Table of Contents
India’s incredible biodiversity is beautifully reflected in the official state animals chosen by each state and union territory. These animals are more than symbols — they reflect cultural heritage, regional identity, and ecological significance. This article provides a state-wise list of Indian State Animals (2025), along with their scientific names, conservation status, and relevance in competitive exams.
What is a State Animal?
A state animal is officially designated by a state government to represent its natural heritage and biodiversity. These animals often:
- Represent endemic or vulnerable species,
- Symbolise regional pride,
- Promote wildlife conservation awareness.
List of Indian State Animals
Nature and biodiversity are abundant in India. Animal and bird species of all kinds can be found in nature. India’s flora and fauna add to its vibrancy. Each of India’s 28 states and 8 union territories has its own unique state or union territory animal.
Blackbuck is the state animal of Andhra Pradesh, and the recently-designated Snow Leopard is the UT Animal of Ladakh. After the passing of the only female buffalo in Chhattisgarh, the state animal of the state, the wild buffalo, is in danger of becoming extinct. The various state/UT animals of India are discussed in this article, along with their scientific names.
Read about: Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
List of State Animals in India
Most State Animals are selected based on their availability in a given state. The snow leopard has just named the official animal of the Ladakh Union Territory. These state symbols are crucial for exams, simple to understand, and, if you mark the right responses, can offer you an advantage over your competition. Learn the state animal names by going over the complete list:
List of State Animals with Scientific Name
State | Animal | Scientific Name |
Andhra Pradesh | Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra |
Arunachal Pradesh | Gayal/Mithun | Bos frontalis |
Assam | One-horned rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis |
Bihar | Gaur | Bos gaurus |
Chhattisgarh | Wild Buffalo | Bubalus bubalis arnee |
Goa | Gaur | Bos gaurus |
Gujarat | Asiatic lion | Panthera leo persica |
Haryana | Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra |
Himachal Pradesh | Snow Leopard | Uncia uncia or Panthera uncia |
Jharkhand | Indian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus |
Karnataka | Indian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus |
Kerala | Indian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus |
Madhya Pradesh | Barasingha swamp deer | Rucervus duvaucelii |
Maharastra | Indian giant squirrel | Ratufa indica |
Manipur | Sangai | Cervus eldi eldi |
Meghalaya | Clouded leopard | Neofelis nebulosa |
Mizoram | Himalayan serow | Capricornis thar |
Nagaland | Gayal/Mithun | Bos frontalis |
Odisha | Sambar | Rusa unicolor |
Punjab | Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra |
Rajasthan | Chinkara | Gazella bennetti |
Sikkim | Red Panda | Ailurus fulgens |
Tamil Nadu | Nilgiri tahr | Nilgiritragus hylocrius |
Telangana | Spotted deer | Axis axis |
Tripura | Phayre’s langur | Trachypithecus phayrei |
Uttar Pradesh | Swamp Deer | Rucervus duvaucelii |
Uttarakhand | Alpine Musk Deer | Moschus chrysogaster |
West Bengal | Fishing Cat | Prionailurus viverrinus |
Read about: National Parks in India
List of Union Territories Animals
Union Territory | Animal | Scientific Name |
Andaman & Nicobar | Dugong | Dugong dugon |
Chandigarh | Indian Grey Mongoose | Herpestes edwardsi |
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | N/A | N/A |
Delhi | Nilgai | Boselaphus tragocamelus |
Jammu and Kashmir | Kashmir Stag | Cervus elaphus hanglu |
Lakshadweep | Butterfly Fish | Chaetodon decussatus |
Puducherry | Squirrel | Funambulus palmarum |
Ladakh | Snow Leopard | Uncia uncia or Panthera uncia |
Read about: Tiger Reserves in India
Facts on the State Animals of India
- National Animal vs. State Animals: The Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) is India’s national animal, but none of the Indian states have it as their state animal to avoid overlap.
- Most Common State Animal: The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is the state animal of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.
- Symbol of Endemic Wildlife: Most state animals are either endemic, vulnerable, or culturally significant to their respective regions.