India stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south. In between lay the fertile plains of the Ganga and the Central Highlands, the Thar Desert to the west, the rain forests in the northeast and mangrove forests stretching to the east. A vast plateau flanked by two hilly coastal ranges, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, covers the southern part of the country. The Ganges River flows east to the Bay of Bengal.
India’s habitats are diverse – from swamps and rainforests to mountains and coastal plains. A range of wildlife can be found here, including elephants, tigers, rhinos, buffaloes, crocodiles, primates, butterflies and numerous bird species.
Poaching and illegal trade, however, are a major problem facing India’s wildlife. Other environmental problems include deforestation, desertification, overgrazing, and air and water pollution. India’s huge population is also straining the country’s natural resources.