Previous Year Question
Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda and Asiatic Wild Ass
Kashmir Stag, Cheetal, Blue Bull and Great Indian Bustard
Snow Leopard, Swamp Deer, Rhesus Monkey and Sarus Crane
Lion-tailed Macaque, Blue Bull, Hanuman Langur and Cheetal
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
All the species given in option (a) have restricted populations or have faced serious conservation threats due to habitat loss, hunting and other human pressures.
The scientific name of the Great Indian Bustard is Ardeotis nigriceps, and it occurs in the grasslands and semi-arid regions of India.
Its principal population occurs in the Thar Desert landscape of Rajasthan, while extremely small populations have also existed in Gujarat and certain other regions.
Conversion of grasslands for agriculture and infrastructure and collisions with overhead power lines are its major threats.
The Musk Deer occurs in the high-altitude temperate, subalpine and alpine regions of the Himalayas.
Illegal hunting for the musk pod found in males and degradation of mountain habitats are major threats to its population.
The Red Panda occurs in the temperate forests and bamboo-rich regions of the Eastern Himalayas.
In India, it occurs in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, the Darjeeling-Kalimpong region of West Bengal and certain other high-altitude forests of the north-east.
Forest fragmentation, degradation of bamboo habitats and illegal hunting are major threats to the Red Panda.
The Indian subspecies of the Asiatic Wild Ass, the Khur, occurs mainly in the Little Rann of Kutch and its surrounding regions in Gujarat.
Its scientific name is Equus hemionus khur, and it is adapted to saline desert plains, bets and dry grasslands.
Habitat modification, competition for grazing, diseases and increasing human pressure on the saline landscape are important conservation concerns.
Option (b) is incorrect: The Kashmir Stag and Great Indian Bustard are of conservation concern, but the Cheetal and Blue Bull are widely distributed and do not belong to an endangered group.
Option (c) is incorrect: The Snow Leopard and Swamp Deer are important from the conservation perspective, but the Rhesus Monkey is widespread and commonly found.
Option (d) is incorrect: The Lion-tailed Macaque is endangered, but the Blue Bull, Hanuman Langur and Cheetal are generally widely distributed species.
Conservation status may change with time and assessment.