Tiger Reserves & Project Tiger — Set 13

Correct Answer: B. 25-50 tigers

Conservation biologists generally consider 25-50 breeding individuals as the minimum viable population for short-term persistence, though 100+ is preferred for long-term genetic health. In practice, very small tiger reserves with fewer than 20 tigers are considered genetically vulnerable. This is why corridor connectivity between reserves is critical.

Correct Answer: C. Arunachal Pradesh

Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of the easternmost tiger reserves in India. The reserve forms part of the critical tiger corridor connecting Namdapha Tiger Reserve with forests in Assam and Myanmar.

Correct Answer: A. Vidarbha Landscape

The Vidarbha Landscape in Maharashtra is a critical tiger landscape that includes Tadoba-Andhari, Navegaon-Nagzira, Bor, Tipeshwar, and Umred-Karandla reserves. Maintaining forest connectivity within Vidarbha is crucial for tiger dispersal in central Maharashtra. The landscape also forms links to the central Indian tiger heartland.

Correct Answer: B. Alleged involvement in human deaths

Tiger T24 'Ustad' of Ranthambore was controversially translocated to Sajjangarh Biological Park (Udaipur) in 2015 after being held responsible for four human deaths. The decision was disputed by conservationists who argued the tiger was protecting its territory. The case raised important questions about how to handle conflict-prone tigers.

Correct Answer: B. Voluntary relocation with compensation

The Wildlife Protection Act mandates that resettlement of villages inside critical tiger habitats must be voluntary with adequate compensation and rehabilitation. The Forest Rights Act 2006 also protects rights of forest-dwelling communities. Forced evictions are prohibited and relocation must be consensual with rehabilitation packages.

Correct Answer: C. Jim Corbett

The Corbett Foundation is a prominent conservation NGO working in and around Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand. It works on community development, wildlife monitoring, and conflict mitigation. The foundation supports anti-poaching efforts and livelihood programmes for communities around the reserve.

Correct Answer: C. Probability of tiger presence across habitat patches

Occupancy modelling estimates the probability of tiger presence across habitat patches, even in areas where camera traps are not placed. It extrapolates from sign surveys (pugmarks, scats) to estimate tigers in areas not directly sampled. This makes the national tiger count more comprehensive.

Correct Answer: B. Tiger, rhino, elephant, pygmy hog, and golden langur

Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam is called a 'rainbow reserve' because it is home to tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephants, the rare pygmy hog (world's smallest pig), and the golden langur. This exceptional combination of rare species makes Manas unique. The reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Correct Answer: B. Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh experienced a significant decline in tiger population between 2006 and 2010, partly due to left-wing extremism (Naxalism) in its forest regions making wildlife protection extremely difficult. Anti-poaching teams could not operate effectively in affected areas. This highlighted the link between political security and wildlife conservation.

Correct Answer: B. Giving statutory basis to NTCA and Project Tiger

The 2006 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act primarily gave statutory basis to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and formally defined 'critical tiger habitats'. Before this, Project Tiger was only an executive programme without legal teeth. The amendment also mandated Management Effectiveness Evaluations of tiger reserves.