India is a mega-diverse country, with 7–8% of the world’s known biodiversity. It is home to over 91,200 species of animals and 45,500 species of plants. The country is estimated to support about 70% of the global tiger population, 60% of the Asian elephant population, 70–80% of the greater one-horned rhino population, 100% of the Asiatic lion population and 10–15% of the global snow leopard population. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, India’s forest cover is 21.76% of its total geographical area and it has 1,135 Protected Areas, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves.

However, India’s wildlife and their habitats face multiple threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation and land-use change driven by urbanisation, infrastructure development, industrial activities, extractive operations and agricultural intensification. Pressures on natural resources—through unsustainable extraction and climate change—degrade forests, grasslands and other natural ecosystems. Human-wildlife conflict remains a complex challenge, with severe consequences for both communities and wildlife. Poaching and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten populations, increasing the extinction risk of rare and endangered species. Additionally, the prevalence and spread of wildlife diseases, as well as the risk of zoonotic spillover, remain poorly understood.

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