UPSC Prelims 2010 Q64: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Consider the following pairs:
Protected area - Well - known for
1. Bhitarkanika, Orissa - Salt Water Crocodile
2. Desert National Park, Rajasthan - Great Indian Bustard
3. Eravikulam, Kerala - Hoolak Gibbon
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Checking protected area - species pairs
Several Indian protected areas are well known for specific flagship species.
| Pair | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bhitarkanika, Orissa - Salt Water Crocodile | Correct | Bhitarkanika National Park (Odisha) is indeed well known for its Salt Water Crocodile population |
| 2. Desert National Park, Rajasthan - Great Indian Bustard | Correct | Desert National Park (Rajasthan) is a key habitat for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard |
| 3. Eravikulam, Kerala - Hoolock Gibbon | Incorrect | Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) is famous for the Nilgiri Tahr, not the Hoolock Gibbon (which is found in North-East India) |
Correctly matched pairs:
| Protected Area | Known for |
|---|---|
| Bhitarkanika | Salt Water Crocodile |
| Desert National Park | Great Indian Bustard |
| Eravikulam | Nilgiri Tahr (not Hoolock Gibbon) |
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 2 (Desert National Park-Great Indian Bustard) is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) CORRECT. Pairs 1 and 2 are accurately matched; pair 3 wrongly links Eravikulam to the Hoolock Gibbon instead of the Nilgiri Tahr.
- (c) Incorrect. Pair 1 (Bhitarkanika-Crocodile) is also correct, so '2 only' is incomplete.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 3's Hoolock Gibbon claim is wrong, so 'all three' cannot be correct.
Key point
Bhitarkanika (Odisha) = Salt Water Crocodile, and Desert National Park (Rajasthan) = Great Indian Bustard, are correctly matched — but Eravikulam (Kerala) is known for the NILGIRI TAHR, not the Hoolock Gibbon (a North-East India species).
Remember
Bhitarkanika-Crocodile and Desert National Park-Great Indian Bustard are correct; Eravikulam is wrongly paired with Hoolock Gibbon (its real species is Nilgiri Tahr).
Common mistakes
- Confusing Eravikulam's flagship species (Nilgiri Tahr) with the unrelated Hoolock Gibbon.
- Not knowing the Hoolock Gibbon's actual North-East Indian habitat.
- Assuming every protected-area-species pairing listed must be correct without checking each individually.
Exam tip
Eravikulam = Nilgiri Tahr (Western Ghats), NOT Hoolock Gibbon (which belongs to North-East India). A common mismatch trap.
Sources
- Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India — Protected Areas: Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (Odisha) and Desert National Park (Rajasthan)
- Wildlife Institute of India — Eravikulam National Park and the Nilgiri Tahr