India, Oct. 16 -- Indian wildlife conservationist Vivek Menon was elected as the new Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) on Wednesday. He is the first Asian to lead the Commission in its 75-year history. A wildlife conservationist and environmental commentator with a passion for elephants, Vivek Menon said maintaining ecological integrity of landscapes, saving endemic and keystone species will be critical globally. Excerpts:

What does the latest IUCN update show for species in India? Could you please share some examples?

Vivek Menon: India harbors about 7-8% of the world's recorded species, including over 45,000 plant and 91,000 animal species. The status of these species depends on habitat quality and human pressures. A...