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Q25 (IAS/2020) Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Protected Areas › Flagship species ecology Official Key

Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous ?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1.

Kanha National Park is renowned for successfully conserving the Hard-ground Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi), a specific sub-species of the Indian swamp deer. Unlike other sub-species that prefer swampy environments, the branderi variety thrives on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous (grass-eating).

Key reasons why Option 1 is correct:

  • Kanha is the only natural habitat where this specific sub-species is found; it was brought back from the brink of extinction through rigorous conservation efforts.
  • Manas National Park (Option 2) hosts the Eastern Barasingha, which inhabits wetlands.
  • Mudumalai (Option 3) and Tal Chhapar (Option 4) are not habitats for the Barasingha; Mudumalai is known for elephants and tigers, while Tal Chhapar is famous for Blackbucks.

Therefore, the unique biological adaptation to hard terrain and a strict grass diet makes the Kanha Barasingha ecologically distinct.

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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10
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This is a classic 'Conservation Success Story' question. The recovery of the Hard-ground Barasingha in Kanha is a flagship case study in Indian ecology, comparable to the Rhino in Kaziranga. It is not obscure trivia; it is the defining feature of Kanha (the only place in the world where this subspecies exists).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is Kanha National Park well-known for the conservation of the hard-ground, exclusively graminivorous subspecies of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
""Central Indian Swamp deer (Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh.)" "The Hard- ground Swamp deer has the smallest population of all the subspecies.""
Why this source?
  • Identifies a Central Indian swamp-deer subspecies tied specifically to Kanha National Park.
  • Mentions the 'Hard-ground Swamp deer' as a distinct (vulnerable) subspecies, linking the hard-ground form to the Barasingha group.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
""Internal Shifting of Eastern Swamp Deer in Kanha Tiger Reserve" "Kanha Tiger Reserve’s officials are working on the internal shifting of the endangered eastern swamp deer... The translocation is being done in order to save them from natural disaster""
Why this source?
  • Describes active conservation/translocation work for swamp deer inside Kanha Tiger Reserve.
  • Shows Kanha officials undertaking measures to protect endangered swamp-deer populations, supporting the park's conservation role.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
""After a lot of efforts, the number has now raised to 600 as recently noted.""
Why this source?
  • Reports conservation outcomes attributed to Kanha's efforts (population increase).
  • Supports the claim that Kanha is actively involved in conserving swamp-deer populations.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 39
Strength: 4/5
“Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary; State/States: West Bengal; Dominant Species Protected: One horned-rhino, tigers, wild-elepants, deer, swamp-deer, hog-deer, wild-pig, birds and pea fowl, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 20. Kanha National Park; State/States: Madhya Pradesh; Dominant Species Protected: Tiger, panther, hyena, deer, hog-deer, wild-boar, birds, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 21. Khangchendzonga (Kanchen junga) National Park and Biosphere Reserve; State/States: Sikkim; Dominant Species Protected: Snow-bear, white-fox, panda, bear, jackal, birds, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 22. Kaziranga National Park; State/States: Jorhat (Assam); Dominant Species Protected: One horned rhino, tiger, panther, elephant, wild-bufalo, deer, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 23. Keibul Lamjao Wildlife Sanctuary; State/States: Manipur; Dominant Species Protected: Elephant, brown-antlered-deer, Eld's deer, wild boar, hog, fox, jackal and water-birds. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 24.”
Why relevant

Lists Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) and indicates 'deer' and 'swamp-deer' among dominant species protected there.

How to extend

A student could combine this with a map showing Kanha in central India and detailed range accounts of Barasingha to judge whether Kanha is a likely conservation site for that species/subspecies.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > x) not evaluated (ne) > p. 16
Strength: 4/5
“• Species: 1. Asian Black Bear (white- chested bear); Region/State/Union Territory: Himalayas • Species: 2. Barasingha (Swamp Deer); Region/State/Union Territory: Northern and Central India • Species: 3. Black-Buck; Region/State/Union Territory: Tar Desert • Species: 4. Clouded Leopard; Region/State/Union Territory: Himalayan Foot-Hills • Species: 5. Chiru (Tibetan Antelope); Region/State/Union Territory: Cold Desert (Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh) • Species: 6. Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha); Region/State/Union Territory: Swampy areas • Species: 7. Gaur/Mithun (Indian Bison); Region/State/Union Territory: Assam, States of North East India Himalayan Tahr Himalayas • Species: 9. Indian Wolf; Region/State/Union Territory: Foot-Hills of Himalayas- extends to the south of the Himalayas Marbled Cat Northern India and North-East India • Species: 11.”
Why relevant

Identifies Barasingha (Swamp Deer) as occurring in 'Northern and Central India', giving a geographic range that overlaps with Madhya Pradesh where Kanha is located.

How to extend

A student could use this range note plus Kanha's central-India location to infer plausibility that Kanha might conserve Barasingha or a subspecies.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.3 (Contd.) > p. 18
Strength: 3/5
“• National Park: Hemis; State: Jammu & Kashmir; Endangered Species: Snow Leopard • National Park: Kaziranga; State: Assam; Endangered Species: One-horned Rhino • National Park: Keibul Lam Jao; State: Manipur; Endangered Species: Brown-antlered Deer • National Park: Keoladeo-Ghana; State: Rajasthan; Endangered Species: Siberian Crane • National Park: Namdhapa; State: Arunachal Pradesh; Endangered Species: Clouded leopard • National Park: Nelaputta; State: Andhra Pradesh; Endangered Species: Pelican • National Park: Neyyar; State: Kerala; Endangered Species: Crocodile • National Park: Rajmala; State: Kerala; Endangered Species: Nilgiri Tahr • National Park: Rann of Kachchh; State: Gujarat; Endangered Species: Wild Ass • National Park: Silent Valley; State: Kerala; Endangered Species: Lion-Tailed Macaque • National Park: Wayanad; State: Kerala; Endangered Species: Indian Muntjac”
Why relevant

Shows that particular national parks are noted for protecting specific endangered species/subspecies (e.g., Keibul Lamjao is tied to a named deer), establishing the pattern that parks often host and are associated with particular deer taxa.

How to extend

A student could apply this pattern to ask whether Kanha similarly is associated in other sources with a named Barasingha subspecies and seek corroborating references.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > nAtIonAl pArKs. > p. 38
Strength: 2/5
“Te National Parks are gateway to conservation ethics. National Parks are the areas that have been reserved strictly for the welfare of wildlife, plants, and where such activities as forestry, grazing, cultivation, etc. are banned. Te following activities are strictly prohibited in the National parks: • (i) Hunting, killing or capturing of animals.• (ii) Deprivation of any wild animal of its habitat.• (iii) Destruction and collection of plants.• (iv) Use of weapons• (v) Grazing by any livestock other than wild animals of the national park.• (vi) Alteration of boundaries of national parks. Te total number of national parks in India in 2012 was 100.”
Why relevant

Explains that national parks are strictly reserved for wildlife conservation and prohibit activities that harm habitats, implying parks can function as conservation strongholds for species/subspecies.

How to extend

Using this rule, a student could reason that if Barasingha occurs in Kanha, the park's protection regime would support its conservation, so they should check species lists or management histories for Kanha.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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