Asia has a massive variety of flora and fauna as numerous types of animals call it home. The diverse ecosystem of the continent showcases how animals can thrive in such a massive land area.
The snow leopard is found in the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. (Photo credit: Jeff Wendorff/500px Prime/Getty Images)
New Delhi: Asia is the largest continent both in terms of land area and population. It covers about 30 per cent of the total land area of Earth and covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres. The continent was also the site of many of the first civilizations in human history. Asia has a massive variety of flora and fauna as numerous types of animals call it home. The diverse ecosystem of the continent showcases how animals can thrive in such a massive land area. In this article, we will take a look at some of the rare wildlife species which are found only in Asia.
Rare wildlife species found in Asia
Tibetan antelope
It is a bovid of medium size which is found in the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Most of the Tibetan antelope live within the Chinese border, while some scatter across India and Bhutan in the high altitude plains, hill plateau and montane valley. It is thought that there are less than 150,000 mature Tibetan antelopes left in the wild, but as per reports, its population is possibly increasing.
King cobra
The king cobra is a venomous snake found in India, China, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Known for a maximum length of 13 feet, the snake reportedly stands up by lifting a third of its body off the ground. It can kill 20 humans with a single bite and they avoid humans. Also, it is the only snake that builds nests for eggs.
Red Panda
Red pandas look like raccoons and are found in the forests of the Himalayas and eastern Asia. They are known for their acrobatic skills and spend most of their time in the trees. They have a thumb-like wrist bone which helps them to get a better grip while climbing. These cute creatures are endangered and are hunted for their pelt.
Indian Rhino
They are also called the ‘Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros’ due to their single black horn. Out of the three Asian rhinos, it is the largest and is also the second largest rhino in the world. Even though their eyesight is poor, their sense of smell and hearing is amazing. They are found in small populations in India and Nepal, and in our country, they are mainly found in the Kaziranga National Park.
Komodo Dragon
The Komodo dragon is a large reptile found only in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Flores, Rinca and Gili Motang. It is the largest extant species of lizard and the maximum length of the males is 3 m. They are apex predators and their prey include birds, invertebrates, and mammals. Human encroachment has reduced their population and climate change has worsened the situation. They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is found in the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since less than 10,000 mature individuals are in the world. Moreover, the population of snow leopards is expected to decrease further by 2040. It is mainly threatened by poaching and habitat destruction following infrastructural developments.
Asian Pangolin
Apart from the Indian pangolin, the Chinese pangolin, the Philippine pangolin, and the Sunda pangolin are in the category of critically endangered. Pangolins are found in China, India, parts of Southeast Asia, Nepal and Bangladesh. Relentless poaching and trafficking have made the animal critically endangered in Asia. People in this continent hunt them for food and medicine. According to WWF, they are also the targets of leather production industries for handbags and boots.
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