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What is IUCN?
The world’s oldest and most comprehensive conservation authority
IUCN — Key Facts
- Full name: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
- Founded: 1948 in Fontainebleau, France (as International Union for Protection of Nature — renamed IUCN in 1956)
- Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland
- Nature: NGO (world’s largest and oldest global conservation network — NOT a UN body)
- Mission: Conserve, restore, and manage nature sustainably through global cooperation
- Members: Governments, NGOs, research institutions — 160+ countries
- Red List established: 1964
- Red List updated: Multiple times per year (online database)
- India office: New Delhi (South Asia Regional Office)
1948
IUCN founded
1964
Red List created
157,000+
Species assessed (2024)
44,000+
Threatened species
41%
Amphibians threatened
26%
Mammals threatened
12%
Birds threatened
📌 UPSC Key Points
IUCN = NGO, not UN body. Headquarters = Gland, Switzerland (not Geneva — that’s CITES/WHO). Founded 1948, Red List since 1964. IUCN also publishes the IUCN Green Status of Species (since 2021) — measures recovery/conservation success alongside extinction risk. Uses the Red List for CITES decisions and Ramsar Convention.
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The IUCN Red List / Red Data Book
The world’s most comprehensive biodiversity health report
💡 Think of the Red List as a Doctor’s Report Card for Nature
A doctor checks your health and gives you a report: Critical → Serious → Stable → Healthy. The IUCN Red List does exactly this for every species on Earth — from “Extinct” (the patient has died) to “Least Concern” (perfectly healthy). The redder the category, the more urgent the action needed. And just like a doctor’s report, the Red List is updated regularly as conditions change.
What is the Red List?
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also called the Red Data Book or Red Data List) is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. Established in 1964, it provides scientifically based information on species’ extinction risk, helping governments, NGOs, businesses, and the public make conservation decisions.
💡 Red Data Book — Colour-Coded Pages
The original Red Data Book used colour-coded pages: Pink pages = Critically Endangered species. Green pages = Species that were previously threatened but have now recovered. As conditions change, new pages are sent to subscribers. Sadly, the number of pink pages keeps increasing over time.
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The 9 IUCN Red List Categories
From alive & thriving to completely gone — the complete ladder
EX
💀 Extinct
No known individuals remaining anywhere in the world
Dodo, Passenger Pigeon, Indian Aurochs, Cheetah (Indian)
Gone Forever
EW
🏛️ Extinct in the Wild
Survives only in captivity or as artificially maintained population outside historic range
Arabian Oryx (was EW, now reintroduced), Scimitar-horned Oryx
Zoo Only
🔴 “THREATENED” = CR + EN + VU Combined — The 3 Most Critical Categories
In UPSC, when the question says “threatened species” — it means the three categories below: CR, EN, and VU. The term “threatened” does NOT include Near Threatened (NT) or Least Concern (LC).
CR
🔴 Critically Endangered
EXTREMELY high risk of extinction. Population declined >80% in 10 years OR fewer than 50 mature individuals
Great Indian Bustard, Pygmy Hog, Gharial, Bengal Florican, Baiji Dolphin
Highest Alert
EN
🟠 Endangered
VERY high risk of extinction. Population declined >50% in 10 years OR fewer than 250 mature individuals
Tiger, Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion, Asian Elephant, Indian Wild Dog (Dhole), Nilgiri Tahr
Urgent Action
VU
🟡 Vulnerable
HIGH risk of endangerment. Population declined >30% in 10 years
Indian One-horned Rhino, Sloth Bear, Dhole, Gaur, Dugong, Indian Python
Watch Closely
NT
🟢 Near Threatened
Close to qualifying as Threatened. Doesn’t qualify now but may soon
Leopard (Indian), Striped Hyena, Indian Porcupine, Bar-headed Goose
Keep Watch
LC
✅ Least Concern
Lowest risk. Widespread and abundant species
Indian Peacock (national bird!), Cattle Egret, Common Myna, Indian Cobra
Safe for Now
DD
❓ Data Deficient
Not enough data to assess risk. Does NOT mean safe — it means we don’t know
Many deep-sea fish species, some invertebrates
Need More Data
NE
⬜ Not Evaluated
Species that has not yet been assessed against any IUCN criteria
Millions of insect species, many microorganisms
Not Checked Yet
🧠 The Ultimate Memory Trick — Never Forget the Order!
“Every Expert Can Educate Very Nervous Little Doctors Nicely”
Every = EX (Extinct) · Expert = EW (Extinct in Wild) · Can = CR (Critically Endangered) · Educate = EN (Endangered) · Very = VU (Vulnerable) · Nervous = NT (Near Threatened) · Little = LC (Least Concern) · Doctors = DD (Data Deficient) · Nicely = NE (Not Evaluated)
Order of danger (highest to lowest): EX → EW → CR → EN → VU → NT → LC → DD → NE
Threatened = CR + EN + VU (the three red ones). Everything after VU = NOT threatened officially.
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Critically Endangered (CR) Indian Species 2024 Updated
The highest danger category — these need URGENT action right now
CR
Critically Endangered Mammals
Facing EXTREMELY high risk of extinction in the wild
CR
Pygmy Hog
Porcula salvania
World’s SMALLEST wild pig. Indicator of grassland health. Nests year-round.
📍 Assam (Manas NP)
🦏
CR
Sumatran Rhinoceros
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
World’s smallest rhino. Now regionally extinct in India. Hairy two-horned rhino.
📍 Extinct in India (Indonesia only)
🐀
CR
Namdapha Flying Squirrel
Biswamoyopterus biswasi
Known from a single valley in Namdapha NP only. Extremely rare.
📍 Arunachal Pradesh
🦇
CR
Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat
Hipposideros hypophyllus
Lives in a SINGLE cave in Kolar, Karnataka. Only 150–200 mature individuals exist worldwide.
📍 Kolar, Karnataka
CR
Critically Endangered Birds
India’s most endangered birds — some with fewer than 200 individuals left
CR
Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
Ardeotis nigriceps
Fewer than 150 individuals remain. One of heaviest flying birds. State bird of Rajasthan. Killed by power line collisions.
📍 Rajasthan, Gujarat
CR
Bengal Florican
Houbaropsis bengalensis
Grassland specialist. Declining due to agricultural expansion and grassland loss. Fewer than 1,000 individuals.
📍 Assam, UP (terai)
🦤
CR
Forest Owlet
Heteroglaux blewitti
Thought to be EXTINCT for 113 years — rediscovered in 1997 in Madhya Pradesh. Tiny, forest-dependent owl.
📍 MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat
🕊️
CR
Siberian Crane
Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Winter migrant. Last reliable sighting in India 2002 (Keoladeo Ghana). Central Asian flock nearly extinct. Wetland loss along flyway.
📍 Keoladeo (Rajasthan) — now rarely seen
🐦
CR
Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Calidris pygmaea
Named for its unique spoon-shaped bill. Winter visitor to Indian coasts. Fewer than 600 breeding pairs globally.
📍 Bengal, Odisha coasts (winter)
🦩
CR
White-bellied Heron
Ardea insignis
One of world’s rarest large birds. Fewer than 250 individuals globally. Prefers undisturbed rivers. Highly sensitive to human disturbance.
📍 Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
CR
Indian / White-backed Vultures
Gyps indicus / Gyps bengalensis
97% population collapse since 1990s due to Diclofenac (NSAID drug) poisoning from cattle carcasses. Drug banned in India in 2006.
📍 Across India (declining)
CR
Critically Endangered Reptiles
India’s most threatened reptiles — turtles and the gharial
CR
Gharial
Gavialis gangeticus
World’s longest crocodilian. Fish-eater — long, narrow snout. Fewer than 300 in wild. Once nearly extinct.
📍 Chambal, Ganga, Ghaghra rivers
🐢
CR
Leith’s Softshell Turtle
Nilssonia leithii
India’s largest freshwater turtle. Found in Ganga, Indus, Krishna rivers. Uplisted to Appendix I protection at CITES COP19.
📍 Ganga, Indus river systems
🐢
CR
Red-crowned Roofed Turtle
Batagur kachuga
Named for the striking red crown of males. India proposed its uplisting at CITES COP19 — successfully adopted.
📍 Chambal, Ganga rivers
CR
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Critically endangered marine turtle. Beautiful shell traded as “tortoiseshell.” Important coral reef ecosystem cleaners.
📍 Indian Ocean coasts, Lakshadweep
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Endangered (EN) Indian Species
Very high risk of extinction — these are the famous conservation icons
EN
Endangered Mammals, Birds & Aquatic Species
Most of India’s iconic flagship species are here — tigers, lions, elephants
EN
Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris tigris
India’s National Animal. 3,682+ tigers in India (2022 census). Project Tiger since 1973. Major conservation success!
📍 All major tiger reserves
EN
Asiatic Lion
Panthera leo persica
Found ONLY in Gir Forest, Gujarat — world’s only wild Asiatic lion population. 674+ lions (2020 census). Major recovery from 20 in 1913!
📍 Gir NP, Gujarat ONLY
EN
Snow Leopard
Panthera uncia
“Ghost of the Mountains.” High-altitude predator (3,000–5,500m). India: ~718 (survey 2016). Victim of climate change and retaliatory killing.
📍 J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim
EN
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
India’s National Heritage Animal (since 2010). ~27,000 in India. Project Elephant since 1992. CITES Appendix I.
📍 South & NE India, Western Ghats
EN
Dhole (Indian Wild Dog)
Cuon alpinus
India’s only wild dog species. Pack hunter. Fewer than 2,500 mature individuals globally. Remarkably cooperative hunters.
📍 Western Ghats, Central India
EN
Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiritragus hylocrius
India’s only mountain ungulate (goat-antelope). Found only in the Nilgiri Hills. Eravikulam NP is a key stronghold. ~3,000 individuals.
📍 Western Ghats (TN, Kerala)
EN
Lion-tailed Macaque
Macaca silenus
Flagship species of Nilgiri BR. Named for its lion-like tail tuft. Fewer than 4,000 individuals. Endemic to Western Ghats.
📍 Western Ghats (TN, Kerala, Karnataka)
EN
Gangetic River Dolphin
Platanista gangetica
India’s National Aquatic Animal (since 2009). Functionally BLIND — uses echolocation. Lives in fresh water, not marine.
📍 Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna systems
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Vulnerable (VU) Indian Species
High risk — facing serious threats but not yet at emergency level
VU
Vulnerable Indian Species
Note: Some sources list One-horned Rhino as VU, others as EN — use current IUCN data
VU
Indian One-horned Rhino
Rhinoceros unicornis
Conservation SUCCESS: From 75 in 1905 to 2,613+ today! Recovered due to Kaziranga NP protection. National Animal conservation icon.
📍 Kaziranga, Orang (Assam)
VU
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
State animal of Sikkim. Partly arboreal — lives in temperate bamboo forests. Threatened by bamboo die-offs and habitat loss.
📍 Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
VU
Gaur (Indian Bison)
Bos gaurus
World’s largest wild bovine. State animal of Goa. Also called Indian Bison. Impressive size — up to 1,000 kg. Disease transmission from cattle a threat.
📍 Western Ghats, Central India
VU
Dugong
Dugong dugon
India’s “Sea Cow.” Depends entirely on seagrass. Found in Gulf of Mannar & Andamans. India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu.
📍 Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep, Andamans
🐻
VU
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
India’s only bear that eats insects primarily — specialised lips for sucking termites. Shaggy coat. Threats: habitat loss, dancing bear tradition (now banned).
📍 Across India (forests)
VU
Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis
State bird of Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh. Spectacular casque (horn) on beak. Important seed disperser. Hunted for casque.
📍 Western Ghats, Northeast India
🐊
VU
Mugger Crocodile
Crocodylus palustris
Freshwater crocodile — called “Mugger” (Hindi for crocodile). Recovering through India’s crocodile conservation programme. Famous at Chambal.
📍 Chambal, Ganga, rivers across India
🐍
VU
Indian Python
Python molurus
One of world’s largest snakes — up to 6m long. Hunted for skin and traditional medicine. Schedule I of WPA 1972.
📍 India-wide (forests and grasslands)
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Near Threatened (NT) — Important Indian Species
Watch carefully — they could move to Threatened if conditions worsen
NT
Near Threatened Indian Species
Not threatened YET — but under pressure and being watched closely
NT
Indian Leopard
Panthera pardus fusca
Most adaptable big cat — found from Himalayas to coasts. Most human-leopard conflicts of any big cat. Not as endangered as tiger but declining.
📍 Across India
🐺
NT
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
India’s only hyena species. Nocturnal scavenger. Threatened by poisoning, hunting, and habitat loss. Less known than African spotted hyena.
📍 Dry regions across India
🦅
NT
Indian Roller
Coracias benghalensis
State bird of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Spectacular blue plumage. Caught for traditional “Dasara” release rituals (illegal).
📍 Widespread across India
Quick Reference — IUCN Status of Key Indian Species
| Species | IUCN Status | Key Fact | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Indian Bustard | 🔴 CR | <150 individuals; state bird of Rajasthan; killed by power lines | Rajasthan, Gujarat |
| Bengal Florican | 🔴 CR | Grassland bird; <1,000 individuals | Assam, UP terai |
| Siberian Crane | 🔴 CR | Last seen in India ~2002 (Keoladeo) | Migrant (rare) |
| Gharial | 🔴 CR | <300 in wild; fish-eater; Chambal River | North India rivers |
| Pygmy Hog | 🔴 CR | World’s smallest wild pig; Assam grasslands | Manas NP, Assam |
| Indian Vultures | 🔴 CR | 97% decline; Diclofenac poisoning; banned 2006 | Across India |
| Hawksbill Sea Turtle | 🔴 CR | Traded for “tortoiseshell”; reef ecosystem cleaner | Indian Ocean coasts |
| Bengal Tiger | 🟠 EN | 3,682 in India; Project Tiger success | Tiger reserves |
| Asiatic Lion | 🟠 EN | 674+ in 2020; ONLY in Gir, Gujarat | Gir NP only |
| Snow Leopard | 🟠 EN | ~718 in India; high-altitude; climate change threat | Himalayas |
| Asian Elephant | 🟠 EN | ~27,000 in India; National Heritage Animal | South & NE India |
| Gangetic Dolphin | 🟠 EN | National Aquatic Animal; functionally blind; echolocation | Ganga-Brahmaputra |
| Lion-tailed Macaque | 🟠 EN | <4,000; flagship of Nilgiri BR | Western Ghats |
| Nilgiri Tahr | 🟠 EN | India’s only mountain ungulate; ~3,000 | Nilgiris |
| Indian One-horned Rhino | 🟡 VU | Recovery: 75→2,613; Kaziranga NP | Assam |
| Red Panda | 🟡 VU | State animal of Sikkim; eats bamboo | Sikkim, Arunachal |
| Gaur (Indian Bison) | 🟡 VU | World’s largest wild bovine; state animal of Goa | Western Ghats, Central India |
| Dugong | 🟡 VU | “Sea cow”; seagrass-dependent; first Dugong Reserve in TN | Gulf of Mannar |
| Sloth Bear | 🟡 VU | Insect-eating bear; shaggy coat; termite specialist | Forests across India |
| Indian Leopard | 🟢 NT | Most adaptable big cat; most human conflict | Across India |
| Indian Peacock | ✅ LC | National Bird; Least Concern — a conservation success! | Widespread |
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BirdLife International
The world’s largest bird conservation partnership — and IUCN’s official bird authority
BirdLife International
Global Partnership of 120+ conservation organizations · Cambridge, UK · Official IUCN Red List Authority for Birds
- World’s largest nature conservation partnership — a Global Partnership of 120+ BirdLife Partners in 120+ countries
- Mission: Conserve birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity — working with people towards sustainability
- Headquarters: Cambridge, UK
- Official Red List Authority for birds under IUCN — i.e., BirdLife International assesses and determines the IUCN status of ALL bird species worldwide (the only organisation to do so for an entire animal class)
- Uses the “Possibly Extinct” (PE) tag for Critically Endangered species likely to be extinct but not confirmed — this has now been officially adopted by IUCN
- Identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) — sites of global significance for bird conservation
- India’s BirdLife partner: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
- Maintains the State of the World’s Birds report — annual assessment of all bird species
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)
What are IBAs?
- IBA = Important Bird and Biodiversity Area — sites of international significance for the conservation of birds
- Identified by BirdLife International using standardised criteria (species uniqueness, population size, congregatory behaviour)
- India has ~465 IBAs — from Himalayan lakes to mangrove coasts to Western Ghats forests
- IBAs are NOT a legal designation — they are a scientific tool to guide conservation priorities
- IBAs may overlap with Ramsar sites, National Parks, and Biosphere Reserves — but are a separate classification
- Famous Indian IBAs: Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan), Chilika Lake (Odisha), Point Calimere (TN), Great Rann of Kutch (Gujarat), Vedanthangal (TN)
📌 UPSC Traps about BirdLife International
❌ WRONG (Common Mistake)
BirdLife International is related to the concept of “biodiversity hotspots.”
✅ CORRECT
Biodiversity hotspots was a concept developed by Norman Myers. BirdLife International has NOTHING to do with biodiversity hotspots.
❌ WRONG (Common Mistake)
BirdLife International is a UN body or part of IUCN.
✅ CORRECT
BirdLife International is an independent NGO — a voluntary global partnership. It is the official Red List Authority for birds under IUCN, but it is NOT a part of IUCN.
⭐ BirdLife International — UPSC Must-Know
- = World’s largest nature conservation partnership (120+ partners, 120+ countries)
- = Official IUCN Red List Authority for birds (only org to assess an entire animal class)
- = Identifies IBAs (Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas) — India has ~465
- = India’s partner: BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society)
- = HQ: Cambridge, UK
- = Has NOTHING to do with biodiversity hotspots
- = Uses “Possibly Extinct (PE)” tag for critically endangered birds likely to be extinct
🧪 Practice MCQs — Test Yourself
Q1. According to IUCN, the term “Threatened Species” includes which categories?
✅ Answer: (b) CR + EN + VU only
This is the single most important IUCN fact for UPSC. “Threatened” = CR + EN + VU only. Near Threatened (NT) sounds threatening but is officially NOT in the “threatened” category — it means “close to becoming threatened.” Least Concern (LC), Data Deficient (DD), and Not Evaluated (NE) are also not threatened. Extinct in Wild (EW) is beyond threatened — it’s already functionally extinct in nature. The three threatened categories together represent the IUCN’s primary conservation concern group.
Q2. Match the following IUCN categories with the correct description:
1. EX — A. Survives only in captivity
2. EW — B. No individuals known to remain
3. CR — C. Extremely high risk; <50 mature individuals OR 80% decline in 10 years
4. VU — D. High risk of endangerment; 30% decline in 10 years
✅ Answer: (b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D
EX (Extinct) = B: No individuals known to remain anywhere. EW (Extinct in Wild) = A: Survives only in captivity or as artificially maintained populations. CR (Critically Endangered) = C: Extremely high risk — >80% population decline in 10 years OR fewer than 50 mature individuals OR quantitative analysis showing extinction probability >50% in 10 years. VU (Vulnerable) = D: High risk of endangerment — >30% decline in 10 years. Note: EN (Endangered) = >50% decline OR fewer than 250 individuals. The thresholds increase in severity: VU (30%) → EN (50%) → CR (80%).
Q3. Which of the following IUCN statements about BirdLife International is/are CORRECT?
1. BirdLife International is the official Red List Authority for birds under IUCN.
2. BirdLife International identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs).
3. BirdLife International is responsible for identifying biodiversity hotspots.
4. India’s BirdLife partner is the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
Select the correct answer:
✅ Answer: (c) — 1, 2 and 4 only
1 ✅ Correct: BirdLife International is the ONLY organisation designated as the official IUCN Red List Authority for an entire animal class (birds/Aves). 2 ✅ Correct: BirdLife International identifies IBAs (Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas) — India has ~465. 3 ❌ WRONG: Biodiversity hotspots concept was developed by Norman Myers (British ecologist, 1988) — NOT BirdLife International. This is a very commonly tested UPSC trap. 4 ✅ Correct: BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) is India’s BirdLife partner organisation.
Q4. Which of the following species is CORRECTLY matched with its IUCN Red List status?
✅ Answer: (d) Gharial — CR
Option (a) ❌: Gangetic (River) Dolphin = Endangered (EN) — not CR. It’s India’s National Aquatic Animal, functionally blind, uses echolocation. Option (b) ❌: Asiatic Lion = Endangered (EN) — not VU. Found only in Gir NP, Gujarat. 674+ in 2020 census. Option (c) ❌: Great Indian Bustard = Critically Endangered (CR) — not EN. Fewer than 150 individuals. The most critically endangered large bird of India. Option (d) ✅ Correct: Gharial = Critically Endangered (CR). Fewer than 300 in the wild in the Chambal and Ganga rivers. The world’s longest crocodilian and a fish specialist.
Q5. Consider the following about the IUCN:
1. IUCN is a United Nations agency headquartered in New York.
2. The IUCN Red List was established in 1964.
3. IUCN also publishes the Green Status of Species since 2021.
4. Data Deficient (DD) species are considered safe from extinction.
Which are CORRECT?
✅ Answer: (c) — 2 and 3 only
1 ❌ Wrong: IUCN is NOT a UN agency — it is an NGO (the world’s oldest and largest conservation network). It is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland — NOT New York. 2 ✅ Correct: IUCN Red List was established in 1964. The IUCN itself was founded in 1948, but the Red List started in 1964. 3 ✅ Correct: IUCN also publishes the Green Status of Species (since 2021) — which measures species recovery and conservation success, complementing the Red List’s extinction risk assessment. 4 ❌ Wrong: Data Deficient (DD) does NOT mean safe — it means we don’t have enough data to assess. A DD species could well be at risk of extinction; we just don’t know yet.
Q6. Which of these pairs — Species : IUCN Status — is INCORRECTLY matched?
✅ Answer: (c) — Indian One-horned Rhino is NOT CR
Option (c) is INCORRECTLY matched — the question asks for the WRONG pair. The Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is listed as Vulnerable (VU) — NOT Critically Endangered. This is one of India’s great conservation success stories: the population recovered from just 75 individuals in 1905 to over 2,613 today, primarily due to strict protection at Kaziranga NP. Because of this recovery, its status was actually IMPROVED from Endangered to Vulnerable. Options (a), (b), and (d) are all correctly matched: Pygmy Hog = CR; Red Panda = VU; Snow Leopard = EN.
📜 UPSC Prelims PYQs — Official Past Questions
With reference to BirdLife International, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.
Select the correct answer:
✅ Official Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
1 ✅: BirdLife International is indeed a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations — 120+ partners across 120+ countries. 2 ❌: The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ was developed by Norman Myers (British ecologist, 1988) — NOT BirdLife International. BirdLife has nothing to do with hotspots. This is the most tested UPSC trap about BirdLife. 3 ✅: BirdLife International identifies “Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas” (IBAs) — the word “Biodiversity” was added to the original “Important Bird Areas” name to reflect the broader significance of these sites.
With reference to IUCN and its Red List, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IUCN is an international organization under the UNO.
2. IUCN Red List contains the list of only plants and animals.
3. IUCN Red List helps policymakers and the scientific community make better-informed decisions about the conservation and sustainable use of resources.
Select the correct answer:
✅ Official Answer: (c) 3 only
1 ❌ Wrong: IUCN is NOT a UN organization — it is an independent NGO. It has observer status at the UN but is not part of the UN system. HQ = Gland, Switzerland. 2 ❌ Wrong: IUCN Red List includes animals, plants, AND fungi — not just plants and animals. The full name is “Red List of Threatened Species — animal, fungus, and plant species.” 3 ✅ Correct: The IUCN Red List provides scientifically based data on species’ conservation status — helping governments, NGOs, businesses, scientists, and policymakers make better decisions. This is its primary purpose.
“The Great Indian Bustard” is found in which of the following states of India?
✅ Official Answer: (d) Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) — Critically Endangered, fewer than 150 individuals — was historically found across most of India’s grasslands, but is now restricted to mainly Rajasthan (Desert NP, Jaisalmer — largest population), Gujarat (some in Kutch region), and a few individuals in Karnataka (Ranibennur). Small remnant populations may also exist in Maharashtra. Rajasthan has the core population (~120–130 birds). The state bird of Rajasthan. Major threats: power line collisions, habitat loss due to wind and solar energy projects, hunting in the past.
Among the following, which one is the largest sea turtle?
✅ Official Answer: (d) Leatherback Sea Turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world’s largest sea turtle — and the largest living reptile. Can reach up to 2 metres and weigh up to 900 kg. It is the only sea turtle without a hard shell — instead it has a leathery, flexible carapace. IUCN status = Vulnerable (VU) globally; some Pacific populations are Critically Endangered. Found in Indian Ocean waters. Nests on Nicobar Islands in India. Olive Ridley is the most common sea turtle in India (Odisha coast — Rushikulya, Gahirmatha). Hawksbill is Critically Endangered. Green Turtle is Endangered.
With reference to the vulture population in India, consider the following statements:
1. The population decline of vultures was due to the use of Diclofenac drug.
2. Diclofenac was banned for use in veterinary medicine in India in 2006.
3. The vulture populations have fully recovered since the ban on Diclofenac.
Which is/are correct?
✅ Official Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
1 ✅ Correct: The catastrophic 97% decline in Indian vulture populations (White-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed vultures) from the 1990s was caused by Diclofenac — an NSAID (anti-inflammatory) drug given to cattle. When vultures ate Diclofenac-contaminated cattle carcasses, it caused kidney failure and death. 2 ✅ Correct: Diclofenac was banned for veterinary use in India in 2006 — after scientists (including Lindsay Oakes and collaborators) identified it as the cause. 3 ❌ Wrong: Vulture populations have NOT fully recovered. Recovery is extremely slow because vultures reproduce very slowly (one chick per year). Numbers are slowly improving but far from pre-crisis levels. Indian vultures (Gyps indicus and Gyps bengalensis) remain Critically Endangered.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Think of it as three levels of a medical emergency: CR (Critically Endangered) = ICU — the patient is on life support. Population has declined by more than 80% in 10 years, OR fewer than 50 mature individuals exist. Examples: Great Indian Bustard, Gharial, Pygmy Hog. EN (Endangered) = Emergency ward — serious condition. More than 50% decline in 10 years, OR fewer than 250 mature individuals. Examples: Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Snow Leopard, Gangetic Dolphin. VU (Vulnerable) = Admitted to hospital — stable but at risk. More than 30% decline in 10 years. Examples: Indian One-horned Rhino, Red Panda, Gaur, Dugong. Memory: CR > EN > VU — “Critical is Worse Than Endangered is Worse Than Vulnerable.” The thresholds are 80% → 50% → 30%.
This is one of India’s greatest conservation success stories! The Indian One-horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) was indeed nearly extinct — down to just 75 individuals in 1905. But decades of strict protection, anti-poaching, and habitat management (especially at Kaziranga NP) have allowed the population to recover to over 2,613 individuals today. Because the current population has exceeded the thresholds for Critically Endangered and Endangered, IUCN has assessed it as Vulnerable (VU). The rhino’s recovery is so impressive that IUCN actually IMPROVED its status over time — from Endangered to Vulnerable. This shows that the IUCN Red List is not static; it responds to real conservation outcomes. The lesson: with the right protection, species CAN recover from the brink of extinction.
India’s vulture collapse is one of the fastest declines of any bird species in history. In the 1980s, India had tens of millions of vultures — the largest vulture population in the world. By the 2000s, 97% were gone. The cause: Diclofenac — an NSAID (anti-inflammatory pain drug) given to cattle for conditions like lameness. When vultures ate the carcasses of cattle treated with Diclofenac, the drug accumulated in their kidneys and caused fatal renal failure. Even tiny residues in one carcass could kill multiple vultures. Scientists Lindsay Oakes and colleagues identified Diclofenac as the cause in 2004. India banned veterinary Diclofenac in 2006 (a historic wildlife-protection drug ban). Since then, vulture numbers have slowly stabilised and shown early signs of recovery — but full recovery will take decades because vultures only produce one chick per year. Indian vultures (White-backed Gyps bengalensis and Long-billed Gyps indicus) remain Critically Endangered. The parallel problem: Meloxicam (safer alternative) is being promoted as a cattle drug that doesn’t harm vultures.
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) — state bird of Rajasthan and one of the heaviest flying birds — had an estimated population of several thousand in the 1960s. Today, fewer than 150 remain, mainly in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park. The causes of decline: (1) Habitat loss — India’s grasslands (the GIB’s home) have been converted to agriculture and plantations. Grasslands are India’s most underprotected ecosystem. (2) Historical hunting — hunted intensively in the colonial era. (3) Power line collisions — this is now the number one killer of GIBs. GIBs cannot see power lines in time to avoid them — they look down for food while flying. High-voltage power lines crossing their habitat are causing regular deaths. (4) Wind and solar energy projects — large projects being built in Rajasthan’s grasslands destroy habitat. The Supreme Court of India in 2021 ordered power lines in GIB habitat areas to be undergrounded. India has a GIB recovery programme including a captive breeding centre in Rajasthan. The GIB is considered by many conservationists as India’s most urgent bird conservation challenge.
No — Data Deficient (DD) does NOT mean safe. It means scientists don’t have enough data to place the species in any threat category. A DD species could be anywhere on the threat spectrum — including Critically Endangered — but we simply don’t know because there isn’t enough research. Many deep-sea species, poorly studied invertebrates, and newly discovered species are DD. In fact, when researchers finally study DD species in detail, they often turn out to be threatened. DD is actually a warning flag that more research is urgently needed. It should never be confused with Least Concern (LC), which means the species has been evaluated and found to be widespread and abundant.
Legacy IAS — UPSC Civil Services Coaching, Bangalore |
Content prepared exclusively for UPSC aspirants. IUCN data updated to 2024 (157,000+ species assessed, 44,000+ threatened). Species images are from Wikimedia Commons (CC licensed). All facts double-checked against IUCN Red List official database.
