Wildlife Watch in the Indian Himalayan Region

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is one of the rich biodiversity regions of the world with over 10,000 plants, 300 mammals, 977 birds, 281 herpetofauna, 269 fishes, several species of invertebrates and microorganisms, many of which have global conservation significance. Despite significant ecological, hydrological and biological values, the fragile mountain ecosystems in the IHR are seriously threatened due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, mainly development. In the IHR, wildlife species are threatened due to poaching for meat, illegal wildlife trade, negative human–wildlife interactions (conflicts), habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and degradation due to developmental activities and natural resource use by humans. These have led to a decline in wildlife population, reduction in distribution range and in some cases local extinction of species.