India prepares 1st comprehensive list of fauna

• India has prepared a checklist of its entire fauna, covering 1,04,561 species, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
• Launching the “Fauna of India Checklist Portal” on the occasion of the 109th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata.

Highlights:

• Union Environment Minister said the first comprehensive document on the faunal species in India will position the country as a global leader in biodiversity documentation.
• The faunal checklist will be an invaluable reference for taxonomists, researchers, academicians, conservation managers and policymakers.
• The document comprises 121 checklists of all known taxa, covering 36 phyla.
• Endemic, threatened and scheduled species have also been included in the list.
• The minister said India is a global champion in biodiversity conservation, as reflected by the fact that “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” was the first major programme undertaken.
• The government’s initiatives, such as the International Big Cat Alliance to preserve biodiversity and species, and the relocation of cheetahs to India is one such successful project.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Big Cat Alliance
• Zoological Survey of India