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March 11, 2010 | India needs more parks, corridors for survival of its animals | Washington: In a new study, an international team of scientists
has determined that the long-term survival of many large species in the midst of rapid economic growth in India will require improving existing protected areas and establishing new protected areas and corridors. The study, carried out by
researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society, Duke University, and other groups,
found that country's protected area system and human cultural tolerance for some
species are key to conserving the subcontinent's tigers, elephants, and other
large mammals. The researchers created models to estimate extinction probability
for 25 large mammal species, determining current species distributions along with
more than 30,000 historical records from natural history, taxidermy and museum
records dating back 200 years. The models were used to gauge how factors such
as protected areas, forest cover, elevation, and human demographics, and cultural
attitudes impact extinction predictions. The results of the analysis found that
all 25 species would experience some level of local extinction due to a variety
of factors such as habitat loss and human population growth and development. The
study results confirmed that species do benefit from protected areas, especially
large carnivores such as tigers and other forest-dwelling animals such as Sambar
deer. The species with the highest probable rates of extinction were large-bodied
animals such as the wild buffalo (66 percent), habitat specialists such as the
goat-like Nilgiri tahr (71 percent) and the swamp deer (90 percent), and rare
species had higher probabilities of extinction such as the Asiatic lions of Gir
Forest (96 percent). Factors such as human densities did increase the probability
of extinction for many species with the exception of adaptable animals such as
wild pigs, jackals, and blackbuck. The researchers pointed out that many species,
including ones that exist outside of protected areas and species that now occupy
a tiny remnant of former ranges will require new protected areas to ensure their
persistence. "Our results highlight the need for an expansion of conservation
planning to complement land use decisions and development," said Krithi K. Karanth
of Duke & Columbia University. "This study provides us with a roadmap for next
steps for conservation in India," said Colin Poole, executive director of the
Wildlife Conservation Society's Asia Program. "As India develops into a world
economic power, it is critical that conservation planning is part of that expansion,"
he added. "Our work highlights the perilous state of wildlife in India and conservation
priorities must help conserve the nation's natural heritage," said Karanth.
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