India is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, but it has also lost several species forever. Extinction is permanent. Here are 10 animals that once lived in India and are now gone, along with what caused their loss.
1. Indian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)
The Asiatic cheetah once roamed India. It was hunted to extinction in the country by 1952. A reintroduction project using African cheetahs began in 2022, but the original subspecies is gone.
2. Pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
This striking duck, with a pink head and dark body, was last seen in the wild in the 1930s. Habitat loss and hunting are blamed. A few specimens exist in museums.
3. Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
Once found in parts of India, this small rhino is now extinct in the country and critically endangered globally. Poaching and habitat loss drove it out.
4. Great Indian bustard (critically endangered, near extinction)
Not yet extinct, but down to a few hundred birds. Power lines, habitat loss and hunting have pushed it to the brink. It is included here as a warning.
5. Indian aurochs (Bos primigenius namadicus)
The wild ancestor of domestic cattle, the Indian aurochs went extinct thousands of years ago, though its descendants survive as cattle.
6. Cheetal (axis deer) — local extinctions
While the species survives, several local populations of deer and antelope have been wiped out from parts of their range by hunting and habitat loss.
7. Forest owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti)
Thought extinct for over a century, it was rediscovered in 1997. It remains critically endangered, with very few individuals.
8. Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)
A rare bird from Andhra Pradesh, unseen for decades and possibly extinct, though occasional unconfirmed sightings keep hope alive.
9. Indian vultures (population collapse)
Several vulture species crashed by over 95 percent due to the veterinary drug diclofenac. Some are now critically endangered, and a few local populations are functionally extinct.
10. Ganges river dolphin (endangered)
Not extinct, but its numbers have fallen sharply due to pollution, dams and fishing nets. It is a reminder of how quickly river species can disappear.
Why species go extinct in India
- Habitat loss from farming, cities and dams.
- Hunting and poaching for meat, horns and skins.
- Poisoning, including veterinary drugs like diclofenac.
- Pollution and river fragmentation.
- Climate change.
What is being done
India has protected areas, wildlife laws and breeding programmes. Reintroduction efforts, such as the cheetah project, aim to restore lost species. But prevention is easier than recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Which animal is completely extinct in India?
The Indian cheetah and the pink-headed duck are among the species considered extinct in India.
Are vultures extinct in India?
Not fully extinct, but several species have lost over 95 percent of their population and are critically endangered.
Can extinct animals be brought back?
True extinction is permanent. Reintroduction uses related subspecies, as with the African cheetah in India, but it is not the same species.
