UPSC Prelims 2011 Q51: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no
predators in that area but its existence is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat.
Which one of the following could be that animal ?
- (a) Indian wild buffalo
- (b) Indian wild ass
- (c) Indian wild boar
- (d) Indian gazelle
Answer: (b) Indian wild ass
Explanation
Identifying the sandy-saline-habitat Indian species
The clue points to a specific arid/saline ecosystem in India.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Indian wild buffalo | Incorrect | Found in marshy/grassland habitats (e.g., Assam), not sandy-saline areas |
| (b) Indian wild ass | Correct | The Indian Wild Ass (Khur) is native to the Little Rann of Kutch, a sandy-saline desert habitat in Gujarat, with few natural predators there |
| (c) Indian wild boar | Incorrect | Wild boars are widespread generalists, not specific to sandy-saline terrain |
| (d) Indian gazelle | Incorrect | The gazelle (chinkara) prefers scrub/desert plains generally, not specifically the sandy-saline Rann habitat described |
Indian Wild Ass facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat — sandy, saline desert |
| Threat | Habitat destruction/degradation, despite few predators |
| Protected area | Wild Ass Sanctuary, Gujarat |
Answer: (b) Indian wild ass.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The wild buffalo inhabits marshy grasslands, not the sandy-saline desert described.
- (b) CORRECT. The Indian Wild Ass lives in the sandy-saline Little Rann of Kutch, with few natural predators but threatened habitat.
- (c) Incorrect. Wild boars are habitat generalists, not specifically tied to a sandy-saline ecosystem.
- (d) Incorrect. The Indian gazelle does not specifically match the sandy-saline Rann habitat description as precisely as the wild ass.
Key point
The Indian Wild Ass (Khur) lives in the sandy, saline Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat — few predators, but threatened by habitat destruction.
Remember
Indian Wild Ass: sandy-saline Little Rann of Kutch habitat; few predators, but habitat destruction threatens it.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the wild ass's specific Rann of Kutch habitat with more generalist species like boar.
- Not associating 'sandy and saline' terrain with the Rann of Kutch ecosystem.
- Mixing up the wild buffalo's marshy habitat with a saline-desert one.
Exam tip
'Sandy, saline Indian habitat, few predators' = Indian Wild Ass, Little Rann of Kutch. A very specific, exam-favorite fact pairing.
Sources
- Wildlife Institute of India — Indian Wild Ass conservation status
- Gujarat Forest Department — Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch