Top 10 Most Rare And Endangered Mammals In India

India has a rich and diverse wildlife population, with 410 mammal species,  700 reptile species, 2000 fish species, and 1,300 bird species. However, for various reasons, many of these are threatened, endangered, or on the verge of extinction. According to recent data from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), India has about 200 critically endangered flora and fauna species that may disappear soon if nothing is done to protect them. This alarming situation necessitates urgent conservation efforts to safeguard these species and maintain the delicate balance of India’s biodiversity.

So, let’s take a quick look at the Top 10 Most Rare And Endangered Mammals In India. This blog lists the most endangered animals in India and the steps taken to protect them.

Top 10 List Of Endangered Mammals In India With Pictures

Modern society is highly resource-intensive, the result of which is that natural spaces are shrinking and wildlife is declining. According to reports, the wildlife population has fallen by 73% in the last five decades. Many animals, especially mammals in India, are endangered or becoming extinct due to unsustainable human activities. Below is the list of endangered animals in India and their habitat. In order to prepare a list of endangered mammals in India, we gathered information from various sources. The figures provided reflect the status at the time of writing, and conservation statuses may change due to ongoing research and environmental factors.

1. Malabar Large-Spotted Civet

The first name on our list of the 10 most endangered animals in India is the Malabar Civet. The Malabar Large-Spotted Civet, or Malabar civet, is a critically endangered mammal that’s typically found in the Western Ghats. A member of the Viverridea family, it is related to Civet cats and the mongoose. It is a solitary and nocturnal animal with a distinct appearance. The Malabar Large-Spotted Civet has a bushy tail, short legs, and a long body. It lives on fruits, insects, birds, and small mammals. It has dusky grey fur with white spots and a white stripe from the forehead to the nose. With less than 250 individuals left, it is on the IUCN Red List because of poaching for its fur and meat and habitat loss. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect them, but more work is necessary to prevent extinction.

2. Namdapha Flying Squirrel

The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is a rare nocturnal flying squirrel seen last in the Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of the 25 most wanted species that resurfaced in April 2022 and was not found later. An interesting fact about this flying squirrel endemic to Arunachal Pradesh is that it cannot be located easily and might be mistaken for the red giant flying squirrel. The Namdapha squirrel has grizzled reddish fur and a crown of pale grey hue. The current status of this mammal is that it is on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, and its presence is confined to a single valley. It is at risk because of poaching for food and habitat destruction. As one of the rare mammals in India, the Namdapha Flying Squirrel is currently protected under the Wildlife Amendment Act of 2022. 

3. Hangul

The Hangul, or Kashmir Stag, is also one of the top 10 critically endangered animals in India. A subspecies of Asian red deer, the Hangul’s habitat is in beautiful Kashmir, showcasing the state’s rich biodiversity. It has a distinct white rump, a small tail and impressive antlers with a reddish-brown coat. Males are darker in colour than females, as is their distinguishing characteristic. It is Jammu and Kashmir’s state animal, but even after its status, only 287 individuals remain. It is listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List and is under the Wildlife Protection Act. There are various reasons for this:

• sharing space with predators like wolves, snow leopards, dholes, etc., 
• habitat destruction, 
• agriculture activities, 
• expanding settlements, 
• illegal trading, and, 
• limited access to food due to overgrazing of livestock by locals where the Hanguls live. 

Efforts are being made to conserve this rare species by creating breeding programs and awareness campaigns to protect them and Kashmir’s biodiversity. 

4. Elvira Rat

The Elvira Rat is a critically endangered rodent species endemic to Tamil Nadu’s Eastern Ghats, which have deciduous forests and rocky habitats. It is a nocturnal and borrowing rodent with a brownish-grey upper body and a greyish-white underbody. Though its population is unknown, the species is threatened by habitat destruction, uncontrolled grazing, debris dumped in foothills, and human settlement expansion. According to the IUCN Red List, a once vulnerable Elvira Rat is now on the critically endangered species in India list.

5. Nilgiri Tahr

Next on our list of the top 10 endangered mammals in India is the Nilgiri Tahr, South India’s only mountain ungulate and one of the 12 species in India. The Nilgiri Tahr is Tamil Nadu’s state animal that inhibits the Western Ghats in small pockets as its majority is wiped out. The Nilgiri Tahr is the same species as the Himalayan Tahr found in Kashmir and is the only Tahr adapted to tropical climates. It resembles a stocky goat with a bristly mane and coarse, short fur. Females are smaller and darker than males, with males having a saddleback (light grey patch on the back). It is on the IUCN Red List of endangered species because of poaching and habitat loss. Conservation efforts have helped improve their population slightly, but continued protection is needed. 

6. Indian Pangolin

Among the most endangered species in India is the Indian Pangolin, also known as scaly anteater or thick-tailed pangolin, which is native to the subcontinent. It has overlapping scales on the body that change its colours based on the surroundings, which is its armour. It feeds primarily on termites and ants and can curl into a ball in self-defence. The Indian Pangolin is a threatened species as it is hunted for meat, and its body parts are used in tribal medicine. As part of the conservation efforts, it is protected against trading, and several zoos are successfully reproducing them. 

7. Pygmy Hog

The pygmy hog, one of the top endangered animals in India, belongs to the genus Porcula and is a pig species. It is a small pig endemic to India, and its home is the alluvial grasslands of the Himalayas. The pygmy hog is grey-brownish in colour and has a coat that has blackish-brown bristles. It has hazel brown irises and a tapered head with slight hair on the forehead, back and neck. Pigmy hogs were once found in abundance in the wet, dense grasslands of the South Himalayan foothills. Due to the destruction of natural habitats and human encroachment, their numbers have become drastically reduced. Currently, pygmy hogs reside only in Assam Manas National Park and are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Conservation efforts like breeding and release programs are being implemented to increase their numbers.

8. Western Hoolock Gibbon

The Western Hoolock Gibbon belongs to the ape family and is found in tropical forests of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Unlike other apes, they are tailless and have dense hair and long arms. Males are black with white eyebrows, and females are beige, yellow, brown or grey. The gibbons are noisy animals, and their musical calls can be heard in the forest. Males and females sing in a duet to mark their territory. These apes live on flowers, shoots, and ripe fruits and are seed dispersers, making them an important part of tropical forests. However, it is one of the endangered primates because of habitat loss and poaching for medicine and food. Many conservation agencies are working to protect them, but more local awareness is needed. 

9. Hispid Hare

When asked to name some endangered animals of India, the Hispid Hare rarely comes to mind. This is because this bristly rabbit, also called the Assam rabbit, was actually thought to be extinct! However, it was rediscovered in 1971 in Assam. It is native to South Asia along the Himalayan foothills. The Hispid Hare has a bristly and harsh coat with short ears. It has a dark brown coat due to a mix of brown and black hairs. It is active during dawn or dusk and finds tall grasslands most suitable for living. However, it has lost its home due to habitat loss, increased agricultural activities, human development, and flood control. It is now on the IUCN Red List of endangered species, and its conservation is being done through breeding programs.

10. Indian Elephant

The Indian elephant, one of the most popular animals in India, is an Asian elephant subspecies found in India, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. It thrives in forests and grasslands and consumes a lot of plants daily. Smaller than the African elephants, it has a broad skull, large trunk and convex back, with males bigger than females. Despite it being revered culturally, the Indian elephant is on the IUCN endangered list with a 50% decline in population due to human-elephant conflicts, habitat loss, ivory poaching, illegal trading and electrocution. Conservation efforts are being made to protect these elephants by creating projects that protect them and their habitat, addressing conflicts, creating migration corridors, and creating awareness among locals. India has about 33 elephant reserves to ensure the long-term survival of this species in their natural habitat. 

Protecting The Top 10 Most Endangered Wild Animals In India

India has diverse flora and fauna and is home to some rare mammals. Unfortunately, many of these are on the verge of extinction due to human-wildlife conflicts, climate change, habitat loss, and poaching. These animals showcase India’s rich diversity, and their decreasing numbers are a wake-up call for greater conservation efforts. We hope our blog with information about the top 10 endangered animals in India will renew awareness and inspire action to protect these precious species for future generations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many endangered mammals are there in India?

Currently, more than 70 species of mammals are considered to be endangered in India, with many in the critically endangered list.

2. Which animal is critically endangered in India?

Here are the Indian mammals that are currently on the critically endangered mammals list:

• Namdapha Flying Squirrel
• Kashmir stag, also known as Hangul
• Elvira Rat
• Malabar Large-Spotted Civet
• Andaman Shrew
• Nicobar Shrew
• Jenkins’ Shrew

3. What is the most rare mammal?

Due to illegal poaching and loss of habitat, quite a few mammals have become a rare sight in India. The Andaman Shrew, Nicobar Shrew and Jenkin’s Shrew have not been seen for decades.