India is home to a wide variety of rare animals, many of which are seriously threatened by illicit wildlife trade and poaching. With an emphasis on the animals that are the targets of wildlife trafficking, this chapter examines the complex problem of endangered animal species in India. The first part of the chapter looks at the main factors that influence the wildlife trade, such as the desire for exotic pets, traditional remedies, and fashion. It draws attention to the predicament of a number of seriously endangered animals that are at the center of the illegal trade, including rhinoceroses, pangolins, and tigers. The chapter goes into greater detail into the ecological effects of overexploitation, examining how species extinction affects community structures, interferes with ecosystem processes, and hastens habitat degradation. Among the main ecological effects of poaching are the loss of keystone species, species co-extinction, and the spread of invasive species. The chapter describes key conservation tactics to address these issues, ranging from community-based conservation initiatives to the creation of national parks and protected regions. It also examines how crucial laws, captive breeding initiatives, restoration ecology, and public awareness efforts are to reducing the risks to India’s threatened wildlife. Through a thorough examination of these problems and solutions, the chapter highlights how urgently coordinated efforts are needed to protect India’s biodiversity.