They are essential for the ecosystem to thrive.
India is a large subcontinent of people, weather, and wildlife species.
Wildlife is an asset to India, with several animals reigning supreme as Indian icons.
From birds to bears to big cats, India has it all.
India’s wildlife is just as much a part of Indian culture as its languages and landmarks.
DESIblitz proudly presents a curated list of 12 wildlife species found in India.
King Cobra
The King Cobra is one of the largest snakes in the world.
Although its quantity of venom is extremely potent, the King chooses to avoid people.
Therefore, the reptile causes less than five human deaths annually.
When threatened, the snake bears its fangs and hisses, capable of looking an adult human directly in the face.
It is found in India’s borders and neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh.
The cobra’s prey includes frogs and lizards.
However, surprisingly, it mostly feeds on other snakes including pythons and rat snakes.
The King’s scientific name, ‘Ophiophagus’ translates to “snake-eater.”
Bengal Tiger
For millions of years, this creature has been a unique selling point of India.
The Bengal tiger resides primarily in the mangrove area of Sundarbans.
The forest is the largest mangrove in the world. The Bengal tiger reigns supreme in the lush woodlands.
They feed on other mammals including bears and ungulates. It is a predator at the top of the food chain.
Bengal tigers have been used extensively in South Asian culture including in Yann Martel’s best-selling novel Life of Pi (2001).
The cats are stealthy hunters, creeping up on their prey and lunging on them with a fatal bite.
Tigers can sometimes develop a taste for human flesh and have been known to target villagers and fishermen who venture into the mangrove.
One example is a tigress known as the Champawat Man-Eater, who killed 436 people before being killed by Jim Corbett in 1907.
The Bengal tiger has been named as the National Animal of India. Its great appearance and its impressive power show that is more than deserving of this title.
Asian Elephant
The Asian elephant is the giant of Indian wildlife species. They are majestic but unpredictable.
Elephants are herbivorous creatures who, like humans, learn from what they experience.
Usually, they are peaceful but when threatened, they can turn into brutal forces of nature.
In February 2024, the BBC released a story about elephant attacks terrorising Kerala.
Ajeesh Joseph, a 42-year-old farmer, had been trampled to death by an Asian elephant.
His daughter, Alna Joseph laments: “We often see elephants roaming around when we go out.
“Most of them don’t attack us. But how do we distinguish them from the dangerous ones?”
Conservationists are working to protect both humans and elephants but the strength and power of these animals must not be underestimated.
Indian Sloth Bear
The Indian sloth bear derives its name as its appearance resembles the neotropical mammal, the sloth.
The bear’s claws and face look like the sloth but while these are similar, the bear doesn’t move like its lookalike tree animal.
It is found in the forests and lower hills near the Himalayas, Punjab, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Unlike other bears, the Indian sloth bear does not hibernate. It stays awake all year scavenging and hunting termites – its most preferred prey.
Once a bear finds a termite mound, its snout becomes protected by a flap which prevents unwelcome visitors from entering its body.
Almost like a vacuum cleaner, the bear sucks down thousands of termites in a single feeding.
The Indian sloth bear has a volatile relationship with both humans and other animals. However, barring the tiger, not many other creatures hunt it.
Its loud vocalisation, massive strength, and deadly nature make it one of the most formidable animals in India.
Indian Leopard
The Indian leopard is the most widespread big cat in India.
Although it is three times smaller than the Bengal tiger, it is still ferocious and admirable.
Leopards are found throughout the country. Their diet consists of most mammals including monkeys and crocodiles.
When their food is scarce, they can turn their attention to livestock and humans.
One leopard – the ‘Panar Man-Eater’ – devastatingly killed 400 people before it was shot in 1910.
The marks on its fur are unique to each cat. Shaped like human fingerprints, no two coats are alike.
The Indian leopard is a nocturnal and solitary creature. Like the tiger, it prefers to kill its prey by a method of surprise rather than a direct attack.
Once locked on to its prey, the leopard drags it undercover to feed at its leisure.
Blackbuck
A regal wildlife species, the blackbuck is also known as the Indian antelope.
Native to the grassy plains of India and Nepal, their lifespan is approximately 10 to 15 years.
It is primarily active during the day and it feeds on leaves, grass, and oak.
As an ungulate, predators including tigers and leopards hunt the blackbuck.
The creature is also targeted by poachers. However, they are protected by Indian law.
During the making of the Bollywood film, Hum Saath-Saath Hai (1999), the actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, and Neelam Kothari were charged with poaching the blackbuck.
The charges were under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
In April 2018, Salman was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for poaching the blackbuck while Tabu, Saif, and Neelam were acquitted.
The blackbuck is one of India’s finest species. It may not be a powerful carnivore, but it still commands as much respect.
Indian Peafowl
Indian peafowls are an ornament to Indian culture.
The male species is referred to as the “peacock” and the females are called “peahens”.
Their beautiful blue crests in the shape of a fan help distinguish peacocks.
Despite the weight of their feathers, peacocks can still fly.
Their feathers raise into a fan and quiver during courtship and mating rituals.
Meanwhile, peahens have a green neck and a white face.
The Indian peafowls feed on berries and grain. However, they can also display omnivorous tendencies when they consume rodents, lizards, and snakes.
Peafowls are depicted in spiritual Indian paintings and culture and are popular for killing snakes.
Extravagant and exciting, the Indian peafowl is one of India’s most precious wildlife species.
Asiatic Lion
The presence of the Asiatic lion makes India perhaps the only country where lions and tigers coexist.
However, they do not occupy the same habitat. The lions which exist in India primarily reside in the Gir National Park, near Gujarat.
The Asiatic lion differs in size from its much larger African relative. Manes for male species are also different.
Asiatic manes are smaller than those of African lions.
There have been several projects held to conserve Asiatic lions in India. In 2020, the Indian government announced Project Lion.
The project identified six potential sites to preserve the animals including parks and sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Like other big cats in India, the Asiatic lion feeds on ungulates including sambar deer, chital, and water buffalo.
When one thinks of lions, they usually think of Africa. However, India also has its decoration of lions which should not be ignored.
Indian Rhinoceros
The Indian rhinoceros is original in terms of its appearance.
Unlike its African counterparts, it only has one horn. It is the second-largest species of rhinoceros in the world.
A largely solitary grazer, the rhinoceros feeds entirely on grass, twigs, and branches.
Apart from mating rituals and battle, males generally live alone while females without young also stay solitary.
However, like the African species, the Indian rhinoceros is also critically endangered.
This is due to climate change, flooding, deforestation, and poaching.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, this wildlife species was hunted relentlessly as killing rhinoceroses was a popular sport.
In 1910, all poaching of the animal became illegal in India.
These remarkable and striking creatures are important for India’s culture. They deserve to be preserved and respected.
Russell’s Viper
One of the highly venomous snakes in India, the Russell’s Viper is dangerous and is not to be crossed.
The serpent is named after the herpetologist Patrick Russell (1726–1805).
Its prey includes land crabs, rodents, and scorpions.
Bites from the viper result in bleeding, excruciating pain, and ultimate death if the attack is not treated effectively.
The venom from the Russell’s Viper is proven to induce thrombosis.
Due to this, the poison is used as part of in vitro diagnostic tests for blood clotting.
This snake is found widely in Bengal and Punjab.
It avoids dense foliage and prefers open, grassy areas.
Saw-Scaled Viper
Continuing with vipers, we come to this snake which is commonly known as the “echis”.
Like all vipers, this reptile is poisonous too. They are some of the smallest snakes with lengths approximately between 30 cm and 90 cm.
They are found widely in South Asia, encompassing the regions of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
When they feel threatened, these serpents will get into a position known as stridulation.
During this process, the snakes will often hiss loudly and limit their water loss.
They can be extremely aggressive as their bite yields a significant amount of venom.
So, if you ever encounter the saw-scaled viper, get away as soon as possible!
Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus macaque is among primates known as “Old World Monkeys”.
It is native to India, as well as places including Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Its diet comprises seeds, fruit, bark, and cereal. However, it can also consume crab, bird eggs, and insects.
India is famous for its apes and the Rhesus macaque is certainly one of them.
Groups of the monkeys can consist of between 20 and 200 members.
In its communication, the macaques often use varied facial expressions, gesticulations, and vocalisations.
Deforestation has led to human-rhesus conflict and the apes are protected by law.
India is home to a diverse array of wildlife species that enhance its culture.
They are essential for the ecosystem to thrive and they add uniqueness to the country.
Unfortunately, these animals have not been spared from human activity such as poaching and destruction of habitat.
However, as we look to a peaceful environment, it is important to give these wildlife species the respect they deserve.
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