UPSC Prelims 2007 Q94: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Consider the following statements :
1. In India, Red Panda is naturally found in the western Himalaya only.
2. In India, Slow Loris lives in the dense forests of the North - East.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Red Panda and Slow Loris — where do they live in India?
| Animal | Range in India | Verdict on statement |
|---|---|---|
| Red Panda | Eastern Himalaya — Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling (WB), Meghalaya fringe | Statement 1 says western Himalaya only → FALSE |
| Bengal Slow Loris | Dense forests of the North-East (Assam, Arunachal, Meghalaya, Tripura, etc.) | Statement 2 → TRUE |
Red Panda facts: State animal of Sikkim; Endangered (IUCN); lives at 2,200-4,800 m in bamboo forests.
Slow Loris facts: India's only nocturnal primate group; Bengal slow loris is Endangered; Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Red Panda lives in the eastern Himalaya, not the western.
- (b) CORRECT. Only Statement 2 is right — the slow loris lives in the North-East.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is true.
Key point
Red Panda = eastern Himalaya (Sikkim's State animal). Slow Loris = North-East forests. Both Endangered.
Remember
Red pandas live in the eastern Himalaya; slow lorises in the North-East.
Common mistakes
- Placing the Red Panda in Kashmir or Himachal — it is an eastern Himalayan animal.
- Missing the word 'only' in Statement 1 — a strong word is often the trap.
- Confusing the slow loris (North-East) with the slender loris (Western Ghats, South India).
Exam tip
Lorises: Slow loris = North-East; Slender loris = South India. Red panda = Sikkim and Arunachal.
Sources
- IUCN Red List — Ailurus fulgens, Nycticebus bengalensis
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — Schedule I
- ZSI — Fauna of India