Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the “vermin” category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Statement-II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Statement-I is correct.
The scientific name of the Indian flying fox is Pteropus medius; it was formerly called Pteropus giganteus.
It belongs to the megabat or fruit-bat group and is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent.
Under the former Schedule V of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, “bats”, including fruit bats, were placed in the category of vermin.
Animals in this category did not receive the same protection under the Act as other protected wild animals.
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 reorganised the Schedules; therefore, while understanding the present legal position, it is necessary to distinguish the former Schedule V from the amended Act.
Statement-II is incorrect.
The Indian flying fox is not blood-feeding but is a bat that feeds primarily on fruits and floral nectar.
It consumes the pulp and juice of ripe fruits, floral nectar, pollen and occasionally tender leaves.
Blood-feeding vampire bats occur in Central and South America; the Indian flying fox is not a vampire bat.
While consuming fruits and floral nectar, it assists in seed dispersal and pollination.
It thus performs an important ecological role in the regeneration of forest ecosystems.