India
India's wildlife conservation story is one of both crisis and commitment. Faced with rapid deforestation, hunting, and shrinking habitats post-independence, India responded with bold steps—banning hunting, launching Project Tiger in 1973 to save its national animal, and enacting the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Over time, the network of protected areas grew to include over 100 national parks and more than 500 wildlife sanctuaries. Conservation successes like the revival of the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, and one-horned rhinoceros reflects a complex balance between ecological preservation and the needs of a growing population.