and February-April in
South West India. Nest is made in
with a white neck, black and white a tree hole, well above the ground.
wings and tail, and concave topped Male brings in the materials and
casque. female builds the nest.

The hornbill feeds mainly on fruits The bird uses droppings, food
from jungle trees, figs, nutmegs and remains, and moist earth, which it
drupes of various species. Smaller mixes with saliva for making the
animals like frogs, lizards, young nest. The female thickens this
birds, snails and arthropods are only material by beating it laterally with
tidbits. It is helped by its long beak her beak so that it forms a very
in procuring food, which acts as a hard cement. The female then enters
prolonged beak. Hornbill’s flight is the hole and plugs its mouth with
rather clumsy because of the bird’s this cement. When the female is no
rounded wings. longer able to pass through the hole,
the male finishes rest of the work
Hornbills remain in pairs or small leaving a small hole in the wall.
parties of three to five. Gathering of Through this hole, the male feeds
3000 or more may be seen on lavishly his family. Since the incubation
fruiting banyan or peepul tree. They takes
move along boughs by quick, place
ungainly but buoyant sideways hops, in such
bouncing lightly to a higher or lower closed
perch from one branch to another. quarters,
It follows the same route day after e x a c t
day. It roosts among topmost incubation
branches of lofty, thinly foliaged period is not
trees. It sleeps with the neck pulled known. It is
into the shoulder and bill pointing at approximately
an upward angle. It produces a 30–38 days.
variety of sounds-loud raucous
cackling and inane screams.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

PAINTED STORK
(Mycteria leucocephala)

A typical large stork, seems to

have been painted with white,
black, pink and yellow colour,
pair of forceps and partly immersed,
probing the mud. They feed mainly
on fish, but also take reptiles, frogs,
thereby giving it its name. There are crustaceans and insects.The
nine different kinds of storks found breeding season depends upon
in India. The painted stork is long monsoon. The nest is made up of
legged with long heavy yellow bill, large platform of sticks with a
slightly decurved near tip and shallow central depression.
unfeathered waxy yellow face.
Feathers are white, closely barred Usually three to four white eggs are
and marked with glistening greenish laid. Both the sexes build the nest
black colour above and with a black and incubate the eggs till the chicks
band across the breast. The feathers hatch. The period of incubation is 30
are delicate rose pink about the days. The newly hatched young is
shoulders and on wings near the tail. covered with white plumage and
looks like a ball of cotton.
The birds are residents, shifting
locally with water conditions. They The chicks are vociferous and attract
inhabit throughout the plains of the the parents for food. Their voice can
Indian territory, Pakistan, Nepal terai be heard from a distance of 200–
and Ceylon. With the onset of 300 metres. At the age of 50 days,
monsoon, the birds start arriving on they loose the syrinx and become
the jheels and water bodies and can mute. The adults can still produce
be seen in Keoladeo National Park, clattering sound by touching of
Bharatpur; National Park, Sultanpur mandibles during greeting. The
and National Zoological Park, New chicks start flying at the age of 60
Delhi from August to November to 70 days. At that time the
every year. wings are of dark flesh
colour. They attain the white
The birds hunt and black plumage in a year.
individually, wading During breeding season, the colours
into shallow water with of the stork become more bright
neck bent down, mandibles and shining, but fade as the
(jaws) open like an enormous breeding season comes to an end.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

FLAMINGO
(Phoenicopterus roseus)

F lamingo is a resident bird of

India which migrates locally.
There are two species found in
In India, the Flamingos are known
to breed in just one place – the
Great Rann of Kutch. Breeding
Indian sub-continent-Flamingo season is variable depending on
(Phoenicopterus roseus) and lesser hydrographic conditions and they
Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). The may not breed for two to three
bird reaches a length of 1.4 metre. seasons if suitable conditions do
The body plumage is rosy white with not prevail.
massive pink coloured bill sharply
downcurved from about half its The females select nesting site and
length. build nest which is made from semi-
liquid mud scraped from the vicinity
Flamingos live in vast and given the shape of truncated
congregrations. Food comprises of conicle mound with a shallow pan
larvae, small molluscs and like depression at top. Normally, one
crustaceans, tiny seeds of lacustrine but sometimes two eggs are laid.
plants and organic mud. Small fish Incubation is done by both parents
is also taken occasionally. for 30-32 days.

It has an interesting mechanism to Chick leaves the nest when it is four

feed itself in water having such a to seven days old. Mother feeds
high salt content. The beak in the chick with a highly
flamingo acts as an effective nutritious red coloured
filtration apparatus. The lower liquid secreted by the
mandible (jaw) is large while the esophagus till the
upper is small and fits on the lower young becomes old
one like a lid. While feeding, they enough to feed itself.
hold the beak reversed with the At the age of four
upper mandible facing down. The weeks, first contour
filtration mechanism is so effective feather appears on
that the filtered floating organism is the shoulder. In 70
almost dry thus avoiding too much days, chicks are able
salt intake. to fly easily.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

MARSH CROCODILE
(Crocodylus palustris)

T he marsh crocodile is one of the

three species of crocodiles found
in India. It inhabits rivers, lakes
They are reported to have eaten
leopard, wild dog, hyena, chital,
sambhar, nilgai fawn, four horned
and other large bodies of water in antelope, barking deer and monkey
the plains and upto altitudes of 600 etc. They have a habit of swallowing
metres in the hills, throughout the stones, which is supposed to aid in
Indian subcontinent. It reaches a digestion and acts as a ballast in
length upto 4 metres and has a floating and diving.
broad snout, with distinct ridges in
front of the eyes. Crocodiles mate during mid-January
in South India and in March in North
Marsh crocodile commonly known India. Secretion of scent glands of
as mugger, is an excellent swimmer male attracts female. Mating occurs
with the tail acting as a propellant. in water. Female lays eggs in pitcher
On land, it rests on its belly facing shaped holes of about 30 centimetres
towards water, ready to slip into width and 50 centimetres depth,
water upon being alarmed. While about 2 to 500 metres away from
walking, it lifts its body well above water. The female digs the hole and
ground. The crocodile has an levels it after laying with earth. About
immovable tongue. So after eating 3–40 eggs are laid in clutch.
small particles get entangled in its Incubation period is 60–90 days
teeth. When it is basking with its depending upon day temperature.
mouth open, friendly birds come and Temperature of the incubation
eat small meat particles from his chamber is maintained constant at
teeth and leeches from the mouth. about 29–30 degree celsius, by
Crocodile does no harm to the birds. evacuating water or urine on the
nest by the female. The female guards
Crocodiles hunts in water. Its food the nest till the young ones hatch.
comprises largely of fish, but any
other animal that can be overcome The animal, once abundant, became
is also taken. highly endangered because of
commercial hunting for obtaining
belly skin of the animal for leather
industry.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

INDIAN COBRA
(Naja naja)

T his snake is usually 1.5 metres

to 1.6 metres long. Head of this
snake is not very distinct from neck.
Mating occurs in January and the
female lays 12–22 eggs in April/
May. Hatchlings emerge after a
The neck region is dilatable, the gestation period of 62 days. They
ribs being elongate. The expansion are 0.25–0.28 metres long.
of this region forms the hood which
bears on the upper side a binocellate Cobra has two fully operative seven
mark which some people call a mark millimetre long canaliculate fangs.
of spectacle. There is a white band They are shed regularly. Venom
in the region, where the hood production and secretion depends
touches the body. In Assam, this on age, vitality, temper of the
mark is monocellate forming only a animal, but average discharge is
ring with a black mark in the centre. about 211 milligrams in dry weight.
In Rajasthan and Punjab areas, Poison acts as neurotoxin and is
binocellate mark is not complete in the chief cause of death.
the lower region. It thus forms two It has become endangered due to
lines only. There may not be any habitat destruction, fear and
mark at all. Male cobra has a wider superstitions of the people. The
hood and a longer tail as compared Government has given it protection
to the female and it even produces by listing it in Schedule II of Wildlife
more venom. Protection Act, 1972.
When alarmed, it raises its forebody
to the extent of 1/3rd of the total
length. Its striking range is also
about the same length. Young are
more dangerous than adults as they
get more easily excited and strike
repeatedly with determination. It is
deaf.

It hunts for food during early evening.

The food consists of rats, frogs, toads,
birds and even other snakes.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

MUSK DEER
(Moschus moschifera)

T axonomically, the musk deer is

placed somewhere between a
deer (cervidae) and an antelope
Musk is used in the east as an
important ingredient in traditional
medicines since prehistoric times
(bovidae). Considered to be the most and in the west as a fixative in
primitive member of cervidae at some expensive perfumes.
some point of evolution, the musk
deer appears to have proceeded on One way to conserve this vanishing
a different line of development. It is species is, to resort to organized
therefore awarded recognition as a farming for breeding and extraction
member of the subfamily moschinae of musk. Efforts are being made to
of which it is the only member. breed the deer in selected zoos and
Though called a deer, it lacks antlers national parks. There is also a musk
but possesses tusks, which are used deer research center at Mehoori in
in intraspecific fighting during the the Almora District of U.P. Greater
rutting season. awareness of its threatened status
must be disseminated, especially
This wild animal is intensely hunted, amongst those who have a stake in
despite living in some of the world’s its survival.
most inaccessible areas near the
tree line of the high Himalayas.

What makes it unique and

threatened, is the presence of a
gland or musk pod under the
abdominal skin of male between the
navel and genitalia into which
secretion from surrounding tissues
is collected. When fresh, the musk
is a thick jelly like, urine smelling
substance, but when dried, it
metamorphoses into the heavily
scented red brown granules for
which the animal is killed.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

ASIAN ELEPHANT
(Elephas maximus)

T he largest mammal to walk on

the earth since prehistoric
period, whose range was spread
produce deep rumbles, bark, cry
and snorts. An important recent
discovery is that they communicate
from Africa through Europe to Asian subsonically. Such extraordinary
mainland, is at the cross roads of creature, which monopolized large
survival today. Of the more than parts of India, now exists in isolated
300 species of tusked animals, the pockets and at the verge of
elephant remains to be the sole extinction, is threatened by
survivor. poaching, habitat destruction and
development schemes. Unless we
Elephants are highly social ensure conservation priorities, we
creatures. The female giving birth will snap our century old bond with
is attended by another female this majestic creature that has been
(auntie). There is only one baby but depicted in the Paleolithic rock
twins occasionally occur. They paintings, on the seals of Indus
protect the baby if danger is Valley Civilization and at Ganesha
apprehended by clustering around and Ganalakshmi: the elephant
it, helping it to keep up with the headed deities.
herd, and disciplining it if its
playfulness gets out of hand.

Elephant’s trunk is its most

intriguing organ, primarily a nose
for breathing. It is also a pneumatic
hose capable of sucking and blowing
liquid when drinking and showering,
and to collect dust to blow over the
body. It serves as a trumpet and a
sounding board. As a highly flexible
working tool, it is almost as versatile
as our hands.

Trumpeting is the most common

elephant sound. But elephants also
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

WILD BUFFALO
(Bubalus bubalus)

T estifying its ancient existence in

the river basin, the seals of the
Harappan Civilization (2500 B.C.)
propensity of the bulls to
commandeer domestic buffalo cows
for mating, resulting in genetic
depict this impressive and swamping. The deprived owners of
magnificently built animal. It is the the livestock take pot–shots at the
most powerful and heaviest and in offending bulls if around, as it can
the records, there are specimens cause the loss of access to milk and
carrying the largest horns of any often the loss of impregnated
surviving animal in the world today. domestic buffalo cow who can not
The females carry longer, though safely deliver the oversize calf.
more slender horns than the bulls.
Owing to the resemblances with
The population of this, once common most important domestic animals
animal over the riverine and forest in India, the wild buffalo is
grasslands in the Ganga, genetically one of the most
Brahmaputra, Narmada and important wild animals in the world
Godavari river systems has now today. However, unfortunately it
shrunk to mainly Brahmaputra has become one of the most
valley grasslands. This includes threatened animals in India. There
Kaziranga, Dibru, Manas, and some is a great need to restore its habitat
pockets of Raipur and Bastar district and protect the creature from being
of Madhya Pradesh representing a extinct.
population size of less than 2,000.

The necessity of water in adequate

quantity is therefore a determinant
factor in its movement and habitat
selection. Preference for alluvial
grasslands most coveted by man for
agricultural purposes are the main
reason for its habitat destruction.
The most vital factor contributing
to the numerical and physical
decline of the wild buffalo is the
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD

(Ardeotis nigriceps)

A mong the four species of bustard

found in India, the great Indian
bustard is perhaps the most famous
eggs of ground nesting birds, to
cereals, leaves of horse radish,
groundnut and bengal gram. The
and the best avian indicator species clutch consists of one egg and on
of grasslands. Bustards can be used rare occasions two.
as the flagship species to protect
our grasslands. This large bird of The great Indian bustard survives
short grass plains and arid areas in six states of India — Rajasthan,
was quite common about 100 years Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
ago but the combined onslaught of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and
indiscriminate shooting and habitat Karnataka. It has disappeared from
destruction decimated its the rest of the states. Destruction
population. The bustard was one of or alteration of grassland habitat is
the first birds to be protected in our perhaps the most important reason
country under the Wild Animals and for the decline of bustards. It is a
Birds Protection Act promulgated long living, slow breeding bird. It is
in 1953. But unfortunately, its usual for adult birds to live in an
population kept declining. It belongs area for 10–15 years. Unless these
to an ancient family of birds called birds mature, breed successfully
Otididae. and produce progeny, long-term
survival of the bustard cannot be
The great Indian bustard is a large assured. Therefore, conservation
cursorial bird, with great sexual needs protection of their breeding
dimorphism. Adult females are 15– areas besides giving protection
20 centimetres smaller than males. to adult birds.
Most of the year, males and females
live in their own separate flocks.
Mixed flocks are rare and temporary.
Even in a mixed flock, different sexes
form their own sub-group.

It is a generalist feeder with a dietary

niche width ranging from insects,
spiders, small lizards, snakes and
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

INDIAN WILD ASS

(Equus heminous)

T he wild ass, an endemic animal

of the open sandy desert, is now
confined to the little Rann of Kutch.
water reserves, when available. This
is a perfect adaptive strategy in the
harsh environment of the desert. It
Its current distributional range is is capable of running 60 kilometres
less than 20,000 square kilometres. an hour. They live in herds of 30 to
It’s withdrawal from the sandy tract 40 members (sometimes as large as
to the islands in the Rann is quite 100) under the leadership of a
recent. These islands within the stallion who guides the direction of
temporary marshes provide a movement. Normally they feed on
protected habitat to this endangered grasses, salt tolerant bushes and
population and so they withdrew even dry leaves of aak (Calotropis
themselves there. Unfortunately procera).
even from these belts the cattle of
maldharis are edging the wild ass The fact that its population is not
out. large and restricted to one state
(Gujarat) does not bode well for the
The pale, chestnut coloured resident species. It is considered as
of the desert is a fascinating moderately difficult to breed but it
creature — for its adaptive is definitely a classic conservation
behaviour. Its body cells are capable story of a species for which a captive
of withstanding dehydration and breeding programme is urgently
also have the capacity of holding required.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

SWAMP DEER
(Cervus duvauceli)

S wamp deer, better known as

barasingha is found in the lower
reaches of Himalayas upto the
Swamp deer are diurnal, feeding till
late in the morning and again in the
evening and resting during the
central provinces in India. It is a intermediate time. Their sense of
beautiful deer having a gorgeous vision and hearing are moderate
amber to golden brown coat colour whereas sense of smell is acute.
with pale spots in summer and
shaggy dark brown colour without In the spring and summer, the
spots in winter. Males weigh about males live singly whereas the
200-250 kilograms, are tanned and females form smaller groups of two
darker in colour than females. Their to three animals. In winter, all
antlers are particularly beautiful gather into larger herds. Their
reaching a length upto a metre. mating call is very melodius. It is a
long sound with alternating high
As per census of 1995, an estimated and low notes. Spotted young ones
population of 3500–4000 animals are born after a gestation period of
live in 13 sanctuaries and national 250 days, invariably during the
parks, which is far less than the monsoon or shortly after when
presumed carrying capacity of these enough food and shelter is available.
areas. They may live upto 21 years.

It has been given the status of

endangered species by IUCN as it
has greatly reduced in range and
number recently.

The swamp deer prefers marshland

in Terai, U.P. In Assam, they live on
high ground in proximity to water
whereas in M.P., these deer known
as branderi prefer pastures with trees
near forest. Their firm, water repellent
hair and widely spreadable toes
enable barasingha to live in swamp.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR

(Selenarctos thibetanus)

‘S elenarctos’ literally means

moon. Hence this species is
also called moon bear because of
skilful and agile climbers and spend
most of their time in trees. They
either do not hibernate or hibernate
having a crescent shaped white chest for short periods. Food varies with
marking, which contrasts greatly season.
with the black background of normal
body colour, just like moon in black In summer, they feed on wild fruit
sky of the night. It is a nicely built and berries. During this time they
bear with shorter, smoother coat and also feed on honey. In autumn, they
black claws. It generally has very raid corn or maize crops and add
long hair on the shoulders, nape and variety to their food by eating
sides of the neck. insects, termites and beetle larvae,
etc. The bear living near the human
In India, the Himalayan black bear habitations are known to kill sheep,
are found in Kashmir, the Himalayas goats, cattle and ponies and
and Assam, whereas their range sometimes even man. They swim
extends to China and Japan in the readily.
east, Myanmar and Malay countries
in the south and Baluchistan in the Bears are usually solitary. Mating
West. In the mountains, they reach occurs in late autumn. Cubs are
as high as 3,600 metres elevation produced in late winter or early
in summer, and in winter descend spring, after a gestation period of
to 1,500 metres or lower. They make seven months. The young one are
a bed of fresh twigs on the snow, very small weighing about 500
where they can dry themselves or grams at birth and their eyes are
take a sunbath, and in summer, closed. After leaving the den, they
they make nests of follow the mother until nearly grown,
sticks in trees where sometimes until after
they sleep. a later litter has been
born. This explains
This bear has sighting of bear
prominent ears and a parties of four or
fine hearing more individuals.
capability. They are
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

SLOTH BEAR
(Melursus ursinus)

S loth bear attains a length of

around two metres. Males are
larger and weigh more, whereas
In winter, it raids sugar cane and
maize crops. It can ascend the smooth
trunks of date plants where
females are shorter and weigh less. containers to collect toddy have been
It has long, shaggy, fair, prolonged placed. It tips the containers and
and very flexible snout and lower lip. sucks all the juice out.
The fur is motley black, the muzzle
and tips of feet are of dirty white to It also feeds on scented petals of
yellowish colour while claws are white mowha flowers. During rains, it
in colour. The breast is ornamented feeds on insects and their larvae. It
with a V-shape or Y-shaped marks loves to eat white ants and has a
usually white in colour. number of structural modifications
to suck out termites. The lips are
Sloth bear is found throughout India protrusible, mobile and naked, the
and Ceylon. It prefers to live in snout is mobile, nostrils can be
forest, away from human closed at will, inner part of upper
habitations. Sloth bear is social, incisors are absent forming a gap in
friendly and normally not aggressive. front teeth and the palate is hollow.
It cannot climb well but moves quite
well while hanging, sloth style. Mating occurs in summer and one
or two, seldom three young ones
The bear is not so harmful and if are born, after a gestation period of
at all it attacks a human being, it seven months. Cubs leave the den
is in defense. at the age of two to three months
and often ride on their mothers back
Sloth bear is omnivorous — eating on her hunting
different types of food at different expeditions. They
times of the year. It is nocturnal and are weaned at
hunts for food at night. But on a two to three
cloudy and cool day, it eats even years of age.
during the day. During summer, it They may live
feeds on fruits of the trees like banyan, upto 40 years.
wild fig, mangoes, jambul, bael, ebony
and its all time favourite food – honey.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

SMOOTH INDIAN OTTER

(Lutra perspicillata)

S mooth Indian otter is so called

because of its smooth, sleek,
blackish to rufous chocolate brown
the water and catches the fish with
its teeth after a short chase. In
absence of fish, they eat whatever
coat. The adult animal is 65-75 they can capture and kill. They hunt
centimetres tall with 40-45 with ease on ground.
centimetres long tail, weighing 7-11
kilograms. In India, it is found from Otters live in self dug dens at the
the Himalayas to the extreme south. shores with an entrance about 50
Habitat destruction and trade in centimetres beneath the water’s
otter fur has led to the endangered surface. The den itself has an air
status of the species. passage leading out above the water
line. The otters also use dens built
The otters usually hunt at night, by foxes, rabbits, etc. to conceal
particularly when the moon shines themselves during daytime. Otters
brightly. They can be seen during are playful animals.
the day in areas where they are not
disturbed, hunting and sunning. Apparently, the female may come
Hunting is done usually in water. in heat anytime of the year.
Otters are extraordinarily Recorded gestation period is 60
successful, agile swimmers and days. Usually two to four young ones
divers. They can stay submerged are born. Their eyes open after 28-
for six to eight minutes. Their eyes 35 days and are suckled for about
have a specialized structure, which four months. Mother protects the
enable the otter to adapt to the cubs and even the father is not
different refractive indices of air and allowed to come near the cubs.
water. Their toes are webbed to aid
in swimming. They can tread water
standing vertically so that head,
neck and breast are above water
surface.

The otter catches fish by waiting

just above water surface. As soon
as a fish is perceived, it glides into
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

WHITE TIGER
(Panthera tigris)

W hite tigers are so unique that

they arouse speculation and
wild guesses among the zoo visitors.
were born to Begum between 1953
to 1956, but none of them was white.

Most of the visitors think that they Mohan then mated with his progeny
are albinos; some visitors reason ‘Radha’ – a normal coloured tigress.
that age or sex of the animal must Radha gave birth to four white cubs.
have something to do with the Thus first white tigers were born in
change of colour; others consider captivity.
them as a different species, or that White tigers have some differences
they are some special kind of tigers. from the normal tigers. Coat colour
White tigers are not true albinos. varies from white to off white to
Albinism refers to a total lack of cream with light brown to ash grey
colour pigments in the hair and skin. stripes, nose pad is greyish pink
White tigers are double recessive instead of pure pink in colour. Eyes
mutants. The condition has are ice-blue or pale blue. They are
probably arisen due to exposure to larger and heavier than normal
harmful radiations during foetal tigers.
stage. White tigers breed with white There is no difference in habit,
tigresses as well as normal yellow habitat, behaviour, breeding season,
coloured tigresses and vice-versa. litter size, and gestation period
The story of white tigers started with between normal coloured tigers and
the capture of a white cub during white tigers. The average life span
a hunt by Maharaja of Rewa in the varies from 15–20 years.
forest of Rewa in 1951. The cub was
taken to Govindgarh palace where
it was brought up by the Maharaja.
It was named ‘Mohan’. When Mohan
attained adulthood, a normal
coloured tigress named ‘Begum’ of
approximately the same age was
captured from the forest of Rewa,
and mated with Mohan. Ten cubs
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

GAUR BOS
(Gaurus gaurus)

G aur is one of the most

magnificient ungulate of the
Asian jungles. It is found in India,
period of eight to nine months. The
newly born calf becomes active after
a few hours of birth and stays with
Bhutan, and Nepal. It is the tallest the mother for almost five to eight
living oxen and one of the four months.Gaur grazes on green grass
heaviest land mammals in India. during the monsoon and browses
Adult gaur bull weighs around 600- on young and mature leaves of trees,
940 kilograms and stands 1.6–1.9 shrubs and herbs, bamboo shoots
metre at shoulder height. Gaur has and buds during the dry season.
a muscular ridge upon its shoulder
which slopes down to the middle of Gaur is an endangered animal as
the back and ends abruptly. The per the Schedule–I, of the Indian
horns in gaur are crescent shaped Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Gaur
and taper down to a sharp point. is known to have an acute sense of
They are creamy in colour, usually smell and good hearing but the
tipped with black. The forehead is visual senses are relatively less
ashy in colour. developed.

Both the hind and fore legs are white The life span of gaur is supposed to
or slightly yellowish in colour upto be about 30 years.
knees, giving the appearance of
stockings.

Gaur is gregarious and sociable

animal. The mating season of gaur
varies through its distribution
range.

It is from December to January in

central India and November to
March in Southern India. Cows give
birth to a single calf after a gestation
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

LION TAILED MACAQUE

(Macaca silenus)

T he most arboreal of all

macaques, remaining normally
at the top of the forest canopy, this
The population size being small is
a major threat. A run of either all
females or males in a generation
animal is rarely seen because of its would lead to extinction and this is
shy nature, black colour and habit very likely to occur in small
of living in dense, dimly lit, lonely populations.
forests. It is endemic to the tropical
rainforests or wet evergreen forests Furthermore, it has been hunted
in Western Ghats, commonly found for many years by tribals and other
in Nilgiri, Annaimalai and people in Kerala who have recently
Cardamom hills and also in the encroached and settled in
vicinity of Parriyar Lake in Kerala. forestland, especially in northern
Because of habitat fragmentation, Kerala. Given the low population
it occurs in numerous small density, the number of lion tailed
populations. Its status is declared macaque hunted is often low, but
as endangered according to the its inability to recover quickly from
IUCN Red List Criteria. the population crashes makes it very
vulnerable even to low levels of
It feeds exclusively on ripe fruits, poaching. Therefore, their
seeds, nectar, gum resins and management is not an easy task.
invertebrates. In addition, it may Its habitat requires more
feed on bird’s eggs, nestling and interventionist measures than mere
giant squirrel. It has got the simplest protection from habitat loss and
stomach among all the macaques. poaching. The corridors through
Hence it has lost the ability to digest which animals can move between
even leaf buds that other macaques fragments need to be
can digest. The characteristic identified and
features of its life history are a low protected. Any
birth rate, high age at first distorted age/sex
reproduction and higher pre adult ratio needs to be
survival rates. The female gives detected and set
birth only once in three years, right through
compared to at least twice in three introduction and
years by other macaques. translocation.
 Species of Special Concern: An Environment Education Project Funded by
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK and Managed by The British Council-India.
Implementing Agency: WWF-India

NILGIRI LANGUR
(Presbytis johnii)

N ilgiri langur being endemic to

the Western Ghats of southern
India is an important animal for
late 1960s and were not restrained
from hunting by Hindu mythology,
have had a tradition of hunting. As
India. This species is on Appendix a result, these forests have a very
II of CITES and Schedule I of the low density of lion tailed macaques
IWPA (1972:91), and listed as and the Nilgiri langur has almost
Vulnerable in the National Red Data been hunted to extinction. Habitat
Book (1994) as well as the destruction is further a major
International Red Data Book (1996). contributory factor to its decimation.
This animal is essentially arboreal
but is often seen crossing the The other primates sharing its
grasslands. It is one of the five habitat are bonnet macaques and
langur species recorded in India and lion tailed macaque. Bonnet
Sri Lanka. macaque avoids conflict but a
ferocious battle is often observed
The inhabitants of South of Coorg, between lion tailed macaque and
and the Nilgiri, Annaimalai, Nilgiri langur.
Brahmagiri and Palni Hills, they are
generally seen near woods of the This unique primate has staged a
plateau and strips of the forest dramatic recovery since the Wild
surrounded by grassland. They Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This is
travel over a well–worn route, each partly due to a greater protection
individual stepping in exactly at the and its ability to colonize unoccupied
same spot as the leader. areas.

The meat and blood of Nilgiri langur

have been used for the treatment of
asthma and many other ailments.
Hunting has severely depleted their
population almost throughout the
Western Ghats. The tribal people of
Coorg district of Karnataka and the
Christian population in Kerala, who
settled down in the area during the