With a tremendously all-inclusive motley of flora, fauna are found to be uniformly productive and diversified. There are approximately 81,000 recognised species. The crystal-clear and marine waters possess as many as 2,500 species of fish. Similarly, there are around 1,200 species of birds. In addition, there are also the amphibians, reptiles, mammals and small insects and worms.

Among the mammals the majestic animal, the elephant survives in several areas. It is a typical animal of hot and wet equatorial forests. It is abundant in the jungles of Assam and those of Kerala and Karnataka, where it rains a great deal and the forests are therefore quite impenetrable. On the other hand, camels and wild asses belong to awfully hot and barren deserts. While the camels are common to the Thar Desert, wild asses are restricted to the parched areas of the Rann of Kach. Possibly diametrically opposite is the haunt of the one-horned rhinoceros. They live in marshy and boggy lands of Assam and West Bengal. Yet another group of Indian animals comprise the Indian bison and the Indian buffalo. Among the most agile and striking animals, it would be sacrilege not to mention the `chousingha` (four horned antelope), black buck (Indian antelope), gazelle and deer. The species of deer consist of Kashmir stag swamp deer, and spotted deer, musk deer, a mouse deer.

Among the predatory animals, the India lion differentiates itself as the only species found anywhere in the world, excluding Africa. Its natural home ground is limited within the Gir forests of Saurashtra is Gujarat. Endeavours are being made to adapt it to other parts of India, with fairly parallel climate. If lion is the stateliest of all the animals, the tiger is one of the most commanding species in the jungles. The legendary Bengal tiger has its natural home ground in the Sundarbans in the tidal forests, using up the periphery of the Ganga delta. Other animals belonging to the cat family include leopards, clouded leopards and snow leopards. The latter are limited to the upper reaches of the Himalayas.

The Himalayan ranges are home to countless fascinating animals. Significant among them are wild sheep, mountain goats, the ibex, the shrew and the tapir. The lesser panda and the snow leopard are restrained only to the upper reaches of the mountainous terrain. India possesses numerous species of monkeys. The langur is the most commonplace among them. The lion-tailed macaque is hairy around the face, which looks like a halo.

Bird life in India is both affluent and vibrant. If tiger is the national animal, peacock is the national bird. Pheasants, geese, ducks, mynahs, parakeets, pigeons, cranes, hornbills and sunbirds belong to the forests and swampy lands. The Indian cuckoo is also not left far behind.

Special pains are being taken to preserve the imperiled species of wild life- birds and animals. Episodic censuses are embarked on to find out the latest situation and trends in this regard. `Project Tiger` has been an endeavour that paid off. At present there are 16 tiger reserves in diverse parts of the country. Similarly, a rhino project has been enforced in Assam. The Indian bustard of Rajasthan and Malwa is yet another threatened genus. Even the count of lions has been diminishing for long.

Measures have been taken for the safety and maintenance of the vast biological diversity of the land. Under this proposal, the first biosphere reserve has been set up in the Nilgiris. It has an area of 5,500 sq. km. and is spread at the junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It came into existence in 1986. Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose confined areas. Their prime objective is to preserve the genetic diversity in the representative eco-systems. Besides Nilgiris, the other biosphere reserves comprise- (ii) Nanda Devi (Uttar Pradesh), (iii) Nokrek (Meghalaya), (iv) Great Nicobar, (v) Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu), (vi) Manas (Assam), (vii) Sundarbans (West Bengal), (viii) Similipal (Orissa), and (ix) Dibru-Saikhova. In these bio-reserves every plant and animal species will be sheltered, so that this natural legacy can be carried on to future generations in all its natural dynamism and grandeur. In each biosphere reserve the nucleus will preserve wildland, the flora and the fauna in their original shapes. The fencing zone would be utilised for research and expert products, and the border for agricultural research and experimentation.

India has 84 national parks, and 447 wild life sanctuaries, covering a surface area 150,000 sq. km.