UPSC Prelims 2012 Q97: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Consider the following :
1. Black - necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 2 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Animals naturally found in India
| Animal | Naturally found in India? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Black-necked crane | Yes | Breeds in Ladakh; winters in Arunachal Pradesh |
| 2. Cheetah | No (when the question was asked) | Declared extinct in India in 1952 |
| 3. Flying squirrel | Yes | Himalayas, North-East and Western Ghats |
| 4. Snow leopard | Yes | High Himalayas from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh |
The cheetah story:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1952 | Asiatic cheetah declared extinct in India |
| Today | Asiatic cheetahs survive only in Iran |
| 2022 | African cheetahs from Namibia released in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh |
The cheetahs at Kuno were brought in, so they do not make the cheetah 'naturally found'.
Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The cheetah is not naturally found in India, and the snow leopard is left out.
- (b) CORRECT. The black-necked crane, flying squirrel and snow leopard occur naturally in India.
- (c) Incorrect. The cheetah went extinct in India in 1952.
- (d) Incorrect. The cheetah is not naturally found in India.
Key point
Naturally in India: black-necked crane (Ladakh), flying squirrels, snow leopard. Cheetah: extinct in India 1952; African cheetahs introduced at Kuno in 2022.
Remember
Cheetah: extinct in India in 1952, reintroduced in 2022.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the cheetah with the leopard, which is common in India.
- Thinking the black-necked crane is only a visitor; it breeds in Ladakh.
- Counting the Kuno cheetahs as naturally occurring.
Exam tip
'Naturally found' excludes animals that were brought in. The cheetah was lost in 1952.
Sources
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India
- Zoological Survey of India — Checklist of Mammals of India