In Focus by The Hindu Why are ‘Extinct in the Wild’ species becoming a conservation priority in India
Oct 29, 2025
Vivek Menon, founder of the Wildlife Trust of India and the first Asian chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, discusses urgent conservation issues in India. He highlights that climate change has surpassed hunting as a leading threat to wildlife. Menon covers the challenges of reviving endangered species like vultures and the great Indian bustard while tackling wildlife trafficking exacerbated by social media. He stresses the importance of engaging local communities and shares success stories in species recovery, underscoring a renewed focus on conservation priorities.
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Global Models Miss India's Conservation Reality
- Global ranking models can misrepresent India because they use Western conservation assumptions unsuited to India's population density and cultural context.
- Vivek Menon argues India's high shares of tigers, elephants and rhinos show conservation success despite low model scores.
Clamp Down On Online Wildlife Trade
- Tighten regulation and enforcement against online wildlife trafficking and pressure social platforms to restrict illicit posts.
- Combine online monitoring with targeted species enforcement to minimize illegal trade that threatens species.
Fragmentation Raises Zoonotic Risk
- Habitat fragmentation increases contact between wildlife and humans, raising zoonotic disease risks.
- Menon warns that fragmenting forests and other habitats heightens the possibility of disease spillover.