2003 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies

Question 67: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following animals of India:

  1. 1.Crocodile
  2. 2.Elephant

Which of these is/are endangered species?

aOnly 1
bOnly 2
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Both are accepted as endangered in India. Among Indian crocodilians, the gharial is critically endangered and the mugger is vulnerable, and crocodiles receive the highest protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Asian elephant is listed as endangered by the IUCN, and Project Elephant, begun in 1992, protects it. Remember the gharial and the Asian elephant as the textbook endangered pair.

  • 1. Indian crocodiles, notably the gharial (critically endangered), are among the threatened species.
  • 2. The Asian elephant is listed as endangered.
Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) The elephant is endangered too, so 'only 1' is incomplete.
  • (b) The crocodile, notably the gharial, is also endangered, so 'only 2' is incomplete.
  • (c) Correct: both.
  • (d) Both are threatened, so 'neither' is wrong.

Worth knowing: 'Crocodile' covers several Indian species with different IUCN status (the saltwater crocodile is of least concern), so the item is loosely worded.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.