6 endangered species you can still spot in India, and where

Time of India

08-06-2025

India is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including some of the world's most endangered animals. If you a wildlife enthusiasts, you should definitely keep these endangered species in your watchlist.
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Here, are some of those endangered species that you can still find in India, and places where you can find them.
Bengal tiger
The Bengal tiger is India's national animal and one of the most powerful big cats in the world. Nearly 70% of the global wild tiger population lives in India, especially in famous reserves like Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, and Bandhavgarh. Despite protection efforts, it remains endangered due to habitat loss and poaching, making every tiger sighting a rare and thrilling moment for visitors.
Asiatic Lion
The Asiatic lion is a rare and majestic species found only in the Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat. Smaller than African lions but with a striking mane and strong build, these lions live in small family groups called prides. The Gir Forest is their last safe refuge after populations dropped dangerously low. Conservation efforts have helped their numbers grow slowly. Wildlife enthusiasts visiting Gir can take guided safaris to see lions roam freely.
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a big cat that lives in the high, cold mountains of the Himalayas, including Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Its thick fur and smoky-gray coat with rosettes help it blend into rocky, snowy landscapes. Snow leopards are elusive and shy, so sightings are rare and special. They face threats from climate change, poaching, and habitat disturbance.
One-horned rhinoceros
Also known as the Indian rhinoceros, the one-horned rhino has thick, armor-like skin and a single black horn.
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It mainly lives in the grasslands and forests of Assam, especially in Kaziranga and Manas National Parks. These parks have worked hard to protect rhinos from poaching and habitat loss. Once on the brink of extinction, their numbers have slowly increased.
Blackbuck
The blackbuck is a beautiful antelope famous for its striking black and white coloring and long, spiraling horns. It lives in dry grasslands and open plains across India, especially in places like Velavadar Blackbuck National Park in Gujarat.
Blackbucks are fast runners and graceful jumpers. Unfortunately, hunting and habitat loss have made them endangered. Visitors can often spot herds of blackbucks grazing peacefully in the wild in India.
Lion-tailed Macaque
The lion-tailed macaque is a rare monkey known for its shiny black fur, silver mane, and tufted tail resembling a lion's tail. It is native to the rainforests of the Western Ghats, mainly in Kerala and Karnataka. This animal spends most of its time high in the treetops and is difficult to spot. Visitors trekking through the Western Ghats might be lucky enough to see this unique and endangered species in its lush forest home.