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UPSC Prelims 2013 · Environment · Species Watch
Consider the following fauna of India: Which of the above is/are endangered?
- Gharial
- Leatherback turtle
- Swamp deer
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) None
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
All three were threatened at the time of the question.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ ENDANGERED The gharial is Critically Endangered.
2. ✓ ENDANGERED The leatherback was listed as Critically Endangered then (now Vulnerable globally).
3. ✓ THREATENED The swamp deer (barasingha) was Vulnerable; it is on Schedule I.
The idea
In older questions UPSC uses “endangered” loosely for any animal at risk of extinction. All three were on the threatened lists and in Schedule I when the question was set.
Gharial: river crocodile, Critically Endangered → Leatherback: the largest sea turtle, nests in the Nicobar Islands → Swamp deer: saved from a few dozen in Kanha
The trap
Statuses change. Answer by the list at the time of the exam.
Also know
Five sea turtles are found in Indian waters: olive ridley, green, hawksbill, leatherback and loggerhead. The leatherback has a leathery skin in place of a hard shell and feeds on jellyfish.
🔒 Gharial = CR · Barasingha: Kanha (hard-ground), Dudhwa, Kaziranga.