UPSC Prelims 2024 Q23: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Animal found in its natural habitat
1. Brazil - Indri
2. Indonesia - Elk
3. Madagascar - Bonobo
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Answer: (d) None
Explanation
Wildlife-Country Correct Pairs
| Pair | Correct? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brazil - Indri | FALSE | Indri (Indri indri) is a large lemur endemic to MADAGASCAR (not Brazil). Indri is the largest living lemur, known for its haunting calls. Madagascar is the only place lemurs are found naturally. |
| 2. Indonesia - Elk | FALSE | Elk (Cervus canadensis / Wapiti) is found in North America, Central Asia, and Siberia - NOT Indonesia. Indonesia is home to deer species like the Javan rusa and Bawean deer, but not elk/wapiti. |
| 3. Madagascar - Bonobo | FALSE | Bonobo (Pan paniscus) is found exclusively in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forests, south of the Congo River. Madagascar has no apes - only lemurs are primates native to Madagascar. |
Correct country for each:
| Animal | Correct Country |
|---|---|
| Indri | Madagascar |
| Elk/Wapiti | USA, Canada, Central Asia |
| Bonobo | DRC (Congo) |
All three pairs are INCORRECT → Answer: None
Answer: (d) None.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. '1 only' would mean Indri is in Brazil — Indri is a lemur endemic to Madagascar. Brazil has no lemurs.
- (b) Incorrect. '2 only' or '3 only' — Elk is not found in Indonesia (it's in North America/Central Asia) and Bonobo is not in Madagascar (it's in DRC Congo only).
- (c) Incorrect. Any combination claiming any pair is correct is wrong — all three pairs assign animals to incorrect countries by large geographic margins.
- (d) CORRECT. None of the pairs are correct. Indri = Madagascar. Elk = North America/Central Asia. Bonobo = DRC Congo only.
Key point
Indri = Madagascar (lemur). Elk/Wapiti = North America/Central Asia. Bonobo = DRC Congo (south of Congo River). Madagascar = ONLY lemurs. Congo = chimpanzees + bonobos. None of the given pairs are correct.
Remember
Indri is a lemur from Madagascar (not Brazil). Elk/Wapiti is from North America and Central Asia (not Indonesia). Bonobo is found only in DRC Congo south of the Congo River (not Madagascar).
Common mistakes
- Confusing Bonobo with a Madagascar animal — bonobos are great apes found only in DRC Congo; Madagascar has only lemurs as primates, no apes whatsoever.
- Not knowing that Elk (Wapiti) is absent from Southeast Asia — Indonesia has its own deer species (Javan rusa) but no true elk/wapiti which are native to North America and Central Asia.
- Placing Indri in Brazil — Brazil has no lemurs; Indri is one of Madagascar's most famous endemic species, known for loud territorial calls.
Exam tip
Madagascar = ONLY LEMURS (no apes). Congo DRC = Bonobo + Chimpanzee. North America = Elk/Wapiti + Bison. Bonobo and chimpanzee are separated by the Congo River — chimpanzees north, bonobos south.
Sources
- IUCN Red List — Indri indri, Pan paniscus, Cervus canadensis
- WWF — Bonobo Range and Habitat