UPSC Prelims 2019 Question:

Consider the following statements

1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

• The Asiatic lions survived in the wild only in India. Their range has been restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in Gujarat. Historically, it inhabited much of northern India and South West Asia. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. So, statement 1 is correct.
  
  
• Double-humped camels is a native of Gobi desert, and is found on a vast expanse of cold-desert areas across Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and parts of Afghanistan. A small population of Bactrian camel exists in the Nubra valley of Ladakh (J&K). So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  
• The One-horned rhinoceros lives primarily in northern India and Terai grasslands of Nepal. It is the largest of the rhinoceros species. Once widespread across the entire northern part of the Indian sub-continent, their populations plummeted as they were either hunted down or killed as agricultural pests. This pushed the species very close to extinction and by the start of the 20th century, around 200 wild greater One-horned rhinoceros remained. Strict protection and management from Indian and Nepalese wildlife authorities brought back the One-horned rhinoceros from the brink of extinction. So, statement 3 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Biodiversity and Conservation