Endangered Species of India — Set 14

Correct Answer: B. Kuno National Park

Project Cheetah reintroduced African Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) from Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on September 17, 2022, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Eight cheetahs were initially flown from Namibia, followed by additional animals from South Africa. Kuno was selected after extensive surveys as it offers the right prey base (chital, blackbuck, nilgai) and habitat conditions for cheetah establishment.

Correct Answer: B. Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh

The Snow Leopard Trust works in India primarily in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh, partnering with local communities for snow leopard conservation. Their programs focus on reducing retaliatory killings by compensating herders for livestock losses to snow leopards, and promoting community-based conservation. The organization also conducts research on snow leopard ecology, behavior, and population monitoring across its range countries.

Correct Answer: B. 1969

WWF-India was established in 1969 and is one of the oldest conservation organizations in India. WWF International was founded in 1961 in Morges, Switzerland. WWF-India works on conservation of flagship species like tigers, elephants, rhinos, and river dolphins, as well as on habitat conservation, climate change, and sustainable development. Its iconic logo features the Giant Panda, an endangered species from China.

Correct Answer: B. Near Threatened

The Indian Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tecta) is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. It is endemic to the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river basins in India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It faces threats from collection for food and the pet trade, and from river pollution and altered river flows due to dams. It is listed under CITES Appendix II and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Correct Answer: A. Shola forests of the Nilgiris

The Shola forests of the Nilgiris — a unique mosaic of tropical montane evergreen forest patches interspersed with montane grasslands — are described as a 'hotspot within a hotspot' due to their extraordinary endemism. These forests harbor numerous endemic plants, insects, amphibians, and birds found nowhere else. The Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Pipit, and numerous endemic orchids are characteristic of the Shola-grassland ecosystem.

Correct Answer: A. Smaller ears

The Indian/Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) has significantly smaller ears compared to the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana). African elephants have large fan-shaped ears resembling the African continent, while Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears. Asian elephants also have a more rounded back (rather than concave), and only males typically have visible tusks, whereas both sexes of African Bush Elephants commonly bear tusks.

Correct Answer: B. Tropical dry deciduous forests of Central India

The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) is found in the tropical dry deciduous forests of Central India, particularly in Khandesh (Maharashtra), and across patches in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It was believed extinct for 113 years before its rediscovery in 1997. The owlet is Critically Endangered due to its restricted range, small population, and dependence on specific forest types that face heavy pressure from logging and clearance.

Correct Answer: D. Goa

Despite having a smaller total tiger count, Goa's Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary / Mollem National Park is reported to have among the highest tiger densities in India per unit area. Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand and other reserves also have high densities. Kaziranga has the highest recorded tiger density globally. High density doesn't always correlate with the highest total number — Madhya Pradesh leads in total tigers.

Correct Answer: C. 1992

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992 and entered into force on December 29, 1993. It has three main objectives: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. India signed the CBD in 1992 and ratified it in 1994, leading to the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.

Correct Answer: B. Protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at CBD COP15 in Montreal in December 2022, set the landmark '30x30' target: protecting at least 30% of the world's land and oceans as protected areas or other conservation measures by 2030. It replaced the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2011–2020). The framework also included goals to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems and to mobilize $200 billion per year for biodiversity.