World Wildlife Day 2021: Rare and exotic animals you can only spot in India

With over millions of species breathing on earth, the world celebrates Wildlife Day today, March 3, to raise awareness of global flora and fauna. There are many rare and extoic animals that can be found only in India.

Nilgiri marten: The Nilgiri marten, a small carnivorous mammal, is the only marten species native to India. They are found in moist and wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, living at altitudes of 150-2200 m. The animal that usually appears of dark brown colour with a yellow-coloured patch at its forefeet. Their name has been derived from the Nilgiri Hills, however sightings have been reported as far north as Charmadi Ghat and as far south as the Neyyar. 

Nilgiri Tahr: As the only mountain ungulate in Southern India among just 12 species found in India, Nilgiri Tahr is found only in the tropical rainforest of the Western Ghats. With curved horns, coarse and short fur, the Nilgiri Tahr is extensively found in the Eravikulam National Park (Idukki district) where an estimated 700-800 Nilgiri Tahrs live.

Lion-tailed macaque: As an Old World monkey native to the Western Ghats of South India, they rank among the rarest of the 250-species (approx.) of primates around the world. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in the Kollam district of Kerala houses and protects the highly endangered species.

The Kashmir Stag: The Kashmir Stag, also known as Hangul, is a subspecies of elk and is native to Kashmir. Only found in the dense riverine forests of Dachigam National Park located at 22 km from Srinagar, the Kashmir Stag is listed as one of the critically endangered and rare species. With their magnificent antlers, the stag is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sangai: The endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer, called sangai, is only found in Manipur. They reside in about 15-20 km area across the Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, the only floating park in the world. As the state animal of Manipur, its significance is seen in the cultural folklore where sangai is the binding factor between humans and nature and killing it was a sin. 

Pygmy Hog: As a critically endangered species, pygmy hog is now only found in Assam. These are the smallest wild pigs and piglets, and they are one of the very few mammals that build its own home and complete it with a roof. The species is the sole representative of Porcula, suid native to alluvial grasslands in the foothills of the Himalayas, and their extinction may result in the extinction of the species.