The Northern River Terrapin, Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale and Red Panda will now be part of the Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species.
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) added these four species on the recommendation of a Standing Committee. The programme is one of the three components of the centrally funded scheme, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH).
So far, 17 species have been identified under the recovery programme. These are the Snow Leopard, Bustard (including Floricans), Dolphin, Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, Nicobar Megapode, Manipur Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer and Jerdon’s Courser.
Started in 2008-09, IDWH is meant for providing support to protected areas (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves except tiger reserves), protection of wildlife outside protected areas and recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats.