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Due to the overarching influence of humans, we can sometimes forget the role other species play in regulating the planet. The reason food graces our plates is thanks to many various pollinators. Predators kill herbivores and prevent overgrazing, which literally changes significant physical terrain features, such as the path of rivers. In one way or another, each organism fulfils a role. But a common enemy has appeared in recent times that severely threatens to upset nature's delicate balance: <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword>. Climate change-worsened natural disasters, such as landslides and tsunamis, tend to do a number on the habitats of many endangered species, leaving them dangerously stranded and scared. In addition, the increasing frequency of such disastrous events barely gives these species any time to breathe and recuperate. Here are some of the species endemic to our country that <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> stands to lose to climate change and <keyword id="666068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="severe-weather" source="Orion">severe weather</keyword>, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. They have all been listed as 'Critically Endangered'. Failing to save them would directly set us back on the 15th Sustainable Developmental Goal, which seeks to protect the planet’s biodiversity. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)" comment="subhead" text="Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)"><keyword id="15005685" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="himalayan-quail" source="Orion">Himalayan Quail</keyword> (Ophrysia superciliosa)</cmsannotation> The Himalayan Quail is one of the rarest animals you'll see (if you're lucky!) on the planet. In fact, the last time we saw one of these was 150 years ago! This bird is found only in Uttaranchal in long grass and scrub on steep hillsides at steep inclinations of 1,650-2,400 metres. While the main reason behind its population decline could be attributed to overhunting and widespread land-use changes in its habitat, some think that climate and these habitat changes following the previous ice age might've driven sub-populations to sub-optimal higher elevations. This might've caused continual local extinctions, resulting in the tragic numbers we see today. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)" comment="subhead" text="Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)"><keyword id="15925415" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="namdapha-flying-squirrel" source="Orion">Namdapha Flying Squirrel</keyword> (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)</cmsannotation> This reddish grizzly squirrel with a white underbelly is known from, get this, only one single specimen collected from Arunachal Pradesh's Namdapha National Park in 1981. Scientists think the entire species population might be restricted to just a single valley, which makes the ongoing habitat destruction in the area incredibly unaffordable. This rare species also form one among the 25 animals listed under Global Wildlife Conservation's "Search for Lost Species" initiative, which directs substantial amounts of effort into rediscovering species that have been "lost" to science (haven't been seen in more than ten years). <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Leith's Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii)" comment="subhead" text="Leith's Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii)">Leith's Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii)</cmsannotation> Moving down the list and southwards along the Indian subcontinent is the <keyword id="15925416" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="leith-softshell" source="Orion">Leith Softshell</keyword> Turtle, a species native to southern peninsular rivers such as the Bhavani, Godavari and Moyarii. This turtle was relatively common in southern states, but populations declined by an alarming 90% in just the past 30 years due to exploitation for regional trade. Now, this turtle has become so rare that even some hunters don't believe they're worth the effort. However, they continue to face habitat destruction due to hydrological alteration of rivers, pollution and sand mining, which severely hampers conservation efforts. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Andaman's White-toothed Shrew, Jenkin's Shrew" comment="subhead" text="Andaman's White-toothed Shrew, Jenkin's Shrew">Andaman's White-toothed Shrew, Jenkin's Shrew</cmsannotation> Because shrews seem mouse-like, you could be misled into thinking they might also have a bustling population like the house mouse that rules over urban settings. However, these two species are only found in one place: South Andaman Island. With them only encompassing 50-70 square kilometres of area, they are regularly threatened by, you guessed it, habitat destruction due to anthropogenic activities. However, experts also think the December 2004 tsunami event might've severely wrecked their population, and thus they remain exceedingly vulnerable to future similarly large-scale disasters. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kobo Bubble-nest Frog (Philautus microdiscus)" comment="subhead" text="Kobo Bubble-nest Frog (Philautus microdiscus)"><keyword id="15925417" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kobo-bubble-nest" source="Orion">Kobo Bubble-nest</keyword> Frog (Philautus microdiscus)</cmsannotation> If not wanting to take up too much space was a game, the Kobo Bubble-nest frog would be a clear winner. Scientists think this species occurs in Arunachal's Arbor hills, within only 10 square kilometres. That's only slightly bigger than Puducherry's Mahe district, which is India's smallest district on record! Not only is the limited area they encompass concerning, but flash floods and sediment deposition by the rivers in the area also threaten its habitat. These factors can, once again, be severely exacerbated by climate change. <h2>Recommended stories: </h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="96546316" title="Increasing global warming and light pollution levels could severely affect ground telescope observations" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="96575746" title="Coals and other unapproved fuels to be banned across NCR from January 1" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="QUIZ" hostid="261" msid="94051791" title="Sustainability Quiz : Climate Change" mstype="1" mssubtype="2"><payload><![CDATA[sustainability-quiz]]></payload></div>

These Indian species are most threatened by climate change and severe weather, according to the IUCN

<keyword id="988973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="extreme-weather">Extreme Weather</keyword> wreaks havoc and <keyword id="1209735" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Disaster-preparedness">disaster preparedness</keyword> of the extreme kind can only lessen the losses but cannot entirely leash them. A new research report compiled by the UK-based <keyword id="459969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Overseas-Development-Institute">Overseas Development Institute</keyword> suggests that by 2030, up to a third of a billion people could be living in the 49 countries most exposed to the full range of <keyword id="1187439" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="natural-hazards">natural hazards</keyword> and <keyword id="1713913" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Climate-Extremes">climate extremes</keyword>. So adequate measures must be taken now to control the impact of Extreme Weather occurrences (<keyword id="43950" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="storm">storm</keyword>, <keyword id="46472" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="drought">drought</keyword>, <keyword id="6369083" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flood">flood</keyword>, <keyword id="6362774" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="earthquake">earthquake</keyword>, etc.) or it is bound to hurt the economies and will push people back into poverty. Although an emerging market nation, <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has long struggled to cope with <keyword id="55531" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Disaster-management">disaster management</keyword>. As the country encounters the second <keyword id="6386783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone">cyclone</keyword> attack in six weeks, here is a quick look at the natural hazards that struck India throughout the year, leading to massive destruction and huge losses. 
Main image: Wikipedia 
 
<keyword id="1945034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone-Helen">Cyclone Helen</keyword> The severe cyclonic storm hit the coastal parts of <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> only a couple of days ago, killing at least 6 people. Around 21,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas as <keyword id="45172" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="heavy-rain">heavy rain</keyword> lashed the <keyword id="482064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="coastal-districts">coastal districts</keyword> and strong gales reached the speed of 100-120 kmph. Storm and <keyword id="13195" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rain">rain</keyword> caused massive damage to <keyword id="18620" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="crops">crops</keyword> and coconut plantations spread over 1.69 lakh hectares. 
Image: ddinews.gov.in 
 
 
 
Super-Cyclone Phailin One of the most powerful tropical <keyword id="42569" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cyclones">cyclones</keyword>, Phailin hit India’s east coast in October and was expected to cause massive death and destruction. Strong winds went up to a speed of 220 kmph as it struck the shores of <keyword id="6357961" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Odisha">Odisha</keyword> and Andhra Pradesh. However, early warnings and the mass evacuation of nearly 900,000 people limited the <keyword id="6397442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="death-toll">death toll</keyword> to 30-50. A quarter million houses were razed though, and over 860,000 hectares of cropland was destroyed. The overall damage amounted to about $150 million. 
Image: Indiatimes 
 
 
 
The <keyword id="1713585" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himalayan-tsunami">Himalayan tsunami</keyword> <keyword id="173656" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kedarnath">Kedarnath</keyword> town in the state of <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> was literally washed out when massive flash floods and landslides hit the valley in June this year. About 33 cm of rain fell during a cloudburst and a lake above the 8th century <keyword id="1674376" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kedarnath-temple">Kedarnath Temple</keyword> burst, sending a deluge of water down the valley. Over 110,000 stranded pilgrims were rescued and the actual death toll could be close to 10,000 while 20,000 hectares of <keyword id="6491949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="agricultural-land">agricultural land</keyword> was severely damaged in the deluge. According to a <keyword id="29740" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bloomberg">Bloomberg</keyword> report based on a document from AON Benfield, economic losses due to the floods in India (mostly Uttarakhand) could be $1.1 billion and insured costs around half a million. 
Image: Indiatimes 
 
 
 
<keyword id="1672039" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone-Mahasen">Cyclone Mahasen</keyword> The first among the three cyclones to have crossed the <keyword id="960263" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-coast">Indian coast</keyword> this year. The south-westerly monsoon started with this <keyword id="385066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="tropical-storm">tropical storm</keyword> in May and affected six countries in South and <keyword id="366595" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="South-East-Asia">South-east Asia</keyword>. Cyclone Mahasen moved up from the southern <keyword id="55869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bay-of-Bengal">Bay of Bengal</keyword> and finally hit Bangladesh, but its effects could be felt in southern, eastern and north-eastern parts of India. Heavy rain lashed Meghalaya as it crossed into neighbouring Bangladesh while severe storms in Andhra Pradesh caused eight deaths and also flooded 739 hectares of farmland. In the coastal districts of Odisha, there were scattered but powerful storms, producing winds up to 72 kmph. Malkangiri saw the heaviest rainfall at 48 mm. 
Image: earthobservatory.nasa.gov

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These Indian species are most threatened by climate change and severe weather, according to the IUCN

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How Extreme Weather Is Battering India This Year

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