National Parks & Wildlife — Set 14

Correct Answer: B. Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park has one of the largest and densest populations of Indian Gaur (Bos gaurus), also known as Indian Bison, which is the largest bovine species in the world. The gaur is classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and hunting. Kanha's open meadows (called 'maidans') provide excellent grazing habitat for gaur herds alongside spotted deer, barasingha, and sambar. The Satpura and Pench tiger reserves also have healthy gaur populations in the central Indian landscape.

Correct Answer: B. Petrified plant fossils from the Cretaceous period

Fossil National Park (Ghughua Fossil Park) in Dindori district, established in 1983, is protected for its extraordinary collection of petrified (fossilized) plant remains from the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 65 million years ago. The fossils include petrified wood, leaves, seeds, and fruits of ancient plants, many of which are ancestors of modern tropical trees. The park contains over 30 species of plant fossils including Palmoxylon, Cycas, Dipterocarpus ancestors, and various ferns. It is the only national park in India established to protect paleontological heritage rather than living animals or plants.

Correct Answer: B. Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve

Sanjay National Park (formerly Sanjay Gandhi National Park) in Sidhi district forms the core area of the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve, which also includes the Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary. The combined Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve was officially designated in 2008 and covers about 2,542 sq km in eastern Madhya Pradesh. The reserve is part of the larger forested landscape connecting MP with the forests of Chhattisgarh. The landscape is relatively undisturbed and supports tigers, leopards, gaur, wild dogs (dholes), and numerous other species.

Correct Answer: C. 785

According to the All India Tiger Estimation 2022 (Status of Tigers in India 2022 report), Madhya Pradesh has approximately 785 tigers, the highest count among all Indian states. This represents a significant recovery from the crisis years of the early 2000s when tiger populations across India had plummeted. The success is attributed to strong political will, effective forest management, anti-poaching operations, and community involvement in conservation. MP overtook Karnataka (563 tigers) and Uttarakhand (560 tigers) to become the undisputed 'Tiger State of India'.

Correct Answer: B. Mahseer fish and freshwater turtles

The Tawa Reservoir on the Tawa River (a tributary of Narmada) in Hoshangabad district is important for the conservation of the Mahseer (Tor spp.), a large freshwater fish species that is considered a flagship species of river ecosystem health in India. The reservoir also supports freshwater turtles, otters, crocodiles, and is a significant wetland for migratory birds. Tawa Reservoir is surrounded by the forests of Satpura National Park and lies within the Satpura Tiger Reserve buffer. The local fishing communities have been involved in conservation-based livelihoods around the reservoir.

Correct Answer: B. Chambal River

The Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is found in the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the National Chambal Sanctuary which protects the river stretch. The dolphin, India's national aquatic animal, is classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. The relatively clean and undisturbed stretches of the Chambal River provide one of the best habitats for river dolphins in India. The National Chambal Sanctuary also protects gharials, red-crowned roof turtles, and numerous species of birds.

Correct Answer: C. Panna

Panna Tiger Reserve is located in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh and gained worldwide attention when its entire tiger population went locally extinct around 2009 due to poaching. The reserve then implemented a bold tiger translocation program, bringing tigers from Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench. By 2016-17, the tiger population had recovered to over 30 tigers and continues to grow. The Panna recovery is considered one of the most successful conservation interventions in Indian wildlife history. Today Panna has over 50 tigers and is a model for crisis response in tiger conservation.

Correct Answer: B. Narmada River, with white marble rocks

The Bhedaghat gorge and Dhuandhar Falls near Jabalpur are on the Narmada River, where the river cuts through a spectacular gorge of white marble (dolomite) rocks that glow in moonlight. Dhuandhar ('Cloud of Smoke') Falls gets its name from the mist created when the Narmada rushes over the marble rocks. The Marble Rocks of Bhedaghat are a protected geological heritage site and a major tourist attraction. The gorge is about 3 km long and the marble walls rise to about 30 metres, creating one of India's most photogenic natural landscapes.

Correct Answer: B. Rewa

The Mukundpur White Tiger Safari and Zoological Park is located in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh, near the historic site where the first white tiger was captured. The white tiger Mohan was captured in 1951 by the Maharaja of Rewa, Martand Singh, near Bandhavgarh, and Rewa became historically associated with white tigers. The Mukundpur facility was established to showcase and conserve white tigers and other wildlife. It is one of the largest zoological parks in central India and is also home to lions, leopards, sloth bears, and various deer species.

Correct Answer: B. MP has 11 national parks, 25 wildlife sanctuaries and 6 tiger reserves

Madhya Pradesh has a comprehensive Protected Area Network comprising 11 national parks, 25 wildlife sanctuaries, and 6 tiger reserves (as of recent counts), making it one of the states with the richest conservation infrastructure in India. The state also has 3 UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves: Pachmarhi, Amarkantak, and Panna. Together, these protected areas cover a significant portion of the state's forest area. MP's robust protected area network is a key reason why the state leads India in tiger numbers and overall wildlife conservation outcomes.