{"id":10089,"date":"2025-11-15T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T12:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/?p=10089"},"modified":"2025-11-24T12:10:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T12:10:15","slug":"wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildlife Conservation Projects in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Wildlife Conservation Projects in India<\/strong> focus on protecting and preserving endangered species and their habitats through various targeted initiatives and strategies. These projects are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring the survival of India&#8217;s unique wildlife. This article aims to study in detail the major Wildlife Conservation Projects in India, including their objectives, measures taken, progress made, and impact on both wildlife and local communities.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#What_is_Wildlife_Conservation\" title=\"What is Wildlife Conservation?\">What is Wildlife Conservation?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Need_for_Wildlife_Conservation_Projects_in_India\" title=\"Need for Wildlife Conservation Projects in India\">Need for Wildlife Conservation Projects in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Important_Wildlife_Conservation_Projects_in_India\" title=\"Important Wildlife Conservation Projects in India\">Important Wildlife Conservation Projects in India<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Tiger\" title=\"Project Tiger\">Project Tiger<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Elephant\" title=\"Project Elephant\">Project Elephant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Lion\" title=\"Project Lion\">Project Lion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Snow_Leopard\" title=\"Project Snow Leopard\">Project Snow Leopard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Cheetah\" title=\"Project Cheetah\">Project Cheetah<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Hangul\" title=\"Project Hangul\">Project Hangul<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Crocodile\" title=\"Project Crocodile\">Project Crocodile<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Great_Indian_Bustard\" title=\"Project Great Indian Bustard\">Project Great Indian Bustard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Project_Dolphin\" title=\"Project Dolphin\">Project Dolphin<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Wildlife_Conservation_Efforts_in_India\" title=\"Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India\">Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-conservation-projects-in-india\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a95812300c0f1f8d586edd4c3f76b94e\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Wildlife_Conservation\"><\/span><strong>What is Wildlife Conservation?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wildlife conservation<\/strong> is the practice of protecting wild <strong>plant <\/strong>and <strong>animal species <\/strong>and their <strong>habitat<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wildlife conservation aims to ensure that <strong>nature <\/strong>will be around for future generations to enjoy and recognise the importance of wildlife and <strong>wilderness <\/strong>for humans and other species alike.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wildlife conservation holds significance as wildlife is essential in balancing the <strong>ecosystem <\/strong>and stabilising different natural processes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wildlife conservation has become even more important in the present times due to the negative effects of<strong> human activity<\/strong> on wildlife.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Still, many species are not protected from being illegally traded or over-harvested.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note: <\/strong>An <strong>endangered species<\/strong> is defined as a population of a living species in danger of becoming extinct because its population is very low or falling or is threatened by varying <strong>environmental<\/strong> or <strong>prepositional parameters<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:<\/strong> The <strong>World Conservation Strategy<\/strong> was developed in 1980 by the <strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)<\/strong> with advice, cooperation, and financial assistance from the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/united-nations-environment-programme-unep\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/united-nations-environment-programme-unep\/\">United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)<\/a><\/strong> and the <strong>World Wildlife Fund (WWF)<\/strong> and in collaboration with the <strong>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)<\/strong> and the <strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8495b07c41121e53caa208e79a7d6062\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Need_for_Wildlife_Conservation_Projects_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Need for Wildlife Conservation Projects in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The need for <strong>Wildlife Conservation Projects or wildlife conservation<\/strong> and efforts in India is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to various <strong>surveys <\/strong>and <strong>reports<\/strong>, our <strong>planet <\/strong>has lost more than <strong>58% <\/strong>of its <strong>wildlife <\/strong>since 1970 and is experiencing the <strong>sixth mass extinction.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass extinction is driven by <strong>human activity, <\/strong>primarily (but not limited to) <strong>the unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the <strong>Living Planet Report,<\/strong> 30% of all land that sustains <strong>biodiversity <\/strong>has been converted for <strong>food production.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agriculture is also responsible for 80% of global <strong>deforestation <\/strong>and accounts for 70% of the planet\u2019s <strong>freshwater use,<\/strong> devastating the species that inhabit those places by significantly altering their <strong>habitats<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:<\/strong> The species loss is compounded by:<br><br>a. The ongoing growth of human populations and unsustainable consumer lifestyles.<br>b. Increasing production of waste and pollutants.<br>c. Urban development.<br>d. International conflict.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>What is Biodiversity?<\/strong><br><strong>&nbsp;<br><\/strong>&#8211; <strong>Biodiversity<\/strong> is an umbrella term for all the different species of <strong>plants<\/strong>, <strong>animals<\/strong>, and <strong>microorganisms<\/strong> and the <strong>ecosystems<\/strong> in which they live, interact, and thrive.&nbsp;<br>&#8211; <strong>Biodiversity conservation<\/strong> means protecting all the millions of different <strong>species<\/strong> that live on our planet and the multitude of different <strong>ecosystems<\/strong> that allow these organisms to survive and evolve.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read our detailed article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/biodiversity\/\">Biodiversity<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Important_Wildlife_Conservation_Projects_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Important Wildlife Conservation Projects in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over the years, the governments, along with various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and international bodies, have launched several wildlife conservation projects in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some of the most important wildlife conservation projects in India include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Tiger<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Elephant<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Lion<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Snow Leopard<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Cheetah<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Hangul<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Crocodile<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Great Indian Bustard<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Dolphin<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these wildlife conservation projects in India has been discussed in detail in the sections that follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5cc4d032cc119a71158050d1f40a193e\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Tiger\"><\/span><strong>Project Tiger<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a <strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme<\/strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Environment and Forests,<\/strong> administered by the <strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Indian <strong>tiger population<\/strong> at the end of the 20th century was estimated at <strong>20,000 to 40,000 <\/strong>individuals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first country-wide<strong> tiger census<\/strong> in 1972 estimated the population to comprise a little more than<strong> 1,800<\/strong> individuals, indicating a significant reduction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Tiger<\/strong> was launched in <strong>Jim Corbett National Park <\/strong>of <strong>Uttarakhand <\/strong>in 1973, and various <strong>tiger reserves<\/strong> were created in the country based on a <strong>\u2018core-buffer\u2019 strategy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read our detailed article on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-tiger-in-india\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-tiger-in-india\/\">Project Tiger<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3207ce21b05f57281312be9a6c7c9b48\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Elephant\"><\/span><strong>Project Elephant<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Elephant<\/strong> is a centrally sponsored scheme initiated by the <strong>Government of India<\/strong> in 1992 to safeguard the Indian elephant population and their habitats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administered by the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change,<\/strong> the project aims to enhance elephant conservation by establishing <strong>elephant reserves,<\/strong> anti-poaching measures, habitat management, and community engagement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By protecting both the elephants and their habitats, Project Elephant seeks to address challenges such as <strong>human-wildlife conflict<\/strong> and habitat fragmentation, ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic species.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read our detailed article on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-elephant-in-india\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-elephant-in-india\/\">Project Elephant<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-deeeaad2987ede84f01efd618192becf\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Lion\"><\/span><strong>Project Lion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It aims to <strong>develop habitats<\/strong> and use <strong>modern technologies<\/strong> in lion management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It focuses on addressing <strong>disease and Human-Wildlife conflict.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It engages <strong>local communities<\/strong> and provides <strong>livelihood opportunities.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It utilises <strong>advanced research<\/strong> and <strong>veterinary care<\/strong> for holistic species conservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:&nbsp;<\/strong><br><br>&#8211; <strong>Scientific Name<\/strong>: <em>Panthera leo persica<\/em><br>&#8211; <strong>Current Range<\/strong>: Restricted to <strong>Gir National Park<\/strong> and surrounding areas in <strong>Gujarat, India.<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Known As<\/strong>: &#8220;Indian lion&#8221; and &#8220;Persian lion&#8221;.<br>&#8211; <strong>Status<\/strong>:<br>a. <strong>Listed<\/strong> in Schedule I of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-protection-act-1972\/\">Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972<\/a><\/strong><br>b. <strong>Appendix I<\/strong> of <strong>CITES<\/strong><br>c. <strong>Endangered<\/strong> on the <strong>IUCN Red List<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Morphological Character<\/strong>: Features a <strong>longitudinal fold of skin<\/strong> along its belly.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ecd6ecbbc2fe098a95a73e837f116bc2\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Snow_Leopard\"><\/span><strong>Project Snow Leopard<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Snow Leopard<\/strong> is a dedicated initiative to conserve the <strong>snow leopard, <\/strong>a critically endangered species found in the <strong>high-altitude regions<\/strong> of the Himalayas and Central Asia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project was launched to address the severe threats facing this elusive big cat. It focuses on <strong>habitat preservation, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and combating poaching.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By promoting<strong> sustainable land use <\/strong>and involving <strong>local communities<\/strong> in conservation efforts, the project seeks to secure the snow leopard&#8217;s habitat while enhancing the protection of its <strong>prey species.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1111.png\" alt=\"project snow leopard\" class=\"wp-image-10090\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1111.png 717w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1111-424x258.png 424w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1111-696x423.png 696w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1111-691x420.png 691w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1111-150x91.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:&nbsp;<\/strong><br><br>&#8211; <strong>Global Status<\/strong>: Endangered with an estimated population of <strong>7,500<\/strong> across <strong>two million square kilometres<\/strong> in the Himalayas and Central Asian mountains.<br>&#8211; <strong>Distribution<\/strong>: Most prevalent in <strong>China<\/strong>, followed by <strong>Mongolia<\/strong> and <strong>India<\/strong>.<br>&#8211; <strong>Threats<\/strong>:<br>a. <strong>Human interference<\/strong><br>b. <strong>Competition with livestock<\/strong> (resulting in retaliation killings)<br>c. <strong>Retreat due to global warming<\/strong><br>d. <strong>Poaching<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21008d974f3f752954c6fa154a9b175d\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Cheetah\"><\/span><strong>Project Cheetah<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under <strong>Project Cheetah, the Prime Minister of India<\/strong> released wild <strong>cheetahs in Kuno National Park<\/strong> in Madhya Pradesh. The <strong>cheetah <\/strong>had become extinct in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The cheetahs introduced in Kuno National Park have been brought from <strong>Namibia<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is the world\u2019s first<strong> inter-continental wild carnivore translocation project.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are five female and three male cheetahs among the eight. Under the project, India will receive 20 cheetahs, 12 from South Africa and 8 from Namibia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read our detailed article on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-cheetah-in-india\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-cheetah-in-india\/\">Project Cheetah<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5961109d411f89e7d503919c03b1abf4\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Hangul\"><\/span><strong>Project Hangul<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Hangul<\/strong> was initiated in <strong>1970 <\/strong>by the <strong>Kashmir Government<\/strong> with support from <strong>WWF<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project faced several challenges, including a lack of<strong> local participation <\/strong>from communities such as <strong>Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Nambardars.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It focused on the <strong>Dagwan <\/strong>area and was hampered by the establishment of <strong>cement factories<\/strong> and <strong>unscientific limestone extraction, creating<\/strong> <strong>death traps<\/strong> for the animals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The onset of <strong>militancy <\/strong>further disrupted conservation efforts. Rebranded as <strong>\u201cSave Kashmir\u2019s Red Deer Hangul\u201d <\/strong>in 2009, the project included efforts such as<strong> captivity breeding <\/strong>and opening<strong> conservation breeding centres.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite a <strong>marginal increase<\/strong> in the Hangul population to 261, according to the latest census, continued efforts are necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key measures include<strong> enlarging Dachigam National Park, relocating <\/strong>Hangul, and hiring <strong>experts <\/strong>for relocation sites. <strong>Government efforts<\/strong> like <strong>patrolling, habitat maintenance, planting fruit-bearing trees, <\/strong>and <strong>creating water holes <\/strong>have led to positive results in Hangul conservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"616\" height=\"412\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/222.png\" alt=\"project hangul\" class=\"wp-image-10092\" style=\"width:504px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/222.png 616w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/222-386x258.png 386w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/222-150x100.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-418b8b1f9e2b0041a4b02181286a21a4\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Crocodile\"><\/span><strong>Project Crocodile<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Indian Crocodile Conservation Project <\/strong>has successfully improved the status of crocodilian species that were once on the brink of extinction. The major objectives of the Project Crocodile are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protect <\/strong>the remaining population in their natural habitat by creating <strong>sanctuaries<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rebuild <\/strong>populations through <strong>&#8216;grow and release&#8217; or &#8216;rear and release&#8217;<\/strong> techniques.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promote captive breeding, <\/strong>where wild species are bred and raised in <strong>special facilities.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conduct research <\/strong>to enhance <strong>management <\/strong>practices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Train personnel<\/strong> for project continuity through programs at project sites and the <strong>Central Crocodile Breeding and Management Training Institute, Hyderabad.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Involve local communities<\/strong> in the conservation efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"715\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3333.png\" alt=\"project crocodile\" class=\"wp-image-10093\" style=\"width:527px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3333.png 610w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3333-220x258.png 220w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3333-358x420.png 358w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3333-150x176.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Mugger or Marsh Crocodile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Mugger Crocodile is an egg-laying and hole-nesting species<\/strong> known to be <strong>dangerous<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is primarily found in the <strong>Indian subcontinent, <\/strong>inhabiting various<strong> freshwater habitats<\/strong> such as <strong>rivers, lakes, and marshes.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additionally, it can be found in <strong>coastal saltwater lagoons and estuaries.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The species is already<strong> extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Threats <\/strong>to the Mugger Crocodile include <strong>habitat destruction,<\/strong> <strong>fragmentation, transformation, fishing activities, and using crocodile parts for medicinal purposes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:<\/strong>&nbsp;IUCN List of Threatened Species: VulnerableCITES: Appendix IWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Estuarine Crocodile<\/strong> is considered the <strong>Earth\u2019s largest living crocodile species<\/strong> and is globally infamous as a known <strong>maneater<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is found in <strong>Odisha\u2019s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in West Bengal,<\/strong> and the <strong>Andamans and Nicobar Islands.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additionally, it is present across <strong>Southeast Asia and northern Australia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Threats <\/strong>to the population include <strong>illegal hunting, habitat loss,<\/strong> and <strong>antipathy toward the species<\/strong> due to its reputation as a man-eater, which continues to pressure the population.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:<\/strong>&nbsp;IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>CITES: Appendix I (except the populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, which are included in Appendix II).Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gharial<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gharials are <strong>Asian crocodilians <\/strong>distinguished by their long, thin snouts, which resemble a pot (ghara in Hindi). Gharials are a type of Crocodile that also includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The population of Gharials, a relatively harmless fish-eating species, is a good indicator of clean river water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Habitat: Gharials are mostly found in <strong>fresh waters of the Himalayan rivers.<\/strong> The Chambal River on the <strong>northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains ( Madhya Pradesh)<\/strong> is their primary habitat.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Other Himalayan rivers, like the <strong>Ghagra, Uganda, Grow, Ramganga, and Son rivers,<\/strong> are secondary habitats for gharials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Threats: Illegal sand mining, poaching, increased river pollution, dam construction, massive-scale fishing operations and floods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>a. IUCN List of Threatened Species: Critically Endangered<br>b. CITES: Appendix I<br>c. Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-61bece7552a0fae2953388ca4806f698\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Great_Indian_Bustard\"><\/span><strong>Project Great Indian Bustard<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Great Indian Bustard<\/strong> was launched in <strong>2013 <\/strong>to conserve the critically endangered <strong>Great Indian Bustard<\/strong> (Ardeotis nigriceps), also known as <strong>Godawan<\/strong>, which is the state bird of <strong>Rajasthan<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite being listed under the <strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972,<\/strong> the species remained poorly protected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key threats include <strong>habitat <\/strong>loss due to conversion of grasslands, <strong>anthropogenic disturbances, and poaching.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Historically, the population has declined from over<strong> 1,000 individuals<\/strong> to just <strong>125 in 2013.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project focuses on <strong>habitat protection<\/strong> through measures such as <strong>intensive patrolling, intelligence networks, and check posts.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Firefly bird diverters <\/strong>are being developed to prevent <strong>collisions with power lines.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional steps include <strong>planting grasses,<\/strong> providing <strong>water facilities,<\/strong> and involving <strong>local communities<\/strong> in conservation efforts.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The project also emphasises <strong>mass awareness and continuous monitoring<\/strong> of both the species and its habitat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read our detailed article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-great-indian-bustard\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-great-indian-bustard\/\">Project Great Indian Bustard<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Indian One Horn Rhino Vision-2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>IRV 2020<\/strong> is a conservation initiative launched in <strong>2005 by the Forest Department of Assam,<\/strong> in partnership with <strong>WWF India, the International Rhino Foundation, <\/strong>and other organisations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The aim was to increase the<strong> rhino population<\/strong> in Assam to <strong>3,000 <\/strong>by establishing populations in new areas. Rhinos are currently found in four Protected Areas:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pabitora Wildlife Reserve,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kaziranga National Park, and<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manas National Park.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Note:<\/strong><br><br>a. The <strong>3,000 rhinos<\/strong> target was nearly achieved, but reintroduction was successful in only <strong>one of the planned four areas<\/strong>.<br>b. <strong>Manas National Park<\/strong> regained its <strong>World Heritage Site status<\/strong> in 2011 due to the reintroduction of rhinos.<br>c. <strong>Poaching<\/strong> significantly decreased in <strong>2018<\/strong> and <strong>2019<\/strong>, thanks to coordinated efforts by forestry, local and national officials.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"830\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444.png\" alt=\"indian one horn rhino vision-2020\" class=\"wp-image-10094\" style=\"width:635px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444.png 830w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444-438x258.png 438w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444-696x410.png 696w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444-713x420.png 713w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/08\/4444-150x88.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8616e97a8b140e46bca267f8ab1a6d34\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Project_Dolphin\"><\/span><strong>Project Dolphin<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gangetic river dolphins<\/strong> were declared a <strong>national aquatic species in 2010.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are found primarily in the <strong>Ganga and Brahmaputra<\/strong> rivers and their tributaries across<strong> India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.<\/strong> Their population in India is about <strong>3,700.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This species is classified as <strong>endangered on the IUCN Red List.<\/strong> Gangetic dolphins are <strong>essentially blind <\/strong>and use <strong>ultrasonic sounds<\/strong> to hunt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Their existence is threatened by<strong> entanglement in nets, increased water salinity, and boat traffic.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project Dolphin,<\/strong> announced by the Prime Minister in <strong>2020<\/strong>, aims to conserve these dolphins and their <strong>aquatic habitats<\/strong> through modern <strong>anti-poaching technology<\/strong> and improved <strong>fishermen engagement<\/strong>. The project also focuses on <strong>pollution mitigation <\/strong>and s<strong>upports sustainable fishery.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite its launch, progress has been slow, and on-ground developments are yet to commence.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The M<strong>inistry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change <\/strong>oversees the project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read our detailed article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-dolphin\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/project-dolphin\/\">Project Dolphin<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wildlife_Conservation_Efforts_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Wildlife Conservation Efforts in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has undertaken various wildlife conservation efforts to protect its rich biodiversity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key initiatives include the establishment of over 100 national parks and more than 500 wildlife sanctuaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Project Tiger and Project Elephant are flagship programs aimed at conserving these iconic species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wildlife-protection-act-1972\/\"><strong>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972<\/strong><\/a> provides a legal framework for wildlife conservation. India also promotes eco-sensitive zones and community-based conservation models like Joint Forest Management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conservation breeding programs for endangered species, anti-poaching measures, and awareness campaigns further strengthen efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additionally, India collaborates internationally under agreements like CITES to ensure sustainable wildlife protection and habitat preservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1ba26816a4b696f5145417d32f4818fd\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A range of Wildlife Conservation Projects in India contribute significantly towards biodiversity, and especially wildlife conservation. These projects and measures taken under them shows India&#8217;s commitment to environment and wildlife conservation. The success of these initiatives depends on sustained support, scientific research, and active participation from local communities and conservationists. By addressing the challenges and building upon the successes of these wildlife conservation projects in India, the country can become a global leader in biodiversity conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wildlife Conservation Projects in India focus on protecting and preserving endangered species..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":10110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[72],"class_list":["post-10089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment-and-ecology","tag-gs-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10089"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23186,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10089\/revisions\/23186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}