Endangered Species of India — Set 1

Correct Answer: B. Bengal Tiger

The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the national animal of India, declared so in 1973 when Project Tiger was launched. It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. As of the 2022 tiger census, India has approximately 3,682 tigers, which is about 75% of the world's wild tiger population.

Correct Answer: C. Gujarat

The Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) survives only in the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The 2020 census recorded 674 Asiatic Lions in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, showing a significant rise from 523 in 2015.

Correct Answer: B. Assam

The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is primarily found in Assam, especially in Kaziranga National Park which holds over 70% of the world's total population. It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Kaziranga had approximately 2,613 rhinos as per the 2018 census, making it a global stronghold for this species.

Correct Answer: C. Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is the state bird of Rajasthan. Its population has declined to fewer than 150 individuals primarily due to habitat loss and power line collisions. The Supreme Court of India in 2021 ordered power lines to be undergrounded in its critical habitat in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Correct Answer: C. Himalayan alpine zone

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) inhabits the high-altitude Himalayan alpine and sub-alpine zones, typically between 3,000 and 5,400 metres. It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. India launched Project Snow Leopard in 2009, and states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are key habitats. India has an estimated 400–700 snow leopards.

Correct Answer: B. Chambal-Ganga river system

The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is one of the world's most critically endangered crocodilians, classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN. It is primarily found in the Chambal River and the Ganga river system. The National Chambal Sanctuary in Rajasthan/Madhya Pradesh/Uttar Pradesh is its most important stronghold, and a captive breeding and release program has been underway since the 1970s.

Correct Answer: C. Sikkim

The Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) is the state animal of Sikkim and is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It inhabits temperate forests with bamboo undergrowth in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. In India, it is found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal (Darjeeling), and parts of Meghalaya.

Correct Answer: C. Olive Ridley Turtle

The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) congregates in massive numbers at Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, and Devi river mouth in Odisha for mass nesting events called 'Arribada.' It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Odisha's coast hosts one of the world's largest known olive ridley rookeries, with lakhs of turtles arriving each season between January and March.

Correct Answer: C. Endangered

The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is India's National Aquatic Animal, declared so in 2009. It is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems. It is a blind freshwater dolphin that uses echolocation, and its population faces threats from pollution, fishing nets, and dam construction.

Correct Answer: C. Jammu and Kashmir

The Hangul or Kashmir Stag (Cervus hanglu hanglu) is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir and is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its last remaining population is confined to the Dachigam National Park near Srinagar. The population has declined to fewer than 300 individuals due to poaching, habitat loss, and competition with livestock.