Endangered Species of India — Set 18

Correct Answer: C. Maharashtra

The Kondana Soft-furred Rat (Millardia kondana) is one of India's rarest mammals, classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is found only in the Sinhagad Plateau area near Pune in Maharashtra. It is threatened by agriculture expansion, invasive species, and overgrazing. The rodent was first described in 1970 and is barely known even to scientists. It illustrates that not all endangered species are charismatic megafauna.

Correct Answer: C. 106

India has 106 National Parks as of 2023, spread across various states and union territories. These cover approximately 44,000 sq km (about 1.3% of India's total area). National Parks are the most strictly protected category under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, where no human habitation or collection of resources is permitted. Hemis National Park in Ladakh is the largest National Park in India, while South Button Island in Andaman and Nicobar is the smallest.

Correct Answer: B. Namibia and South Africa

India's Project Cheetah involves cheetahs from Namibia (initial batch of 8 in September 2022) and South Africa (12 more in February 2023), bringing the total to 20 cheetahs introduced to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) from Iran was the original species found in India, but the surviving 12 or so Asiatic Cheetahs in Iran were deemed unavailable, so the African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) was chosen.

Correct Answer: A. Gujarat

The Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) is the state animal of Gujarat. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. The Bengal Fox prefers open grasslands, scrub forests, and agricultural areas. It faces threats from habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, road kills, and persecution. Despite being the state animal, it receives limited dedicated conservation attention compared to more charismatic species.

Correct Answer: C. Endangered

The Indian Soft-shell Turtle or Ganges Soft-shell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. River turtles in India face severe threats from hunting for meat and eggs, collection for traditional medicine, habitat degradation, and sand mining from riverbanks. Several Indian river turtles, including the Indian Flapshell Turtle and Brown Roofed Turtle, are in CITES Appendix I due to heavy trade pressure.

Correct Answer: C. Near Threatened

The Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, while the Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is Endangered. Himalayan Tahr is found across the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim, living on steep rocky slopes. The Nilgiri Tahr, found in the Western Ghats, is more endangered due to its restricted range and habitat loss. In New Zealand, feral Himalayan Tahrs are considered an invasive species and culled.

Correct Answer: B. National Biodiversity Authority

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), headquartered in Chennai, was established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to implement India's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. NBA oversees access to biological resources, regulates benefit-sharing from commercial use of biodiversity, and maintains the People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) system at the local level through Biodiversity Management Committees.

Correct Answer: C. Latitudinal migration (north-south)

The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) undergoes latitudinal migration, moving from its breeding grounds in Central Asia (Tibet, Mongolia) southward to the Indian subcontinent for winter. This is a classic north-south (latitudinal) migration. However, the extraordinary aspect of its migration is that it crosses the Himalayas, flying over some of the world's highest peaks, making it a celebrated example of altitudinal endurance as well.

Correct Answer: C. Arunachal Pradesh

The Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum) was discovered and described scientifically in 2006 in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Named after the Bugun tribe of the area, it is known from only a handful of individuals and represents one of the most significant ornithological discoveries in decades. It highlights the exceptional biodiversity of Northeast India's forests.

Correct Answer: C. Namdapha National Park

The Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is found only in the Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh. Known from a single specimen collected in 1981, it is one of India's least-known mammals. The dense, remote forests of Namdapha make it extremely difficult to study, and its population and exact distribution remain unknown. Namdapha is also home to all four large cat species of India.