India needs more wildlife protection areas

NEW YORK, March 15 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists studying the extinction of large mammals in India say the country needs improvements in protected areas and cultural tolerance for some species.

The researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Duke University, the U.S. Geological Service and other groups found the long-term survival of many large species in the midst of rapid economic growth will require establishing new and improving existing protected areas.

"This study provides us with a roadmap for the 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."

The researchers, among other things, created models to estimate the extinction probability of 25 large mammal species and found all 25 would experience some level of local extinction due to a variety of factors such as habitat loss, human population growth and development and cultural attitudes. Among species with the highest probable rates of extinction were swamp deer (90 percent) and rare species such as the Asiatic lions of the Gir Forest (96 percent).

The study that included Krithi Karanth of Duke and Columbia Universities, James Nichols and James Hines of the USGS, Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Norman Christensen of Duke University appeared in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society.