In 1948, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) was set up. The main task of IUCN is conservation of wildlife and implementation of various environmental laws. The IUCN has made following categories of wild animals and plants:
1) Extinct Species
Extinct species are those species whose last organism has died i.e. which have disappeared from earth. Examples of extinct species are pink headed duck, mountain quail, lesser one horned rhino etc.
2) Endangered Species
Endangered species are those species which are in danger of extinction. For example, Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, crocodile, musk deer, blue whale etc. are endangered species.
3) Vulnerable Species
Those species which have sufficient population at present but can become endangered species in future if unfavourable conditions persist in its environment. The main examples of vulnerable species are golden cat, Indian egg eating snake, olive ridley turtle etc.
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