The Species Visibility Gap in Wildlife Conservation Awareness Among High School and College Students in India

Abstract Wildlife conservation often relies on scientific and governmental action, as well as public awareness and positive attitudes toward protecting endangered species. Education, especially of young people, is a critical element of conservation awareness and future involvement in environmental protection. Conservation action and public awareness in India tend to be concentrated on the charismatic megafauna, including the Bengal Tiger and Asiatic Lion, while some lesser-known threatened species in the Grassland, River & Wetland, and Himalayan ecosystems remain underutilized. The questionnaire was anonymously filled out by 200 student participants regarding the awareness of endangered species, recognition of selected Indian wildlife, factual knowledge, perceptions of threats and willingness to participate in future conservation activities. Results showed that 76.7% of the respondents heard the term 'endangered species', and 80.9% agreed/strongly agreed that the protection of threatened wildlife should be a national priority. But there was a remarkable difference in species awareness: the Bengal Tiger was the most commonly recognized species, while species like Hangul/Kashmir Stag, Gharial, Great Indian Bustard & Red Panda showed low recognition. Only 23.3% of participants correctly identified the Great Indian Bustard as one of the most threatened birds of the Indian grasslands. The study indicates that one of the most important gaps in wildlife conservation awareness among students is limited exposure and lack of species-specific knowledge. The results show that there is a need for teaching methods that are student-centered, which will enhance awareness of lesser-known endangered species and invite meaningful involvement in wildlife conservation programmes. Educational efforts can play a key role in creating a more knowledgeable and conservation-minded generation in India by enhancing awareness and promoting active participation. Supporting Dataset: The anonymised dataset and supporting materials associated with this study are available separately on Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21370063