R.

K COLLEGE, MADHUBANI
LALIT NARAYAN MITHILA UNIVERSITY, DARBHANGA
NOTES FOR BSc(Hons) ZOOLOGY,1st year, PAPER- 1 GROUP- B
(ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY)
DR. M.K. CHANDAN
DEPT. OF ZOOLOGY
Hot spots in India

• Out of the 25 hot spots of the world, two are found in India.

• These are Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas, and these extend to the neighboring countries also.

• These areas show high degree of endemism and are inhabited by a wide variety of flowering plants,

swallow tailed butterflies, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Biodiversity conservation in India

• India is a centre of rich biological diversity and has contributed significantly of the global biodiversity.

• Because of the abundant diversity present in the country, its conservation is very important not only for

the country but also for the rest of the world.

• Both in situ and ex situ conservation measures are being undertaken.

Wild life conservation

• Wild animal means any non-domesticated animal found wild in nature.

• It includes both vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) and invertebrates (bees,

butterflies, moths, crustaceans, etc.) the term “wild life” includes animals as well as plants, which from

part of any habitat in nature.

• Some wild animals are so characteristic that they become symbols of their home countries.

• Thus, tiger is associated with India, white bear with Russia, Giant Panda with China, kangaroo with

Australia, kiwi with New Zealand and springbok with South Africa.

Values of Wild Life

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• Wild life is a source of danger to human life.

• It is a nuisance to a farmer because it often destroys his crops.

• The domestic livestock is denied grazing ground in sanctuaries and reserves for wild life.

• Similarly, the hunters are denied recreation by shooting wild life.

• Even then conservation of wild life becomes necessary and of great importance due to its many values to

mankind.

Ecological value

• Man and wild animals have evolved together on this planet, called Earth.

• All life on earth is one and all living things are inextricably interlinked (food chains) forming ecosystems.

• Destruction of wild life may cause upset in the ecological balance or equilibrium resulting in severe

consequences.

• Thus, protection of every animal species is of great importance to the quality of life and to the survival of

man himself.

• By rendering the planet uninhabitable for animals, we will not be able to avoid extinction ourselves.

Commercial value

• Wild life forms an important natural resource.

• Unlike coal or petroleum which is nonrenewable, wild life is a renewable resource.

• With proper care and management, it can yield good dividends and even earn foreign exchange.

• Freshwater fish and other aquatic creatures also provide large amount of food for people.

• Wild life of dry land mainly contributes to the food of the so-called primitive people of the world.

• An entire industry, the fur trade is supported by fur-bearing animals.

Scientific value

• Scientific studies of many of the wild life species are of direct value to humans.

• Thus, sea urchins have helped greatly in the understanding of human embryology.

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• Rhesus monkeys have contributed to the present knowledge of human blood groups.

Aesthetic value

• There is a great worldwide aesthetic value of wild life because of their sheer beauty and appeal to the

human spirit.

• A world without melodious birds, graceful beasts and rupturous forests would be a poorer place for

humans to live in.

• Without wild animals, a country side looks dead, static, monotonous and like a picture postcard. People

feel pleasure, satisfaction and happiness in the presence of wild life.

Sanctuaries and National Parks :

• A Sanctuary or a National Park may be defined as an area, declared by statute, for the purpose of

protecting, propagating or developing wild life therein, or its natural environment, for their scientific,

educational and recreational value.

• The difference between a sanctuary and a national park is subtle and even confusing.

• Hunting and grazing are absolutely prohibited in a national park which may be established within or

outside a sanctuary.

• Examples

➢ Alberta National Parks, Congo, Africa for Mountain Gorilla

➢ Bialowieska National Park, Poland, Europe for Europian Bison
➢ Ghana bird sanctuary (Keoladeo National Park), Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India for Ave fauna

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 Names Location Special characteristics

Corbett national Park Around Ramganga river, Ramnagar, First and Finest N.P.; Richest in
Dhikola, Distt. Nainital. U.P. biodiversity of threatened species.
Manas National Park Around Manas river, Barpeta Road, Largest population of elephants.
Assam, Hispid hare and pigmy hog are found
only here.
Sunderbans National Estuarine and highly saline marshy forest Largest tiger population. World-
Park between Hoogly and Tetulia rivers in West famous man-eating tigers.
Bengal.
Palamu National Park Around Koel river near Chhota Nagpur, Presence of tuskless male elephants
Daltenganj, Bihar is a speciality
Ranthambhor National Around Aravali and Vindhyachal ranges, Smallest tiger reserve.
Park Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
Melghat National Park Near Tapti river, Ghaurilagarh hills,
Maharashtra
Kanha National Park Around Sarpan river in Kanha Swamp deers or barahsingha are the
valley,Mandla, Distt. Belaghat, Madhya jewels of this reserve.
Pradesh
Bandipur National Park Between Negarhole, Wynad and Known as best habitat for elephants.
Mudumalai parks along west coast,
Karnataka
Simlipal National Park Around 12 rivers in Mayur Bhanj, Bihar
Namdapha National Around 3 hill rivers, Miao Distt. Tirap, Known for rare leopards.
Park Arunachal Pradesh Easternmost abods of many
threatened species
Sariska National Park Aravali range, Thana Gazi, Sariska, Alwar,
Rajasthan
Dudhwa National Park Near Sohali-Neora river, Dudhwa, Rhinoceros reintroduced and is
Lakhimpur Kheri, U.P. surviving.
Buxa National Park Near Sunkosi river and Manas tiger
reserve, West Bengal
Periyar National Park Around Periyar river, Nilliampatti on Only abode of Nilgiri Tahr.
Western Ghats, Kottayam, Kerala
Indravati National Park Around Indravati river, Bijapur, Distt Ideal for wild buffalo.
Bustar, Madhya Pradesh

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 Nagarjunasagar Near Nagarjunasagar reservoir of Krishna
Sanctuary river, Mallamalai Hills, Andhra Pradesh

Name and Location Area in Sq. Important Animals found

Km.
Nagarjuna Sagar (Ikshawaka 3568 Tiger, panther, slothbear, wild bear, nilgai, chital,
Sanctuary) sambar, black buck, jackal, fox, wolf, muggar
Guntur, Prakasham, Kamool, crocodile
Mahbubnagar & Nalgonda Distt.
Andhra Pradesh
Pulicat (Lake) Sanctuary 500 Flamingo, pelican, duck, teal, stork, crane, heron
Nelore Distt, Andhra Pradesh
Kaziranga National Park 430 Rhinoceros, elephant, wild buffalo, gaur, sambar,
Sibsagar, Jorhat Distt, Assam swamp deer, hog deer, wild boar, tiger, leopard,
gibbon, python, pelican, stork, florican
Manas Sanctuary 80 As in Kaziranga. Also wild dog, panther, golden
Barpeta Distt, Assam langur, water monitor, great pied hombill
Hazaribagh Sanctuary 186 Tiger, leopard, hyaena, wild boar, gaur, sambar,
Hazaribagh, Bihar chital, nilgai, peafowl
Palamau Sanctuary 980 Elephant, panthor, leopard, wild boar, barking
Daltongunj, Bihar deer, gaur, chital, sambar, peafowl
Kaimur Sanctuary 1342 Tiger, leopard, chinkara, sambar, nilgai,
Rohtas, Bihar crocodiles
Gir National park 1412 Asiatic lion, panther, striped hyaena, sambar
Sasan-Gir, Junagarh Distt, Gujrat nilgai, chital, 4-horned antelope, chinkara

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