Among the species found in India, only 12.6 per cent of mammals and 4.5 per cent of birds are endemic, as against 45.8 per cent of reptiles and 55.8 per cent of amphibians, says the document prepared by the Environment Ministry.
The Environmental and Social Framework Document for "Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Wildlife Protection in Asia" is prepared for financial assistance from the World Bank under regional International Development Association (IDA) window.
According to the document, notable endemics are the Nilgiri Leaf Monkey and the Brown and Carmine Beddome's Toad of the Western Ghats. India contains 172 (2.9 per cent) of the IUCN designated threatened species.
These include the Asiatic lion, the Bengal Tiger, and the Indian white-rumped vulture, which suffered near-extinction situation from feeding on the carrion of diclofenac-treated cattle, says the report.
"Human activities, both directly and indirectly, responsible for current high rates of biodiversity loss are-- habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to agricultural activities, extraction (including mining, fishing, logging and harvesting); and development (human settlements, industry and associated infrastructure)," it says.
"Habitat loss and fragmentation leads to the formation of isolated, small and scattered populations," it added. MORE
