Top 5 extinct Indian animals and what happened to them

The Indian subcontinent has a rich variety of ecosystems, with the Himalayan peaks, coastal wetlands and tropical forests. Historically, it has supported an extraordinary diversity of life. Just like the rest of the world, over 99.9 per cent of all species that ever lived in India are now extinct. Climate shifts, catastrophic events and human activity including habitat destruction, overhunting, and the introduction of invasive species all accelerate the natural process of evolution. Extinction is a slow, ongoing process and a number of species from India are on the Critically Endangered list by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Gharial has an elongated, narrow snout. (Image Credit: Vojtěch Hála, edited by kaʁstn/Wikimedia Commons)

There are less than 150 Great Indian Bustards left, which is disappearing because of habitat loss, agriculture and collisions with power lines. The bird is found in Rajasthan, Gujarat and central India. The Kashmiri Red Stag is found only in the Dachigam National Park, and there are also fewer than 150 animals because of habitat fragmentation and poaching. The Gharial, a unique crocodilian, lives in rivers and is threatened by pollution, dam construction and fishing nets. There are less than 250 individuals left. Conservationists are working towards preserving these species. Here is a look at the animals that have already disappeared from India. 

The Indian Cheetah was a subspecies of the cheetah with a spotted coat and slender build. The creature had enlarged nostrils for rapid oxygen intake while running at speeds in excess of 110 kmph. Genetic investigations suggest that the Indian Cheetah diverged from its African ancestors about 100,000 years ago, but continued to share kinship through australian populations. The Indian Cheetah was last spotted in the wild in 1947, and was declared extinct in 1952. The population had been declining over centuries, and was caused by humans. The Mughal emperors kept thousands of cheetahs for sport. Habitat loss and dwindling prey populations of chinkara and blackbuck because of overhunted led to the extinction of the Indian Cheetah.

Cheetahs were used for hunting. (Image Credit: City Art Gallery, Manchester, UK/ Wikimedia Commons)

This unique duck had a brown body with the males sporting a light pink head. The species was adapted to shallow wetlands, feeding on small fish, molluscs and aquatic plants. The last verified sighting was in 1935, and was presumed extinct in the 1950s. This species has not officially been declared extinct, and there are occasional rumours of spottings. The policy of draining marshes for cultivating tea and rice by the British Raj led to a drastic shrinking of habitat for this bird. The vibrant plumage also made the bird an attractive target for hunters. The disappearance of the bird indicates a broader decline of avifauna in India’s wetlands.

Illustration of the Pink-Headed Duck. (Image Credit: Henrik Grønvold/Wikimedia Commons) 

Although last spotted in 1876, this species has not yet been declared extinct. There are sporadic claims of sightings, but none have stood up to scientific scrutiny. The 25 centimetre long bird lived on the ground, depending on its cryptic plumage. The bird was specialised for living on grasslands. Building of hill stations and clearing forests by the British Raj for timber and tea plantations transformed the habitat of the Himalayan Quail. Its habitat was further decimated by grazing by livestock. The bird depended on dense cover to evade predators such as hawks. Hunting may have played a role in the extinction as well. The isolated populations could not withstand the potent combination of pressures, resulting in extinction. The bird is a demonstration of how delicate life is in the higher altitudes.

The Himalayan Quail. (image Credit: William Foster/Wikimedia Commons). 

A charismatic, prehistoric beast, this wild bovine stood 1.8 metres tall at the shoulder, and had massive arms with a muscular frame. Genetic studies indicate a connection with the modern Zebu cattle, suggesting that the animal was domesticated before it disappeared in the wild. Archaeological evidence indicates that the creature went extinct between 2,000 and 1,500 years ago, although there are some signs that it lived for longer in remote regions. The Indian Aurochs disappeared because of early human civilisation, with hunting pressure from Neolithic communities. The remaining fragments of bones bear cut marks. The advent of agriculture also transformed its habitat to fields and pastures. Domestic animals competed for resources. The large animal disappeared along with other pleistocene megafauna at around the same time, when humans began transitioning to settled societies.

Illustration of skull of Indian Aurochs. (Image Credit: Raphael Pumpelly/Wikimedia Commons). 

Another charismatic megafauna, the Sivatherium looked like a hybrid between a giraffe and a moose. It went extinct between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago, a timing derived from radiocarbon dating of Indian fossils. The remains of the creature have been discovered in the Siwalik Hills, but also across Asia and Africa. The animal stood 2.2 metres tall and had a long neck as well as large horns. The creature had a mixed diet of grass and leaves. The extinction of the Sivatherium indicates a megafaunal collapse linked with both human and climate factors. The savannas in the subcontinent transformed into scrublands that were not suited for large herbivores.Sivatherium remains also bear signs of butchery. Sivatherium disappeared with a number of large mammals during the waning of the last Ice Age.

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Illustration of Sivatherium. (Image Credit: Heinrich Harder/Wikimedia Commons).