Question map
Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Statement-II : The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?
Explanation
Statement-I is correct because animals listed in Schedule 5 are called "vermin" which can be hunted, and flying fox (fruit eating bats) are among the four animals in Schedule 5[1]. However, Statement-II is incorrect. The flying fox is specifically described as "fruit eating bats"[1], which clearly indicates they feed on fruits, not blood. Flying foxes are large frugivorous bats that play an important ecological role as pollinators and seed dispersers. They consume nectar, pollen, and fruits—not blood. The confusion may arise from the general association of bats with blood-feeding, but only vampire bats (found in Central and South America) are sanguivorous, not flying foxes. Therefore, Statement-I is correct while Statement-II is incorrect, making option C the correct answer.
Sources- [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > schedule 5 > p. 171
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a 'Sitter' question derived purely from static Environment textbooks (Shankar/PMF). It rewards memorizing the short, finite lists in the WPA Schedules (specifically the 4 animals in the old Schedule V) and basic biological common sense (Fruit Bat vs. Vampire Bat).
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Explicitly lists 'flying fox (fruit eating bats)' among the animals in Schedule V.
- Defines animals in Schedule V as 'vermin' which can be hunted.
- Presents a direct, species-level statement linking flying fox to the vermin category.
- Explains that Schedules I–V are a ranked classification tied to species' survival risk.
- Notes a legal amendment that removed state governments' power to declare any wild animal vermin, providing context on legal authority over vermin status.
- Explicitly identifies 'flying fox' as 'fruit eating bats'.
- Labeling as fruit-eating implies a frugivorous diet rather than blood-feeding.
- Places flying fox in a context (Schedule 5) that describes its feeding habit succinctly.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Shankar IAS Chapter 11 (Schedule Animals). If you missed this, you are neglecting the 'Appendices/Schedules' at the end of chapters.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) Schedules. Specifically, the 'Exceptions'—which animals are NOT protected and can be hunted (Vermin).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Old Schedule V' quartet: Common Crow, Fruit Bats, Mice, Rats. Contrast this with the WPA Amendment 2022: Schedules reduced from 6 to 4; 'Vermin' Schedule V is deleted; Centre now notifies vermin under Section 62. Know the diet of Vampire Bats (Desmodontinae) vs Pteropus (Flying Fox).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Always memorize lists with fewer than 5 items. The 'Vermin' list was tiny (4 items). UPSC loves finite sets because they make for easy 'All of the above' or elimination options. Never skip the 'definitions' of legal terms like Vermin, Game Animal, or Trophy.
Schedule V lists species classified as vermin and permits hunting of those species.
High-yield for UPSC: knowing which schedule labels species as vermin directly answers questions on legal protection status. Connects to topics on wildlife protection, species management, and human-wildlife conflict policy. Enables quick elimination in questions asking which species are protected versus exempted.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > schedule 5 > p. 171
The Wildlife (Protection) Act uses Schedules I–V to rank species by risk to survival, determining their legal protection level.
Essential for answering questions on gradation of legal protection and conservation prioritization. Links environment law to biodiversity policy and practical management decisions (e.g., enforcement, penalties, permissible actions). Useful for comparative questions on protection levels.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
A legislative amendment removed the power of state governments to declare any wild animal vermin.
Important for governance and polity aspects of UPSC: clarifies centre–state roles in wildlife regulation and illustrates how amendments change implementation. Helps answer questions on institutional authority and legal reform in environmental governance.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
Indian Flying Fox is frugivorous (feeds on fruit) rather than sanguivorous.
High-yield for questions on animal feeding adaptations and ecological roles; helps distinguish fruit bats (Pteropodidae) from blood-feeding bats (Desmodontinae). Connects to forest ecology, pollination/seed dispersal topics, and species-level risk assessments.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > schedule 5 > p. 171
Flying Fox appears in the Schedule 5 list of 'vermin', reflecting its legal/management status.
Important for legal and conservation questions on species protection, human-wildlife conflict, and policy responses; links legislation to species management and socio-ecological considerations.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > schedule 5 > p. 171
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > the wildlife act, 1972 > p. 14
Knowing trophic categories clarifies why 'fruit-eating' bats are classified as herbivorous/frugivorous and not sanguivorous.
Fundamental for ecology questions on food webs, energy flow, and species interactions; enables rapid elimination of incorrect dietary claims and supports reasoning on ecosystem services like pollination and seed dispersal.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 1: Ecology > Herbivores are primary consumers which feed > p. 7
Since WPA 1972 was amended in 2022, the 'Shadow Fact' is the new Schedule structure. Old Schedule V is gone. New Schedule I = Highest Protection. New Schedule II = Lesser Protection. New Schedule III = Plants. New Schedule IV = CITES specimens. The 'Vermin' are no longer permanently listed in a Schedule but are notified by the Centre for specific areas/periods.
Apply the 'Horror Movie Test' to Statement II. The Indian Flying Fox has a wingspan of ~1.2 meters. If a bat that size fed on blood, it would be an apex predator or a legendary monster, not a common sight in trees. Large bats are almost exclusively frugivores (fruit-eaters). Blood-feeding (sanguivory) is a niche trait of tiny Vampire Bats found in the Americas, not India.
Link this to Federalism (Polity). Wildlife is in the Concurrent List. However, the power to declare an animal as 'Vermin' (allowing culling) rests with the Central Government (Section 62), often causing friction with States facing human-wildlife conflict (e.g., Kerala wanting Wild Boars declared vermin).