Their Only Home
Sanctuary Asia August 2021 Cover Story
Arid deserts and scrublands, wet and dry grasslands, tropical and temperate forests – the Indian subcontinent is blessed with a unique mix of habitats, diverse geographies, and microclimates. Not surprisingly, hundreds of species are found here, and nowhere else in the world. Yet, much of India’s biodiversity lies neglected. Some species remain poorly studied or monitored, some yet undiscovered, and almost all impacted by the relentless destruction of steadily disappearing habitats. The IUCN Red List 2018 tells us that 683 species of fauna and a fourth of all flora in India are endemic. Sanctuary’s Assistant Editors, Abinaya Kalyanasundaram and I, picked out a few of India’s lesser-known endemics to showcase the stunning diversity of our beautiful country. Read on Sanctuary Asia.
