Previous Year Question
With reference to Socotra Island, which of the following statement/s is/are correct?
It is an Island of Oman, situated in the Arabian Sea.
It was designated as a world natural heritage site by UNESCO in 2008.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Only 1
Only 2
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Socotra is not an island of Oman. The Socotra Archipelago belongs to Yemen and lies in the north-western Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden. Therefore, Statement 1 is incorrect in identifying it as an island of Oman.
Statement 2 is correct. UNESCO inscribed the Socotra Archipelago on the World Heritage List in 2008 as a Natural World Heritage Site.
Socotra is especially famous for its exceptional biodiversity and endemism. According to UNESCO, about 37% of its plant species, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land-snail species are found naturally nowhere else in the world. This extraordinary biological distinctiveness gives Socotra major global conservation importance.