What are endemic species? Give examples from India.

Endemic species are organisms that are found exclusively in a specific geographical region and are not naturally found anywhere else in the world. These species evolve in isolation due to unique environmental conditions and geographic barriers. Because of their limited distribution, endemic species are highly vulnerable to extinction if their habitat is disturbed. In India, examples include the Nilgiri tahr found in the Western Ghats, the lion tailed macaque native to the Western Ghats forests, and the Andaman wild pig found only in the Andaman Islands. Such species are important indicators of regional biodiversity and require targeted conservation measures.