Consider the following animal species: Dodo, Yak, Deer, Black buck, Tiger, Crow, Kashmir stag, Dinosaur, Elephant, Lion-tailed macaque, Peacock, Snow leopard. Which of these animals are: (a) Endemic to mountain habitats? (b) Endangered species? (c) Extinct species?

(a) Endemic to mountain habitats:Yak, Kashmir stag (Hangul), and Snow leopard are endemic to mountain habitats. The yak is naturally found in the high-altitude Himalayan and Tibetan plateau regions, adapted to cold temperatures and low oxygen levels. The Kashmir stag is endemic to the mountainous forests of Kashmir, while the snow leopard inhabits the high mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, including the Himalayas, perfectly adapted with thick fur and powerful limbs for navigating steep, rocky terrain.

(b) Endangered species:Blackbuck, Tiger, Kashmir stag, Elephant, Lion-tailed macaque, and Snow leopard are endangered or threatened species. These animals face severe population declines due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. The lion-tailed macaque, found only in the Western Ghats, is critically endangered with fewer than 4,000 individuals remaining. Tigers, despite conservation successes under Project Tiger, remain endangered due to poaching and habitat fragmentation.

(c) Extinct species:Dodo and Dinosaur are extinct species. The dodo, a flightless bird from Mauritius, became extinct in the late 17th century due to overhunting and habitat destruction by human settlers and introduced species. Dinosaurs became extinct approximately 65 million years ago, likely due to a catastrophic asteroid impact combined with volcanic activity and climate change. These extinctions remind us that species loss is permanent and highlight the urgent need to protect currently endangered animals before they suffer the same irreversible fate.