The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists 203 critically endangered mammalian species as of January 2020, including 31 that are possibly extinct. 3.5% of all mammalian species are classified as critically endangered. In addition, 60 mammalian subspecies are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. The IUCN has designated 18 species subpopulations as critically endangered among the mammal subpopulations it has evaluated. In this article, we will discuss Critically Endangered Mammals which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Critically Endangered Mammals

• Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania)
• Andaman White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
• Jenkin's Andaman Spiny Shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
• Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
• Kondana Rat (Millardia kondana)
• Elvira Rat or large rock rat (Cremnomys elvira)
• Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
• Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)
• Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
• Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania)

Pygmy Hog

• It is the world's smallest wild pig, with adults weighing only 8 kg. This species builds a nest all year.
• It is one of the most useful indicators of the management status of grassland habitats.
• The grasslands where the pygmy hog lives are critical for the survival of other endangered species such as Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Wild Buffalo, Hispid Hare, Bengal Florican, and Swamp Francolin.
• A captive breeding programme for the species was started in Assam in 1996, and some hogs were reintroduced in the Sonai Rupai area in 2009.
• Its habitat includes tall 'terai' grasslands, relatively undisturbed.
• Previously, the species was more widely distributed along the southern Himalayan foothills, but it is now restricted to a single remnant population in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and its buffer reserves.
• The Pygmy hog-sucking Louse (Haematopinus oliveri), a parasite that only feeds on Pygmy Hogs, will also be classified as critically endangered because its survival is linked to that of the host species.
• The main threats to this species are grassland loss and degradation, dry-season burning, livestock grazing, and grassland afforestation. Hunting is also a threat to the remaining populations.

Andaman White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)

Andaman White-toothed Shrew

• (Crocidura jenkinsi) and the Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica) are both endemic to India.
• They are typically active at dusk or at night and have specific habitat requirements.
• Its habitat includes leaf litter and rock crevices.
• The Andaman White-toothed Shrew can be found on Mount Harriet in the South Andaman Islands.
• Jenkin's Andaman Spiny Shrew can be found on Wright Myo and Mount Harriet in the South Andaman Islands.
• The Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica) is found in the southern tip of Greater Nicobar Island and has also been recorded in the area extending from Campbell Bay National Park to the Galathea River in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Threats include habitat loss due to selective logging, natural disasters such as the tsunami, and drastic weather changes.

Kondana Rat (Millardia kondana)

Kondana Rat

• It is an Indian nocturnal burrowing rodent. It has been observed building nests on occasion.
• It shabitat includes tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forests and tropical scrub.
• Distribution: Only known from the Sinhagarh Plateau (about one square kilometre) near Pune, Maharashtra. It was reported from an elevation of approximately 1,270 metres above mean sea level.
• The most serious threats are habitat loss, vegetation overgrazing, and disturbance from tourism and recreational activities.

Large Rock Rat (Cremnomys elvira)

The Large Rock Cat

• It is a medium-sized, nocturnal, burrowing rodent that is endemic to India.
• Its habitat includes tropical dry deciduous shrubland forest with rocky outcroppings.
• Distribution: Only found in Tamil Nadu's Eastern Ghats. Recorded at an elevation of approximately 600 metres above mean sea level.
• Threats include habitat loss, forest conversion, and fuel wood collection.

Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)

Namdapha Flying Squirrel

• It is a one-of-a-kind (the only one in its genus) flying squirrel that lives in a single valley in Arunachal Pradesh's Namdapha National Park (or) Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Its habitat includes tropical forest.
• Distribution: Found only in Arunachal Pradesh's Namdapha Tiger Reserve.
• Threats: Being hunted for food.

The Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)

Malabar Civet

• It is one of the world's rarest mammals.
• It is endemic to India and was first discovered in Travancore, Kerala.
• It is nocturnal and only found in the Western Ghats.
• Habitat: Wooded plains and hill slopes of evergreen rainforests serve as habitat.
• Distribution: Western Ghats.
• Threats: Deforestation and commercial plantations are major threats.

Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

Sumatran Rhinoceros

• It is the smallest and most endangered of the five rhinoceros species.
• It is now thought to be extinct in India, though it was once found in the Himalayan foothills and north-east India.
• The Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is also thought to be extinct in India, with only a few individuals remaining in Java and Vietnam.

Kashmir stag/ Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu)

Kashmir Stag

• It is an Indian subspecies of Red Deer.
• It is the only surviving subspecies of Elk (Cervus Canadensis) which is native to Kashmir.
• Habitat/Distribution - Dense riverine forests, high valleys, and mountains of Himachal Pradesh's Kashmir valley and northern Chamba.
• Threats include habitat destruction, overgrazing by domestic livestock, and poaching.

Conclusion

The IUCN Red List informs the public about the conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species. It categorises various species into seven conservation categories based on habitat range, population size, habitat, threats, and so on. Each category denotes a different level of global extinction threat. Species that are considered Critically Endangered are classified as "threatened." Because the IUCN Red List does not consider a species extinct until extensive, targeted surveys have been conducted, potentially extinct species are still listed as Critically Endangered. The IUCN maintains a list[5] of species that are "possibly extinct" or "possibly extinct in the wild," based on the categories used by BirdLife International to classify these taxa.