8 Endangered Indian Tribes Facing the Threat of Extinction

By Sheetal Kumari | April 2, 2025

8 Endangered Indian Tribes Facing the Threat of Extinction

India has more than 700 tribal groups. Nevertheless, most native tribes are facing the threat of extinction due to displacement, modernization, and environmental hazards.

Threatened Tribal Groups

(Representataive Image: Canva)

Once numbering in thousands, the Great Andamanese have declined due to colonial diseases and habitat loss. Their language and culture are critically endangered.

Great Andamanese

(Image: Wikipedia)

Living in the Andaman Islands, the Jarawa face threats from illegal tourism, poaching, and diseases from outsiders, endangering their traditional hunter-gatherer way of life.

Jarawa

(Image: Flicker)

The Little Andaman’s Onge population is threatened due to habitat degradation, settlement developments, and catastrophes like the 2004 tsunami that decimated a large portion of their population.

Onge

(Image: @sriramsrirangm/X)

The Sentinelese keep to themselves, sheltered from illness and exploitation. Their North Sentinel Island is among the most isolated locations on the planet.

Sentinelese

(Representataive Image: Canva)

The Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh Korwa tribe faces poverty, displacement through mining, and gradual loss of their indigenous identity.

Korwa

(Image: Wikipedia)

With barely 250-300 members remaining in Tripura, the Karbong are gravely threatened by modernization, intermarriage, and the extinction of their indigenous way of life.

Karbong

(Representataive Image: @IndianDiplomacy/X)

The Toto community along the Bhutan border comprises approximately 1,500 individuals. The largest threat is to their distinctive language and indigenous practices.

Toto

(Image: Wikipedia)

With approximately 50,000 individuals, the Lepcha of Darjeeling and Sikkim are losing their indigenous language as younger generations move towards Nepali and English.

Lepcha

(Image: Wikipedia)

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