Describe main features of the wild life in India.

Main features of the wild life or fauna of India are as follows:
(i) It has more than 89,000 animal species, 1200 bird species and 2500 species of fish.
(ii) It has 5 to 8 per cent of the world’s amphibians, reptiles and mammals including elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses.
(iii) Arid areas of Ram of Kachchh and the Thar Desert are the habitat for wild ass and camels, respectively.
(iv) India is the only country in the world that has both tigers and lions.
(v) The natural habitat of the Indian lion is the Gir forest in Gujarat.
(vi) Tigers are found in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the Sunderbans of West Bengal and the Himalayan region.
(v) Yak, the shaggy horned wild ox, weighing around one tonne, the Tibetan antelope, the bharal (blue sheep), wild sheep, the ibex, bear, snow-leopard live in the Himalayan region.
(vi) Turtles, crocodiles and gharials are found in the rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
(vii) Peacocks, pheasants, ducks, parakeets, cranes and pigeons are found in forests and wetlands of the country.