Tiger Reserves & Project Tiger — Set 6
Forest & Wildlife · टाइगर रिजर्व और प्रोजेक्ट टाइगर · Questions 51–60 of 200
Tiger population in India was at its lowest in which decade before Project Tiger reversed the decline?
Correct Answer: C. Early 1970s
Tiger population in India was at its lowest in the early 1970s, with estimates of only around 1,827 tigers in 1973. Unchecked hunting, habitat destruction, and prey depletion were the main causes. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 specifically to reverse this catastrophic decline.
Which Prime Minister inaugurated Project Tiger in 1973?
Correct Answer: C. Indira Gandhi
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated Project Tiger on April 1, 1973 at Corbett National Park. She was a passionate environmentalist who also passed the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. Her leadership was instrumental in saving the Bengal tiger from extinction.
What is a 'buffer zone' in a tiger reserve?
Correct Answer: C. Area surrounding core allowing limited human use
A buffer zone in a tiger reserve surrounds the core/critical tiger habitat and allows limited human activity including eco-tourism and sustainable resource use by local communities. It acts as a transition between the strictly protected core and the surrounding landscape. Buffer zones help reduce conflict between tigers and humans.
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, recently added to Project Tiger, is in which state?
Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve was declared in 2023 in the Damoh, Sagar, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. It is named after the warrior queen Durgavati who ruled the region in the 16th century. This addition made Madhya Pradesh the state with the most tiger reserves in India.
The Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem is shared between India and Bangladesh. What percentage lies in India?
Correct Answer: B. 40%
About 40% of the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem lies in India (West Bengal) while 60% is in Bangladesh. The Indian part is protected as a tiger reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sundarbans tigers are unique for their ability to swim in saline water.
Which tiger reserve is associated with the Pench River and is part of inspiration for The Jungle Book?
Correct Answer: B. Pench
Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, named after the Pench River, is also considered part of the Jungle Book landscape. The reserve straddles the MP-Maharashtra border and is known for excellent tiger sightings in its teak forests. Pench has one of the highest prey densities among Indian tiger reserves.
What is the role of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in tiger conservation?
Correct Answer: B. Conducts tiger census and research
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), headquartered in Dehradun, conducts the All India Tiger Estimation in collaboration with NTCA. It also provides scientific and technical support for wildlife management and conservation research. WII trains wildlife managers and develops conservation protocols.
Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve is located in which state?
Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve is located in the Sidhi and Umaria districts of Madhya Pradesh. It was declared a tiger reserve in 2008. The reserve is contiguous with Guru Ghasidas National Park in Chhattisgarh.
Which tiger reserve is located in the Terai region of Uttarakhand and is India's largest tiger reserve by area?
Correct Answer: A. Jim Corbett
Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, covering over 1,318 sq km of core area, is one of the larger tiger reserves. However, Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam is technically the largest by total area. Corbett is the oldest tiger reserve and has a healthy population of tigers in its Terai-Bhabar ecosystem.
The tiger is the national animal of India. In which year did it replace the lion as the national animal?
Correct Answer: B. 1973
The Bengal tiger replaced the Asiatic lion as India's national animal in 1973, coinciding with the launch of Project Tiger. This change was meant to give the tiger special significance and galvanize conservation efforts. The tiger was chosen for its strength, grace, and as a symbol of India's biodiversity.