India has made a groundbreaking achievement by compiling a comprehensive checklist of its entire fauna, comprising a record 1,04,561 species, making it the first country in the world to accomplish this feat. The launch of the “Fauna of India Checklist Portal” marks a significant milestone in the country’s biodiversity documentation, which was celebrated on the 109th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized that this comprehensive document on India’s faunal species will position the country as a global leader in biodiversity documentation.
The faunal checklist serves as an invaluable reference for taxonomists, researchers, academicians, conservation managers, and policymakers. It comprises 121 checklists covering all known taxa across 36 phyla, including endemic, threatened, and scheduled species, providing a detailed account of the country’s biodiversity. With over 1 lakh different species recorded since the 1750s, this portal will provide detailed information on each of them, as emphasized by the Minister.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav (Via Bhupender Yadav/Twitter)
India’s contribution to global biodiversity is remarkable, with only two per cent of the planet’s land mass hosting a staggering 7.5 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. Despite this remarkable biodiversity, India still faces significant challenges in conserving and protecting its wildlife. The ZSI, along with its international partners, is working towards addressing these challenges. For instance, the ZSI will collaborate with the Ghana Wildlife Society on a conservation project for pangolins, and is also working with the Natural History Museum to create a common digital archive.
The launch of this comprehensive checklist is a critical step towards ongoing and future efforts in understanding and protecting India’s rich and diverse wildlife. The checklist will serve as a vital tool for policymakers, conservationists, and researchers to make informed decisions and take effective actions to conserve and protect India’s biodiversity. This achievement demonstrates India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and its position as a global leader in faunal documentation, biodiversity research, and conservation efforts.
