important species

Question 1

WPA schedule I and Critically endangered?

Answer 1

1. Brown bear
2. Malabar Civet
3. Pygmy Hog
4. Terrapin
5. Gharial
6. Hawsbill turtle
7. Bengal Florican
8. Forest owlet

Question 2

Answer 2

Pygmy Hog-> critically endangered mammal

1. world’s smallest wild pig
2. one of the most useful indicators of management status of Grassland habitats
3. habitat: relatively undisturbed, tall ‘terai’ grasslands
4. Formerly more widely distributed in Himalayan foothills bt now limited to Manas WLS
5. Pygmy Hog sucking Louse, a parasite that feeds only on pygmy hogs, also critically endangered

Question 3

Answer 3

• Andaman White toothed shrew, Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny shrew and Nicobar white tailed shrew-> Critically endangered mammal

1. habitat: leaf litter and rock crevices
2. found on Mt. Harriet in Southern andaman is.
3. threat: habitat loss due to selective logging, natural disasters

Question 4

Answer 4

Kondana Rat-> Critically endangered mammal

1. nocturnal, burrowing rodent
2. found only in India
3. habitat: tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forest
4. known only frm Sinhagarh plateau near Pune
5. threats: habitat loss frm overgrazing and tourism

Question 5

Answer 5

Elvira rat: Critically endangered Mammal

1. endemic to India
2. habitat: tropical dry deciduous shrubland forest, in rocky areas
3. only in Eastern Ghat in TN
4. threats: Habitat loss

Question 6

Answer 6

Namdapha Flying squirrel: Crictically endangered mammal

1. only one in its genus
2. restricted to a single valley in Namdapha NP in AP
3. habitat: tropical forest
4. threat: hunted fr food

Question 7

Answer 7

Malabar Civet: Critically endangered mammal

1. one of world’s rarest mammals
2. endemic to INdia; first reported in kerala
3. found exclusively in WG
4. Habitat: wooded plains and hillsloped of evergreen rainforests

Question 8

Answer 8

Sumatran rhino: Critically endangered mammal

1. smallest and most endangered of the 5 rhino species
2. once fund in India along Himalayan foothills, it is regionally extinct in india now

Question 9

Answer 9

Hangal/ Kashmiri stag: Critically endangerd mammal

1. subspecies of red deer, native to India
2. Habitat: dense riverine forests; hills and valleys of Kashmir and northern Chambal in HP
3. State animal of J&K

Question 10

Great Indian Bustard?

Answer 10

IUCN status: critically endangered.

Found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972 and in the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES.

Identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitatsof the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Project Great Indian Bustard — state of Rajasthan — identifying and fencing off bustard breeding grounds in existing protected areas as well as provide secure breeding enclosures in areas outside protected areas.

Protected areas:Desert National Park Sanctuary — Rajasthan, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary – Andhra Pradesh and Karera Wildlife Sanctuary– Madhya Pradesh.

Question 11

Snow Leopard: about?

Answer 11

1. Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List ; also one of 21 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the MEFCC
2. Inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft).
3. State animal of Himachal Pradesh and the National Heritage Animal of Pakistan.
4. Habitat extends through twelve countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. China contains as much as 60% of all snow leopard habitat areas.
5. Llisted on Appendix I of the CITES

Question 12

Snow Leopard: Global conservation efforts?

Answer 12

1. Global Snow Leopard Forum, 2013:12 countries encompassing the snow leopard’s range (Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). It is a joint initiative of range country governments, international agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Goal — secure the long-term survival of the snow leopard in its natural ecosystem.
2. Bishkek Declaration:To protect the species and it’s environment. set a goal of protecting at least 20 snow leopard landscapes with viable snow leopard populations by 2020 (Secure 20 by 2020), and led to the formation of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) to address high-mountain development issues using conservation of the snow leopard as a flagship
   
   1. GSLEP is NOT a TRAFFIC project
   2. obj of GSLEP is to identify and secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes across the range states under the target

Question 13

Snow Leopard: National conservation efforts?

Answer 13

As per reports, India is home to about 450-500 snow leopards which can be spotted in the upper Himalayan regions of the country.

1. Project Snow Leopard-
   
   • launched in 2009 by GoI to promote an inclusive and participatory approach to conserve snow leopards
   • For conservation, India has identified three large landscapes, namely, Hemis-Spiti across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh; Nanda Devi – Gangotri in Uttarakhand; and Khangchendzonga – Tawang across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh
2. India has also been part of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme since 2013.
3. SECURE Himalayas: funded by GEF-UNDP for conservation of high-altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency of local communities on the natural ecosystem. This project is now operational in four snow leopard range states, namely, J&K, HP, UK and Sikkim.
4. Snow Leopard is in the list of 22 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of MoEFCC
5. Community volunteer programme “HimalSanrakshak” to protect snow leopards

Question 14

Leopard?

Answer 14

2. Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. Included in Appendix I of CITES.
4. Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
5. Nine subspecies of the leopard have been recognized, and they are distributed across Africa and Asia

Question 15

TN State Butterfly?

Answer 15

Tamil Yeoman

Endemic to WG

TN became the 5th state to have State Butterfly after

Maharashtra (Blue Mormon), Uttarakhand (Common peacock), Karnataka (Southern birdwings) and Kerala (Malabar banded peacock)

Question 16

New species of marmoset discovered ?

Answer 16

marmoset, a type of primate

1. new species discovered in Brazilian Amazon
2. The name ‘Mico munduruku’ has been given to the marmoset, after the Munduruku Amerindians that are native to the region.
3. The new species is distinct from other marmosets in that it has white tails rather than black, which the others have. It also has white feet and hands, white forearms and a beige-yellow spot on the elbow.

Question 17

“Golden Butterfly” is a type of?

Answer 17

The ‘Golden Butterfly’ is a speciality tea

It is produced by the Dikom Tea Estate near Dibrugarh.

Golden Butterfly is made of tea buds and not tea leaves.

Question 18

black-browed babbler

Answer 18

spotted in southeastern Kalimantan, the part of Borneo that is administered by Indonesia.

It was last seen 170 yrs ago

conservation status of the species is listed in the “Data Deficient” category in the IUCN red list.

distinctive feature: It is a small brown-grey songbird with a distinctive broad, black eye-stripe running all the way around its head.

Question 19

HImalayan serow?

Answer 19

1. It is a Himalayan mammal, somewhere between a goat and an antelope.
2. It has been confirmed as the newest creature to be spotted in Assam.
3. It was spotted in the 950-sq.km Manas Tiger Reserve
4. Categorised as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
5. It is listed under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides absolute protection.

Question 20

Adratiklit boulahfa?

Answer 20

1. It is a new species of stegosaurus dated to 168 million years ago. It is the oldest known member of that group of dinosaurs ever known.
2. It is also the first stegosaurus to be found in North Africa.
3. Its remains were recently discovered in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
4. The Adratiklit was armoured and herbivorous, and lived on the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana

Question 21

Otters ?

Answer 21

• Otters are found world over, except in Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and other oceanic islands.
• India is home to 3 of the 13 species of otters found worldwide. These are - Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra); Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspicillata) and Small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus).
• The Smooth-coated Otter is distributed throughout the country from the Himalayas southward.
• But the Common Otter and the Small-clawed Otter are restricted to the Himalayas, to the north of the Ganges and to southern India.
• These otters have generally been described as fish specialist.
• Major threats to Asian otter population are loss of wetland habitats due to construction of large scale hydroelectric projects, conversion of wetlands for settlements and agriculture, reduction in prey biomass, poaching and contamination of waterways by pesticides.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed these otters under the vulnerable category.
• India, Nepal and the Philippines have proposed that the listing of these otters should be moved from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.

Question 22

Tarantula?

Answer 22

1. Rare tarantula sighted in Villupuram district in the Pakkamalai Reserve Forests.
2. It is a critically endangered species.
3. The spider belonging to the genus Poecilotheria, commonly known as the Peacock Parachute Spider or Gooty Tarantula.
4. The species is known to be endemic to India.

Question 23

Indian Star tortoise?

Answer 23

1. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), Kerala
2. found in dry areas and scrub forest of India and Sri Lanka.
3. The natural food preferences of this species is found to include an herb locally known asthazhuthama, and a particular variety of cactus

• Indian star tortoise is found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka.
• Star Tortoises are protected under Schedule IV of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.
• The IUCN has listed it under the vulnerable category.
• The species faces two threats: loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting for the pet trade.
• India is among the parties proposing the re-listing of the star tortoise from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I.

Question 24

Litoral mira?

Answer 24

They are new frog species discovered recently in the rainforests of New Guinea. They are chocolate coloured.

The name is inspired by the Latin adjective mirum, which means surprised or strange, stemming from the scientist’s surprise in discovering an undescribed member of the predominately Australian Litoria genus of tree frogs.

Litoria mira can be distinguished from all other Litoria by its unique combination of moderately large size, webbing on hand, relatively short and robust limbs, and small violet patch of skin on the edge of its eyes.

Question 25

Gangetic dolphins: IUCN status? main threat? Govt effort? no. of Gangetic dolphins?

Answer 25

Endangered in India dams, irrigation canals and depletion of their prey base Conservation Action Plan for the Gangetic Dolphins, 210-2020 1272 in UP (up from 670 in 2012) and >950 in Assam

Question 26

Mongoose in Wildlife Protection act?

Answer 26

listed in Schedule II Part 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Any smuggling or possession of its body part is a non-bailable offence.

Question 27

status of aSian elephant in: IUCN? CITES? WPA?

Answer 27

Endangered Appendix I Schedule 1

Question 28

Scorpaenospsis neglecta?

Answer 28

It is well-known for its stinging venomous spines and ability to change colour.

The fish is called ‘scorpionfish’ because its spines contain neurotoxic venom.

Researchers have found a rare fish from Sethukarai coast in the Gulf of Mannar. This was the first time that the particular species was found alive in Indian waters.

Question 29

Asiatic Lion:

1. IUCN status?
2. CITES?
3. WPA?

Answer 29

1. Endangered
2. Appendix I
3. Schedule I

Its population is restricted to the state of Gujarat in India. Asiatic lions were once distributed to the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.

Question 30

Indian gaur?

Answer 30

The gaur, Bos gaurus, also called the Indian bison, is one of the largest extant bovines.

It is native to South and Southeast Asia and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986.

Distribution: In India, the population was estimated to be 12,000–22,000 in the mid-1990s. The Western Ghats and their outflanking hills in southern India, in particular in the Wayanad – Nagarhole – Mudumalai – Bandipur complex.

Question 31

Senna Spectabilis?

Answer 31

1. It is a deciduous tree native to tropical areas of America.
2. It grows up to 15 to 20 metres in a short period of time and distributes thousands of seeds after flowering.
3. It is an invasive species.
4. The Kerala Government is planning to arrest the rampant growth of Senna spectabilis, in the forest areas of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), including the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
5. IUCN: ‘Least Concern’

Question 32

red brittle star?

Answer 32

relatives of starfish

Recently, researchers found that they have Extraocular vision i.e. can see even though it does not have eyes, becoming only the second creature, after a sea urchin species, known to have this ability

They live in coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea

In sea urchins and brittle stars, researchers suspect that extraocular vision is facilitated by the photoreceptor cells found on their bodies.

Question 33

Drosophila?

Answer 33

1. It is a genus of flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called “small fruit flies” or (less frequently) pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit.
2. It is one of the most widely-used and preferred model organisms in biological research across the world for the last 100 years. Several discoveries in biology have been made using this.
3. Its genome is entirely sequenced and there is enormous information available about its biochemistry, physiology and behaviour.

Question 34

The three species of Crocodilians?

Answer 34

1. Mugger
   
   • aka INdian Crocodile or marsh crocodile
   • found throughout the INdian sub-continent
   • listed as Vulnerable by IUCN
   • mainly a freshwater species and found in lakes, rivers and marshes
2. Gharial:
   
   • fish eating crocodile is native to the Indian subcontinent
   • Critically Endangered
   • Small released populations are present and increasing in the rivers of the
     
     • National Chambal Sanctuary,
     • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary,
     • Son River Sanctuary and
     • the rainforest biome of Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Orissa.
3. Saltwater crocodile:
   
   • Largets of all living reptiles
   • least concern by IUCN
   • found throughout the east coast of India

Question 35

Greta Indian Bustards?

Answer 35

1. IUCN status: critically endangered.
2. Found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
3. Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972 and in the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES.
4. Identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the MoEFCC
5. Project Great Indian Bustard — state of Rajasthan — identifying and fencing off bustard breeding grounds in existing protected areas as well as provide secure breeding enclosures in areas outside protected areas.
6. Protected areas:
   
   1. Desert National Park Sanctuary — Rajasthan,
   2. Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary – Andhra Pradesh and
   3. Karera Wildlife Sanctuary– Madhya Pradesh.

Question 36

Types of rhinos, where are they found and their IUCN status?

Answer 36

1. White rhino:
   
   1. Africa’s largest species of rhino, also known as the ‘square lipped’ rhino.
   2. two subspecies: northern and southern
   3. southern white rhino: most numerous; mostly in S.africa and nearby countries
   4. Northern White rhino: only two individuals remain- both females
   5. IUCN: critically endangered for northern and near threatened for southern
2. Black Rhino:
   
   1. About two thirds the size of the white rhino, the black rhino is also known as the ‘hook lipped’ rhino.
   2. IUCN Status: Critically endangered
   3. Distribution: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya
3. Indian Rhino or Greater one-horned rhino
   
   1. Asia’s largest species of rhino
   2. IUCN Status: Vulnerable
   3. distri: India, Nepal
4. Smumatran Rhino:
   
   1. Closest living relative to the woolly rhinos. Only species to still be covered in hair.
   2. IUCN: Critically endangered
   3. Distri: Sumatra, Sabah
5. javan Rhino:
   
   1. All Javan rhinos in the world survive in Ujong Kulon National Park.
   2. IUCN: Critically endangered

Question 37

Steppe eagle?

Answer 37

1. IUCN: Endangered
2. sighted in Andhra P (Vijaywada) during Asian Bird census
3. Steppe Eagle is a migratory raptor which has undergone extremely rapid population declines within all its range.
4. breeds in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia during the winter season.
5. Steppe eagle is the second-largest migratory eagle species to India.

Question 38

Chinese paddlefish?

Answer 38

1. one of the largest freshwater fish, measuring up to 7 m in length, dating back from 200 million years ago.
2. has been declared extinct by Chinese researchers. The researchers estimate that it became functionally extinct by 1993, and extinct sometime between 2005-2010.
3. Its ancestral home was the Yangtze River.
4. It was once common in the Yangtze, before overfishing and habitat fragmentation — including dam building — caused its population to dwindle from the 1970s onwards.

Question 39

Ophichthus kailashchandrai?

Answer 39

• new snake eel species
• found in BoB
• named after Dr. Kailash Chandra, director of ZSI
• it lives at around 50m depths
• They are light brown in colour, with white fins.
• It feeds on small fish and crabs. The outer surface of their bodies is slimy but they are not poisonous.

Question 40

Mermaid species of algae?

Answer 40

After nearly four decades, a new species of algae has been discovered on A&N islands

Researchers have named the species Acetabularia jalakanyakae.

The plant consists of a single gigantic cell with a nucleus, which is its main characteristic.

The species is the first of the genus Acetabularia to be discovered in India.

Another feature of Acetabularia is their regenerative potential.

Question 41

Dhole?

Answer 41

• Dhole is an apex social carnivore in the tropical forests of South and South East Asia.
• Endangered –IUCN.
• CITES – Appendix II.
• Shedule II of wildlife act.
• Disease and pathogens: Dholes are susceptible to rabies, canine distemper, canine parvovirus and sarcoptic mange among others which are usually contracted from domestic village dogs that act as reservoirs.

Why in News?

A recent study has identified 114 priority talukas / tehsils where habitats can be consolidated to enhance population connectivity for the dhole or Asiatic Wild Dog

Question 42

Allium Negianum?

Answer 42

• It is an onion species from the Uttarakhand Himalayas, known to locals but newly described in science.
• It grows at 3,000 to 4,800 m above sea level and can be found along open grassy meadows, sandy soils along rivers, and streams forming in snow pasture lands along alpine meadows, where the melting snow helps carry its seeds to more favourable areas.
• With a narrow distribution, this newly described species is restricted to the region of western Himalayas and hasn’t yet been reported from anywhere else in the world.
• The scientific name Allium negianum honours the late Dr Kuldeep Singh Negi, an explorer and Allium collector.

Question 43

What is Trigonopterus Corona?

Answer 43

On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, museum scientists have discovered 28 new species of beetles.

• One of them has been named Trigonopterus corona. This reflects the large impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on this project.

Question 44

Gangetic Dolphin?

Answer 44

• Ganges river dolphins live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
  • The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
  • They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind. They are also called ‘susu’.
• Population of Gangetic river Dolphin is 1200-1800.
• Conservation Status: WPA Schedule I; IUCN Endangered; CITES Appendix I; CMS Appendix II

Significance:

• It is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem.
• It was recognised as the National Aquatic Animal in 2009, by GoI
• Threats:
  • Bycatch: These dolphins and people both favor areas of the river where fish are plentiful and the water current is slower. This has led to fewer fish for people and more dolphins dying as a result of accidentally being caught in fishing nets, also known as bycatch.
  • Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and human pollution is another serious cause of habitat degradation.
  • Dams: Construction of dams and other irrigation-related projects make them susceptible to inbreeding and more vulnerable to other threats because they cannot move to new areas.
    • Dolphins below a dam are threatened by heavy pollution, increased fishing activities and vessel traffic. They also have less food because dams disturb the migration, breeding cycles and habitat of fish and other prey.

Steps Taken by GoI:

• Project Dolphin (covered in conservation in GSIII)
• Dolphin sanctuary: Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary has been established in Bihar.
• Conservation Plan: The Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin 2010-2020

Question 45

Indus River dolphin?

Answer 45

• classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and, until recently, it was believed that these dolphins were endemic to Pakistan.
• But in 2007, a remnant but viable population of Indus dolphins was discovered in Punjab’s Harike wildlife sanctuary and in the lower Beas river.
• Since its discovery, research is being done by Punjab’s Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation in partnership with WWF-India on the current distribution, habitat use and population abundance of the mammal.
• The Indus river dolphin was declared the State aquatic animal of Punjab in 2019.
• According to a recent study of South Asian river dolphins, Indus and Ganges River dolphins are not one, but two separate species. Currently, they are classified as two subspecies under Platanista gangetica.
• Like other freshwater dolphins (such as Ganges river dolphins) , the Indus river dolphin is an important indicator of the health of a river.
• Other dolphins found in Indian waters include: Ganges River Dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins.
• Threats:
  • Biological Resource Use: Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources.
  • Natural System Modifications: Dams & water management/use.
  • Pollution: Domestic & urban waste water, Industrial & military effluents, Agricultural & forestry effluents.
  • noise pollution
• Conservation status:
  
  • WPA I
  • CITES I
  • IUCN endangered

Question 46

tokay gecko?

Question 47

Wedgefish?

Answer 47

• Wedgefish are shallow water coastal species, found in northern Indian Ocean and northwestern Pacific Ocean.
• Alongwith giant guitarfishes, they are collectively known as Rhino Rays because of their elongated snouts.
• They have been listed as the ‘most imperilled marine fish families in the world’.
• The main drivers of the decline are the loss of free flowing rivers and increasing agricultural and urban pollution.
• The IUCN has listed it under vulnerable category.
• Indian proposed to include Wedgefish in Appendix II of CITES.

Question 48

Indian Roewood?

Answer 48

• It is deciduous rosewood tree native to the Indian subcontinent, also grown in Nigeria, Kenya, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other parts of tropical Africa.
• It is used for making furniture, plywood, and decorative wood products.
• The species grows at a very fast rate and has the capacity to become naturalised outside its native range, it is invasive in other parts of the world as well.
• India has proposed to remove rosewood from Appendix II of CITES.
• Its IUCN Red List status is ‘vulnerable’.

Question 49

Kaiser-i-HInd Butterfly?

Answer 49

Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis) literally means Emperor of India. This butterfly with a 90-120 mm wingspan is found in six States along the Eastern Himalayas at elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet in well-wooded terrain.
The butterfly also flutters in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and southern China.

The Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

It has become the State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.

Question 50

Pola Vatta?

Answer 50

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has identified a new species of fish carangid (Vatta) species from the Indian coast.
● Locally known as pola vatta, fish belongs to ‘queen fish’ group and is available across coasts in the country

Question 51

Dugong?

Answer 51

● Dugong or the sea cow is the State animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
● This endangered marine speciessurvive on seagrass and other aquatic vegetation found in the area.
● They are marine mammals and have to surface every four minutes to breathe.
● It is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine and is the
only extant species in the family Dugongidae.
● Vulnerable under IUCN red list.
● Both in the Gulf of Mannar and the Gulf of Kutch, there are very few sporadic records. Dugongs are on the verge of extinction, as in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands their population is less than 100.

Question 52

North River Terrapin?

Answer 52

It is a species of riverine turtle native to Southeast Asia.

IUCN Status: Critically endangered. World’s second most endangered turtle with fewer than 50 individuals across 4 captive breeding centres

Habitat: Currently found in Bangladesh and India(in the Sunderbans), Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is regionally extinct in Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Context:
Experts and forest officials had installed GPS transmitters on Nothern River Terrapin in Indian Sundarbans.
● In just six weeks after the release, at least three of the ten individuals have travelled hundreds of kilometers and are now in Bangladesh.

Question 53

Manda Buffalo?

Answer 53

● It is found in the Eastern Ghats and plateau of Koraput region of Odisha.
● The Manda are resistant to parasitic infections, less prone to diseases and can thrive on modest resources.
● The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) had, in 2021, recognised the Manda buffalo as
the 19th unique breed of buffaloes found in India.