Consider the following:
- Black-necked crane
- Cheetah
- Flying squirrel
- Snow leopard
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]
(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)
Explanation:
Black-necked crane:
- This species is found in India, China and Bhutan and breeds in high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau at elevations of 2950-4900 m above mean sea level.
- High altitude marshes and lakes of Tibetan Plateau (Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu), Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh (India) are the known breeding grounds of black-necked crane. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Flying squirrel:
- The Indian Giant Flying Squirrel is one of the largest flying squirrels, similar in size to the Red Giant Flying Squirrel found in Northeast India and East Asia at about 43cm long with a 50cm tail. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Snow Leopard:
- Snow leopards live in the mountainous regions of central and southern Asia.
- In India, their geographical range encompasses a large part of the western Himalayas including the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas. Hence, statement 4 is correct.
Cheetah
- Most wild cheetahs exist in fragmented populations in pockets of Africa, occupying a mere 9 percent of their historic range.
- In Iran, fewer than 50 Asiatic cheetahs (a sub-species) remain. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
