UPSC CSE Prelims
Flora, Fauna and Protected Areas Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Statement 1 — Incorrect. Mangroves do NOT store freshwater and are NOT suited for paddy cultivation. In fact, clearing mangroves to make paddy fields is one of the main reasons mangroves are being destroyed — exactly the opposite of conservation.

Statement 2 — Incorrect. Mangroves are halophytes — meaning their roots are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive. They don't convert land into freshwater zones. In fact, clearing mangroves for shrimp farming/aquaculture is a major threat to them.

Statement 3 — Correct. Mangroves act as natural bio-shields:

• Their roots (stilt roots, pneumatophores) reduce tidal energy and protect coasts from storms/cyclones
• They provide livelihood resources — timber, honey, fish breeding — for coastal communities

Memory Trick: Mangroves PROTECT coasts and PROVIDE livelihoods — they are NOT meant to be cleared for farming or freshwater use. Anything suggesting "convert" or "clear mangroves for X" is automatically wrong.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

Community Reserves are protected areas in India that act as buffer zones or migration corridors between established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Among the four statements given, only two are correct regarding the governance and permitted activities in Community Reserves.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Chief Wildlife Warden does not become the governing authority. As per Section 36D of the Wildlife Protection Act, the State Government constitutes a Community Reserve Management Committee which is the responsible authority for managing the community reserve. The committee elects a Chairman who acts as the Honorary Wildlife Warden.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Hunting is strictly prohibited in Community Reserves once an area is notified as such under the Wildlife Protection Act.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: People living in and around Community Reserves are permitted to collect non-timber forest produce (NTFP) as part of their traditional rights and livelihood activities.

❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Traditional agricultural practices, including shifting cultivation (jhum), are not allowed in Community Reserves to protect the ecological integrity of these areas.

📝 Short Notes: Community Reserves under Wildlife Protection Act

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1, 3 and 4 only

This question tests knowledge of Protected Areas located in the Cauvery river basin. Among the given options, Nagarhole National Park, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are located in the Cauvery basin, while Papikonda National Park is located in the Godavari basin.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Nagarhole National Park is located in Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and lies within the Cauvery basin.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Papikonda National Park is located in Andhra Pradesh along the Godavari river basin, not the Cauvery basin.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve lies on the banks of River Bhavani, a tributary of Cauvery, in the foothills of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala has the Kabini river (a tributary of Cauvery) flowing through it, making it part of the Cauvery basin.

📝 Short Notes: Protected Areas in Cauvery Basin

• Cauvery River: Originates in Talakaveri, Western Ghats of Karnataka; flows through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
• Nagarhole National Park: Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park; part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; rich in tiger, elephant, and leopard populations.
• Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve: Located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu; connects the Western and Eastern Ghats; crucial elephant corridor.
• Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; contiguous with Nagarhole and Bandipur; known for its elephant population.
• Major Tributaries of Cauvery: Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathi, Kabini, Bhavani, Amaravati, and Noyyal.
• Papikonda National Park: Located in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh; part of Godavari basin; known for its pristine forests and tribal population.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is renowned for the conservation of the hard ground barasingha (Southern swamp deer), a unique subspecies of the Indian swamp deer that thrives on hard ground in open sal forests and feeds exclusively on grasses (graminivorous). Conservation efforts by the park have successfully revived this subspecies from near extinction, making it a flagship conservation success story.

📝 Short Notes: Barasingha and Its Conservation

• Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii): Also known as the swamp deer, it is a herbivorous species native to the Indian subcontinent, classified as Vulnerable by IUCN.
• Three Subspecies: Northern swamp deer (found in Uttar Pradesh terai), Western swamp deer (found in Nepal), and Southern/hard ground swamp deer (found in central India).
• Hard Ground Barasingha: This subspecies is adapted to hard ground in dry deciduous sal forests, unlike other swamp deer that prefer marshy wetlands.
• Kanha National Park: Located in Madhya Pradesh, it is the primary habitat for hard ground barasingha and has achieved remarkable conservation success since the 1970s.
• Diet: Exclusively graminivorous (grass-eating), feeding on various species of grasses found in forest clearings.
• Other Populations: Northern swamp deer are found in Dudhwa National Park; Manas has the Western subspecies but focuses on other wildlife.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only

Musk deer are found in high-altitude Himalayan regions, typically above 2,500 meters. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park, both located in Uttarakhand's Himalayan ranges, provide the ideal alpine and subalpine habitat for musk deer. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary consists of terai grasslands unsuitable for musk deer, while Manas National Park in Assam is a lowland tropical forest ecosystem that does not support musk deer populations.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand is specifically known for musk deer conservation in high-altitude Himalayan habitat.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand is a high-altitude region where musk deer are naturally found.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh has terai grasslands, not the high-altitude habitat required by musk deer.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Manas National Park in Assam is a lowland tropical forest unsuitable for musk deer which require alpine habitats.

📝 Short Notes: Musk Deer

• Scientific Name: Moschus species (Himalayan Musk Deer - Moschus leucogaster)
• Habitat: High-altitude Himalayan forests (2,500-4,500 m), alpine meadows, and scrub zones
• Distribution in India: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh
• Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN); Schedule I (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972)
• Key Feature: Males possess musk gland (pod) that produces valuable musk, leading to illegal poaching
• Protected Areas: Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Gangotri National Park, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park, Nanda Devi National Park
• Threats: Habitat loss, poaching for musk, climate change affecting alpine habitats

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only

Desert National Park is one of India's largest national parks, spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan, representing the Thar Desert ecosystem. It is a crucial habitat for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, though human settlements do exist within the park boundaries.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The park is spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan, covering approximately 3,162 km².
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Human habitation exists within the park; several villages and communities engaged in livestock rearing are located inside.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: It is one of the last remaining natural habitats of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps).

📝 Short Notes: Desert National Park

• Location: Jaisalmer and Barmer districts, Rajasthan
• Area: Approximately 3,162 km², one of the largest national parks in India
• Ecosystem: Represents the Thar Desert ecosystem with sand dunes (20%), rocky terrain, salt lake bottoms, and sparse vegetation
• Key Wildlife: Great Indian Bustard (critically endangered), Chinkara, Desert Fox, Desert Cat, Wolf
• Human Presence: Unlike strict protected areas, villages and pastoral communities exist within the park
• Conservation Significance: Last stronghold for Great Indian Bustard; captive breeding programs ongoing
• Bird Diversity: Over 140 bird species recorded, including migratory and resident species

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spread across five districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has the largest Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) among the given options with a total area of approximately 3,728 sq. km. Critical Tiger Habitats are core areas of tiger reserves notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which are kept inviolate for tiger conservation based on scientific evidence.

📝 Short Notes: Major Tiger Reserves and Their Critical Tiger Habitat Areas

• Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH): Also called core areas, these are inviolate zones notified under Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, where human activities are prohibited or severely restricted.
• Buffer Zones: Areas surrounding CTH where limited human activity is permitted with conservation-oriented management.
• India has 53 tiger reserves (as of 2023) covering about 75,000 sq. km across 18 states.
• Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with 9 tiger reserves; Corbett was the first.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Valley of Flowers National Park

Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand is situated entirely at a high altitude (3,352 to 3,658 metres above sea level) and lies completely within the temperate alpine zone. This zone is characterized by alpine meadows, low-growing vegetation, and a cooler climate suitable for high-altitude flowering plants.

Why other options are incorrect:
• Manas National Park (Assam): Located in tropical and subtropical zones with grasslands and evergreen forests, not alpine.
• Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh): Features diverse vegetation zones from tropical evergreen forests at lower elevations to sub-alpine meadows at higher altitudes, covering multiple zones.
• Neora Valley National Park (West Bengal): Extends from subtropical broadleaf forests at lower levels to temperate forests at higher reaches, not entirely alpine.

📝 Short Notes: Temperate Alpine Zone & National Parks

• Temperate Alpine Zone: High-altitude region above the tree line (typically above 3,000m in the Himalayas), characterized by alpine meadows, low shrubs, herbs, and grasses adapted to cold temperatures and short growing seasons.
• Valley of Flowers National Park: Located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand; a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for endemic Himalayan flora with over 600 species of flowering plants; entirely within the alpine zone.
• Alpine Vegetation Characteristics: Cushion plants, dwarf shrubs, perennial herbs, and colorful wildflowers that bloom during the brief summer season; adapted to extreme cold, high UV radiation, and strong winds.
• Other Alpine Parks in India: Great Himalayan National Park (parts), Pin Valley National Park, and Hemis National Park also have alpine zones, but may not lie entirely within this zone.
• Altitude Zones in Himalayas: Tropical (up to 1,000m) → Sub-tropical (1,000-2,000m) → Temperate (2,000-3,000m) → Alpine (3,000-4,500m) → Glacial (above 4,500m).

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern Western Ghats, spanning across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It comprises three wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala (Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney) and the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, making Option 1 the correct answer. This biosphere reserve is recognized as one of the 18 hotspots of biological diversity in the world and serves as a genetic reservoir of cultivated and wild species, including many rare, endemic, and medicinal plants.

📝 Short Notes: Major Biosphere Reserves of India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Arunachal Pradesh

Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve and is contiguous with Pakke Tiger Reserve, known for its rich biodiversity including hornbills, elephants, and tigers. The sanctuary is traversed by the Bhareli (Pakke) and Bamadi rivers, supporting diverse flora and fauna.

📝 Short Notes: Major Wildlife Sanctuaries in Northeast India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) in Tamil Nadu is the largest tiger reserve in the state and serves as a crucial wildlife corridor within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It acts as a vital ecological link connecting the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats, facilitating genetic flow and wildlife movement between these two mountain ranges. STR is contiguous with several protected areas including Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Sigur Plateau, Mudumalai National Park, and Bandipur National Park, making it ecologically significant for biodiversity conservation and maintaining landscape connectivity between the Eastern and Western Ghats.

Detailed Explanation:

Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh has an elevation range from 200 m to 4,571 m, creating unique climatic zones from tropical to subtropical, temperate and Arctic.

This is the only National Park in India with four big cat species – tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, and snow leopard – due to its vast altitudinal variation.

Detailed Explanation:

Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is the world's only floating national park, characterized by phumdis (floating decomposed vegetation mats) on Loktak Lake.

It is the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai (Manipur Eld's deer/Brow-antlered deer), also known as the dancing deer, declared a National Park in 1977.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Harike Wetlands is a Ramsar site in Punjab, formed at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan) is located at the confluence of Gambhir and Banganga rivers, not Banas and Chambal.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh) lies between the Krishna and Godavari river deltas and is fed by seasonal streams, not at the confluence of Musi and Krishna rivers.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are declared under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the MoEFCC, not under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. ESZs are created around Protected Areas (national parks/sanctuaries) as buffer zones.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: ESZs do not prohibit all human activities. They aim to regulate activities through zoning—allowing permitted activities (agriculture, ongoing agriculture, existing rights), regulated activities (tourism, construction), and prohibited activities (mining, polluting industries). The purpose is sustainable development, not complete prohibition.