CHENNAI: The State government has issued a GO to sanction Rs 1 crore for a scheme to conserve four lesser-known endangered species such as the Lion-Tailed Macaque, Madras Hedgehog, Striped Hyena, and Hump-Headed Mahseer Fish.

The GO is following an announcement made in the State Assembly in March 2025 on the expansion of the State’s biodiversity protection strategy.

“It’s moving beyond iconic megafauna like elephants and tigers to focus on fragile yet vital species that play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance,” Supriya Sahu, secretary of environment, climate change and forest department, had said.

The Lion-Tailed Macaque (Rs 48.50 lakh allocated), an endangered primate endemic to the Western Ghats, survives in fragmented forest patches with highly restricted distribution.

See Full Page