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Environment part 2 of 3
Conservation Outlook Of Western Ghats Grim: IUCN Report
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Heritage Outlook 3 published recently, builds on previous reports from 2014 and 2017 to track whether the conservation of the World’s 252 natural world heritage sites is sufficient to protect them in the long term.
- According to the 2020 report, the conservation outlook of the mountain chain of the Western Ghats, one of the world’s eight hottest hot spots of biological diversity, is of significant concern.
- India's iconic Western Ghats, inscribed by UNESCO in 2012 as a natural world heritage site.
- Population pressure, urbanization,agricultural expansion, livestock grazing and forest fragmentation are posing serious threats to the species and habitats of the Western Ghats.
- Climate change will probably exacerbate a system already under pressure and has the potential to impact on the large-scale monsoonal processes, which influence the Western Ghats.
ZSI Study On Malayan Giant Squirrel
- A first-of-its-kind study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has projected that numbers of the Malayan Giant Squirrel (Ratufabicolor) could decline by 90 per cent in India by 2050, and if urgent steps are not taken, the species could be extinct in the country in subsequent decades.
- In India, the Malayan Giant Squirrel is currently found in parts of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
- Destruction of its habitat could restrict the squirrel to only southern Sikkim and North Bengal by 2050, according to the ZSI.
- India is home to three giant squirrel species; the other two – Indian Giant Squirrel and Grizzled Giant Squirrel – are found in peninsular India.
- Giant squirrels are diurnal, but arboreal (tree-dwelling) and herbivorous.
- The health of the species is critical because it indicates the health of the forests it inhabits.
- The species is listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on IUCN’s 2016 list, and it is protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act.
Apex Committee For Implementation Of Paris Agreement (AIPA)
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 2nd November 2020 issued a Gazette notification on forming a high-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA).
Purpose
- The purpose of the AIPA is to generate a coordinated response on climate change matters which ensures that India is on track to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
- It will oversee the implementation of climate change targets that India has committed to under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Composition
- The AIPA will have members from 14 ministries and will be chaired by the MOEFCC secretary.
- The constituent ministries include health, power, renewable energy, finance, science & technology, jalshakti, earth sciences, urban affairs, rural development, commerce & industry, apart from the government’s policy think-tank, the NITI Aayog.
Assigned Task
- AIPA would operate as a national authority to regulate carbon markets in India, formulate guidelines for consideration of projects or activities, issue guidelines on carbon pricing, market mechanism, and other similar instruments that have a bearing on climate change and NDCs.
- It will also take note of the contribution made by the private sector as well as multi- and bi-lateral agencies in the field of climate change and provide guidance for aligning their climate actions with national priorities.
Commitments under NDC
India has made eight commitments under the NDC, which has three quantitative goals —
- i.Reduction in the emissions intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) by 33-35 per cent over 2005 levels by 2030;
- ii.Achieving about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030;
- iii.Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
India’s Achievements so far
- India is on track to achieve the first goal (on emissions intensity) well before 2030.
- India is not only meeting its Paris Agreement targets but also exceeding them.
India's First Indigenously Developed ‘100 Octane’Premium Petrol
- India's first indigenously developed 100 Octane premium petrol has been launched by Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
- The high octane premium grade petrol is being marketed under the brand XP-100.
- With the rolling out of XP-100 developed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited with indigenous technical know-how, India joins a select league of nations having such super grade fuel.
- Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability that increases engine efficiency.
- While high-octane premium fuel offers little to no benefits to most models, it helps extract the maximum performance from sports cars.
- Indian Oil has produced this new 100 Octane petrol at its own Mathura Refinery using the company’s OCTAMAX technology.
Blue Tide Along Indian Beaches
Though uncommon, recently beaches in Maharashtra and Karnataka have witnessed a fluorescent bluish glow when the waves hit the shoreline.
- Bioluminescence or light-emitting tides were witnessed on Juhu beach in Mumbai and Devgad, Velas and Murud along the state’s coastline. It was also witnessed along Dakshina Kannada-Udupi coast.
The Phenomenon behind Blue Tide
- ‘Blue tides’ appear when marine life Noctilucascintillans, commonly known as the sea sparkle, marine-dwelling species of dinoflagellate that exhibits bioluminescence is disturbed.
- Its bioluminescence is produced throughout the cytoplasm of this single-celled protist, by a luciferin-luciferase reaction in thousands of spherically shaped organelles, called scintillons.
What is Bioluminescence?
- Bioluminescence is the property of a living organism to produce and emit light.
- Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria show bioluminescence.
- For a reaction to occur, a species must contain luciferin, a molecule that, when it reacts with oxygen, produces light.
- Many organisms also produce the catalyst luciferase, which helps to speed up the reaction.
- Bioluminescence property helps organisms to protect themselves from predators as well as gather together and to make colonies.
What are Red Tides?
- A red tide is a dangerous overgrowth of microscopic marine plants known as algae. The overgrowth can turn coastal waters bright red and release toxins that harm marine life, birds and humans.
- Though “red tide” is the common term for the phenomenon, many scientists prefer “harmful algal bloom,” or HAB. Not all HABs cause water to turn red, however.
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve:First Among 13 Tiger Range Countries To Get TX2Award
- The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) and the Uttar Pradesh Forest department have bagged the first-ever international award, TX2, for doubling the number of tigers in four years against a target of 10 years.
- PTR is the first to receive the award among 13 tiger range countries.
- It achieved this goal in just four years from 2014, when it had 25 tigers which went up to 65 in 2018.
- The global target of doubling the tiger population was set in 2010 by the partners in TX2 award -- UNDP, Global Tiger Forum, International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation Assured/Tiger Standards and the Lion's Share.
- No other tiger reserve among all the 13 tiger range countries could succeed in doubling the big cat population in a span of 10 years.
13 Tiger Range Countries
- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
TXProgramme
- It is an initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched at the 2010 St Petersburg Tiger Summit.Under this programme, all 13 tiger range governments have committed to double the number of wild tigers by 2022.
What Initiative led to this achievement?
- The success was achieved with rigorous patrolling with constant use of Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-STrIPE),
- Stringent action against wildlife criminals and poachers.
- Forest and grassland management.
- Active participation of local people and forest department staff.
India: Only G20 Nation On Track To Meet 20C Global Warming Targets
India is the only “2°C compatible” country in the G20, according to the Climate Transparency Report released on 19 November 2020.
About the Report
- The Climate Transparency Report (previously known as “Brown to Green Report”)looks at how G20 countries are doing when it comes to climate action and transitioning to a net-zero economy.
- The Climate Transparency Report not only helps these countries understand how much more they need to do, but also helps citizens in holding these governments accountable for implementing the Paris Agreement.
Major Findings
- 1.50C Global Warming Targets: No country is so far on track to meet the 1.50C global warming targets set in Paris in 2016 but some are performing a lot worse than others.
- Status of Two Top Polluters: Two of the G20’s top polluters, the United States and China, were found to be a long way off meeting the goals they set themselves as part of the agreement.
- EU: The European Union isn’t doing much better, as the report says current climate change policies aren’t enough to meet its goal of 40 per cent emission reductions by 2030.
The Report on India
- India is the only “2°C compatible” country in the G20, according to the Climate Transparency Report released on 19 November 2020.
- The report pointed out that India is not on track for a 1.5 degree Celsius global warming targets set in Paris in 2016.
What it suggests for India
- India can remove the price of distorting subsidies from coal through different fiscal policies. Redirecting the subsidies to renewable energy sources could lead to cost savings and improve the quality of air.
- India needs to develop a roadmap for subsequent phasing out of coal and a just transition for workers and communities.
- Since the transport sector contributes 14 per cent of energy related to carbon-dioxide emissions, the government can take this as an opportunity to boost the share of electric vehicles and meet its target of 30 per cent EVs by 2030.
- The report suggested that India could become a global leader if it abandoned plans to build a new coal-fired power and phases out coal use for power by 2040.
Recent Initiatives by India
- KUSUM Scheme: The report commended the expansion of solar investment into the agricultural sector through PM-KUSUM Scheme. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan scheme aims to develop 25GW of solar capacity by 2022.
- Transition in Power Sector: The report applauded the acceleration of transition in the power sector. According to the report, the demand for coal is falling, and the development of new pipelines for power generation using coal is shrinking gradually.
A cause of Concern
- The report criticized India's plan to liberalize new investment in coal mines. It said the decision sends the wrong signal that coal production will continue in the future as well. Coal production is on the rise in the country and on track to produce a record high of 700Mt of coal in 2020-21.
Lonar Lake And Sur Sarovar Accorded Ramsar Sites Tag
- The Lonar Lake, the only crater lake of country in Maharashtra and Sur Sarovar, also known as Keetham Lake, in Agra, have been added to the list of recognised Ramsar sites.
- Lonar Lake is an endorheic or closed basin, almost circular in shape, formed by a meteorite impact some 50,000 years ago, onto the basalt bedrock. It is high in salinity and alkalinity, as the lack of an outflow leads to a concentration of minerals as the lake water evaporates. It is the only crater lake in the country formed by the meteorite impact. Recently, the color of Lonar lake water had turned pink due to a large presence of the salt-loving "haloarchaea" microbes.
- Sur Sarovar: Originally created to supply water to the city of Agra in the summer, the wetland soon became an important and rich ecosystem. The site's patchwork of habitat types provides refuge to resident and migratory birds, and more than 60 species of fish. The site is important for bird species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway, with over 30,000 waterbirds known to visit the reservoir annually.
- Recently, Kabartal in Bihar's Begusarai district and Asan Conservation Reserve in Dehradun were recognised as Ramsar Sites.
- Now India has 41 wetlands, the highest in South Asia.
Karnataka To Add Four Biodiversity Heritage Sites
The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has decided to declare four more areas in the State as biodiversity heritage sites. They are
i. Antaragange Betta in Kolar
ii. Aadi Narayana Swamy Betta in Chickballapur
iii. Mahima Ranga Betta in Nelamangala
iv. Urumbi area on the Kumaradhara river basin in Dakshina Kannada
What are “Biodiversity Heritage Sites”?
- “Biodiversity Heritage Sites” (BHS) are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the following components:
- Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories.
- High endemism.
- Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, species of evolutionary significance.
- Wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties.
- Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them.
Who declares a BHS
- Under Section-37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).
CBD, Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and BHS
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted at the Rio Earth Summit, 1992 is based on three fold objectives: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
- The primary requirement for the first objective, as noted by CBD, is the in-situ conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings.
- To ensure in-situ conservation of biological diversity, every contracting party to the CBD is required to establish a system of Protected Areas (PA). PAs are geographical defined areas which are designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives
- The CBD also mandates parties to develop guidelines for selection, establishment and management of such areas.
- In order to fulfill the objectives of CBD, India enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BD Act, 2002).
- For its implementation, the BD Act, 2002 institutes a three tier structure: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the apex level, State Biodiversity Boards (SBB) at state level and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at local body level.
- One of the salient features of the Act with respect to in-situ conservation is conserve and develop areas of importance from the standpoint of biological diversity by declaring them as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).
- The Act grants State Governments the power to notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS and in consultation with the Central Government to frame rules for their management and conservation.
La Niña Is Back After About A Decade: WMO
- According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), La Niña is back in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, after nearly a decade’s absence.
- It has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as El Niño, which is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
- The cooling of these large ocean areas have a significant effect on the circulation of the atmosphere that’s flowing over them. And the changes in the atmosphere in turn affect precipitation patterns around the world.
- In India, La Niña means the country will receive more rainfall than normal, leading to floods.
WMO Predictions on its Effects
- This is expected to result in sea surface temperatures between two and three degrees Celsius cooler than average.
- The Horn of Africa will see below average rainfall, as will Central Asia.
- Above-average rainfall for Southeast Asia, some Pacific Islands and the northern region of South America.
- East Africa is forecast to see drier than usual conditions, which together with the existing impacts of the desert locust invasion, may add to regional food insecurity.
- There is a 90 per cent chance of tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures remaining at La Niña levels for the remainder of the year, and a 55 per cent chance that this will continue through March next year.
No Respite from Heat
- Although La Niña typically has a cooling effect on global temperatures, there’s little chance that 2020 will buck the trend of increasingly warm years. That’s because of all the heat trapped in our atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
Karbartal: 39th Ramsar Site Of India
- Kabartal, also known as Kanwar Jheel covers 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains, in Begusarai district of the state of Bihar.
- The site acts as a vital flood buffer for the region besides providing livelihood opportunities to the local communities.
- As a habitat to biodiversity, the wetland supports about 165 plant, 394 animals and around 50 fish species.
- Kabartal is also an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory water birds using it as a wintering site.
- Besides, critically endangered vultures including red-headed vulture and white-rumped vulture also use the site as a habitat.
- After designating Asan Conservation Reserve (ACR), Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Kabartal Wetland, Begusarai, Bihar, as Ramsar sites, the total number of Ramsar Sites in India is 39, the highest in South Asia.
Panna Tiger Reserve Gets Into ‘World Network Of Biosphere Reserves’
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has included Panna Tiger Reserve in its ‘World Network of Biosphere Reserves’ — the third in Madhya Pradesh after Pachmarhi and Amarkantak.
- UNESCO has allotted the reserve as Biosphere Reserve status after it brought the tiger population back from zero to 54 within ten years. About ten years back, tigers were vanished from the reserve and then forest department re-introduced the big cats in its ambitious plan.
- Other Indian biosphere reserves that are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list are:
|
Name |
States/ UT |
|
|
1 |
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka |
|
2 |
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve |
Tamil Nadu |
|
3 |
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve |
West Bengal |
|
4 |
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve |
Uttarakhand |
|
5 |
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve |
Meghalaya |
|
6 |
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve |
Madhya Pradesh |
|
7 |
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve |
Odisha |
|
8 |
Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
|
9 |
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve |
Chhattisgarh,Madhya Pradesh |
|
10 |
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve |
Kerala and Tamil Nadu |
|
11 |
Khangchendzonga National Park |
Sikkim |
Habitat Loss Is A Serious Concern For Himalayan Brown Bears
- A recent study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India shows that Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) are in danger due to significant reduction in suitable habitat and biological corridors due to climate change.
- The Himalayan brown bear is one of the largest carnivores in the highlands of Himalayas. It occupies the higher reaches of the Himalayas in remote, mountainous areas of Pakistan and India, in small and isolated populations, and is extremely rare in many of its ranges.
- The study carried out in the Western Himalayas by scientists of ZSI, predicted a massive decline of about 73% of the bear’s habitat by the year 2050.
- The brown bear population is distributed significantly in western Himalaya and their status is ‘Critically Endangered’ according to IUCN Red List.
Action Plan For Vulture Conservation 2020-2025
- National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025.
- The new plan has laid out strategies and actions to stem the decline in vulture population, especially of the three Gyps species:
- Oriental white-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
- Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
- Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus)
- Under this plan, five states (Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) will have vulture conservation and breeding centre each.
- There will be established at least one vulture-safe zone in each state for the conservation of the remnant populations in that state.
- Four rescue centres will be established in Pinjore (Haryana), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Guwahati (Assam) and Hyderabad (Telangana).
- National Board for Wildlife is a statutory Board constituted officially in 2003 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
Fishing Cat Designated As Ambassador Of Chilika Lake
- Fishing cat, the only wild cat species in India has been designated as ambassador of Chilika Lake, India’s oldest Ramsar site.
- Fishing cats are mostly found in marshlands fringing the north and north-eastern sections of the lake.
- The fishing cat is a Schedule I species and deserves conservation measures of the highest order in India, as with the tiger and elephant.
- IUCN status of the fishing cat is ‘Vulnerable’
- The conservation of the species is a concern as the marshland and mangrove ecosystems, which are fishing cat habitat are on decline.
‘Dolphin Jalaj Safari’launched On ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’
To make make people aware of the biodiversity of Ganga river and importance of conserving India’s national aquatic animal, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has launched Dolphin-based ecotourism programme - Dolphin Jalaj Safari at six locations i.e. Bijnor, Brijghat, Prayagraj and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Kahalgaon (Bihar) and Bandel (West Bengal) along the country’s national river on the occasion of the ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’.
- India celebrates October 5 every year as the ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’ as this day Ganga Dolphins were declared national aquatic animals in 2010.
Initiative for Promoting Ecotourism
- 'Ganga Praharis':The 'Ganga Praharis' - trained volunteers from among the local community working for cleanliness of Ganga - will take the tourists at these sites on boat rides to view Dolphin in the Ganga River.
- ‘My Ganga My Dolphin’: A new campaign, ‘My Ganga My Dolphin’, has been launched to conduct Dolphin census in 250 km stretch from Bijnor to Narora.
Other Recent Initiatives on Dolphin
- As announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020, the Centre is also expected to launch 'Project Dolphin' soon to give a new impetus to the conservation and protection of the species in both riverine and marine ecosystems – the way India has been implementing conservation schemes for tigers and elephants under its dedicated ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’ programmes.
About Ganga River Dolphin
- The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.
- These are fresh water dolphins and are generally blind and catch their prey and moveusing bio-sonar method.
- Conservation Status: Endangered as per IUCN
- Habitat: The Gangetic River Dolphins are found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river system of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. In India, these Dolphins are sighted along deep river reaches in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
- Indicator Species of River Ecosystems: Being an indicator species of river ecosystems, Gangetic River Dolphins play a vital role in providing valuable ecosystem services.
- Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bhagalpur District of Bihar is the only Sanctuary for Gangetic dolphins.
Ecosystem Services
- On 5th October, 2020, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)released an assessment according to which the annual economic value of ecosystem services provided by the Delhi Zoo works out to be Rs 426 crore.
- The study was commissioned by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
Key Points
- The ecosystem services constitute heads such as biodiversity conservation, employment generation, education and research, carbon sequestration and recreational and cultural contributions.
- When one-time ecosystem services are considered, such as carbon storage, the surrogate value of land and land value of Delhi Zoo, their contribution climbs to nearly Rs55,209 crore.
Significance
- The study is ‘first-of-its-kind’ in India which gave a “powerful baseline assessment” of the important ecosystem services provided by the zoo.
- These estimates could be used to compute value provided by zoos across India.
Ecosystem Services
- These are the benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living.
- Examples of ecosystem services include products such as food and water, regulation of floods, soil erosion and disease outbreaks, and non-material benefits such as recreational and spiritual benefits in natural areas.
- As per the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), 2005, ecosystem services are "the benefits people obtain from ecosystems".
Categorization
MEA categorizes ecosystem services in four main types-
- Provisioning Services: These are the products obtained from ecosystems such as food, fresh water, wood, fiber, genetic resources and medicines.
- Regulating Services: These are defined as the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes such as climate regulation, natural hazard regulation, water purification and waste management, pollination or pest control.
- Habitat Services: These highlight the importance of ecosystems to provide habitat for migratory species and to maintain the viability of gene-pools.
- Cultural Services: Theseinclude non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems such as spiritual enrichment, intellectual development, recreation and aesthetic values.
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Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA)
Objectives
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National Wildlife Week 2020
Wildlife Week is celebrated all over the country in the month of October from 2nd to 8th October every year to protect animal life. It was first started in the year 1952.
Initiatives/ Events This Year
- The government is working towards the upgradation and development of 160 Zoos in Public Private Partnership (PPP) across the country to encourage interaction between wildlife and humans, and help people observe and understand wildlife behaviour more closely.
- A report of the Central Zoo Authority and The Energy and Resources Institute (CZA-TERI) titled “Economic valuation of ecosystem services, National Zoological Park, New Delhi” was released.The report highlights the importance of habitats such as zoos to human wellbeing and the need of replication across India.
- The study first of its kind in India and perhaps the entire World, pegs the total annual economic value of the ecosystem services (biodiversity conservation, employment generation, carbon sequestration, education and research, recreational and cultural) at around 423 crore (2019-20) whereas, the total value of the one-time cost of services such as carbon storage and land value provided by the zoo is estimated to be around 55,000 crore.
- The CZA-Prani Mitra awards were given to encourage the zoo officers and staff towards working for captive animal management and welfare.
- CZA which was established to oversee the functioning of Indian zoos and complement the wildlife conservation strategies through ex-situ measures, as on today recognizes around 160 zoo and rescue centers that enforce global standards in animal housing and welfare. Over 567 captive animal species (with 114 species under endangered category) with overall 56481 individual animals are currently housed in Indian zoos.