UPSC Prelims 2017 Q67: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife

UPSC Prelims 2017, General Studies Paper I · Environment & Ecology

If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?

Answer: (b) Chambal River

Explanation

Gharials in their natural habitat

The gharial is a fish-eating crocodilian with a long, thin snout.

It is Critically Endangered (IUCN) and listed in Schedule I.

It lives in clean, fast-flowing rivers with sand banks.

Place	State	Best known for	Gharials?
(a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Odisha	Saltwater crocodile	No
(b) Chambal River	Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh	National Chambal Sanctuary; largest wild gharial population	Yes
(c) Pulicat Lake	Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu	Flamingos; brackish lagoon	No
(d) Deepor Beel	Assam	Ramsar wetland; water birds	No

Gharials are also found in the Girwa, Son, Gandak and Ramganga rivers.

Answer: (b) Chambal River.

(a) Incorrect. Bhitarkanika is the home of the saltwater crocodile, not the gharial.
(b) CORRECT. The Chambal River holds the largest wild population of gharials.
(c) Incorrect. Pulicat Lake is a brackish lagoon known for flamingos.
(d) Incorrect. Deepor Beel is a freshwater lake in Assam known for its birds.

Gharial: Critically Endangered river crocodilian; best seen in the National Chambal Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh).

Gharial = Chambal River (National Chambal Sanctuary).

Choosing Bhitarkanika because it is famous for crocodiles of another kind.
Thinking gharials live in mangroves or lagoons; they need flowing fresh water.
Confusing the gharial with the mugger (marsh crocodile).

Three crocodilians, three habitats: gharial in rivers, mugger in marshes, saltwater crocodile in mangroves.