Consider the following fauna and India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?
Contents19
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 only
- C1, 2 and 3
- DNone
Show answer
Answer: (C) 1, 2 and 3
All three are endangered species in India.
Gharial — a critically endangered crocodilian found mainly in the Chambal, Girwa, and Gandak rivers.
Its population has declined drastically due to habitat loss and fishing net entanglement.
Leatherback turtle — the world's largest sea turtle, listed as Vulnerable/Endangered.
In India, it nests primarily on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Swamp deer (Barasingha) — found in marshy/swampy habitats in a few pockets like Kanha National Park (hard ground subspecies) and Dudhwa National Park.
Since the question doesn't specify a particular conservation list (IUCN Red List, Wildlife Protection Act, etc.), and all three species face significant threats in India, option (c) — all three are endangered — is the correct answer.
The Gharial is one of India's most critically endangered reptiles with fewer than 200 breeding adults left in rivers like Chambal.
UPSC tests whether students can distinguish between global and India-specific conservation status - a species might be globally stable but endangered in India.
The question deliberately avoids specifying IUCN vs Wildlife Protection Act categories to test broader understanding of threatened species.
Gharial Conservation Status
Environment Gharial
Gharial: India's Critically Endangered Crocodilian
Gharial is a critically endangered crocodilian found in North Indian rivers
Main habitat: Chambal, Girwa, and Gandak rivers
Population declined drastically due to habitat loss and fishing net entanglement
Protected under Wildlife Protection Act Schedule I
What is Gharial
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is India's most endangered crocodilian species, easily identified by its long, narrow snout adapted for catching fish. Unlike other crocodiles, gharials are primarily aquatic and rarely venture onto land except for basking and nesting.
Gharial vs Other Crocodilians
Species | Conservation Status | Habitat | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
Gharial | Critically Endangered | River systems | Long narrow snout, fish-eater |
Mugger Crocodile | Vulnerable | Freshwater bodies | Broad snout, opportunistic feeder |
Saltwater Crocodile | Least Concern | Coastal/estuarine | Largest living reptile |
Current Conservation Status
Population: Less than 200 breeding adults remain in wild
Primary locations: Chambal River (largest population), National Chambal Sanctuary
Breeding programs: Captive breeding at Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre (Lucknow)
Major threats: Sand mining, dam construction, fishing activities, pollution
Gharial Habitat Map
Source: Drishti IAS — Gharial Hatchlings Thrive in Chambal River · www.drishtiias.com
Don't confuse gharial with mugger crocodile - gharial has the narrow snout
Gharial is critically endangered, not just endangered or vulnerable
Chambal is the key river system, not Ganga (though historically gharials lived in Ganga)
Leatherback Turtle Status
Environment Leatherback turtle
Leatherback Turtle: World's Largest Sea Turtle
Leatherback turtle is the world's largest sea turtle and endangered in India
Primary nesting sites: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
IUCN Status: Vulnerable globally, but endangered in Indian waters
Major threats: plastic pollution, fishing nets, coastal development
Species Overview
Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest living sea turtle, reaching lengths up to 2 meters and weighing up to 700 kg. Unlike other sea turtles, it has a leathery shell instead of a hard carapace, enabling deep-sea diving up to 1,200 meters.
Sea Turtles in Indian Waters
Species | Conservation Status | Main Nesting Sites | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
Leatherback | Vulnerable/Endangered | Andaman & Nicobar | Largest, leathery shell |
Olive Ridley | Vulnerable | Odisha coast (Gahirmatha) | Mass nesting (arribada) |
Green Turtle | Endangered | Lakshadweep, Gujarat | Herbivorous adult |
Hawksbill | Critically Endangered | Andaman & Nicobar | Beautiful shell pattern |
Loggerhead | Vulnerable | Rare in India | Large head, powerful jaws |
Conservation Challenges
Plastic ingestion: Leatherbacks mistake plastic bags for jellyfish (their primary food)
Coastal development: Beach lighting disrupts nesting and hatchling orientation
Fishing bycatch: Accidental capture in trawling nets and longlines
Climate change: Rising temperatures affect sex ratios of hatchlings
Leatherback Nesting Sites
Source: Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter — IOTN23-03-FIRST NESTING RECORD OF LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES ON THE ... · iotn.org
Leatherback nests in Andaman & Nicobar, Olive Ridley in Odisha - don't mix locations
Leatherback is largest sea turtle, not just largest in India
Has leathery shell, not hard shell like other sea turtles
Swamp Deer Conservation
Environment Swamp deer
Swamp Deer (Barasingha): Wetland Specialist
Swamp deer (Barasingha) is an endangered deer species of wetland habitats
Main populations: Kanha NP (hard ground) and Dudhwa NP (swampy ground)
12-antler stag gives it the name 'Barasingha' (twelve-horned)
Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary threats
Species Characteristics
Swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii), locally known as Barasingha, is India's most endangered deer species. Males develop magnificent antlers with up to 12 points, giving the species its Hindi name. They prefer marshy grasslands and are excellent swimmers.
Swamp Deer Subspecies in India
Subspecies | Habitat Type | Main Location | Population Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Southern Barasingha | Hard ground/dry grassland | Kanha National Park | ~300 individuals |
Northern Barasingha | Wet grassland/swamps | Dudhwa National Park | ~1,500 individuals |
Eastern Barasingha | Wetlands | Kaziranga (small population) | Very few |
Conservation Success Story
Kanha success: Population recovered from 66 individuals (1970s) to over 300 today
Habitat management: Prescribed burning and grassland restoration in national parks
Translocation programs: Successful reintroduction attempts in suitable habitats
Community involvement: Local communities engaged in protection efforts
Threats to Swamp Deer
# Swamp Deer Threats
## Habitat Loss
- Agricultural conversion
- Wetland drainage
- Urban expansion
## Human Pressure
- Cattle grazing
- Poaching
- Disturbance
## Environmental
- Flooding
- Disease
- InbreedingBarasingha = Swamp deer (same species, different names)
Kanha has hard-ground subspecies, Dudhwa has swamp subspecies
Don't confuse with Hangul (Kashmir stag) - that's a different endangered deer
Endangered Species Classification
Environment endangered
Understanding Endangered Species Classifications
IUCN Red List provides global conservation status categories
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 classifies species into Schedules I-V
Critically Endangered > Endangered > Vulnerable in threat hierarchy
Species can have different statuses at global vs national level
IUCN Red List Categories
Category | Description | Indian Examples | Protection Level |
|---|---|---|---|
Critically Endangered | Extremely high extinction risk | Gharial, Great Indian Bustard | Schedule I |
Endangered | Very high extinction risk | Tiger, Asian Elephant | Schedule I |
Vulnerable | High extinction risk | Leopard, Sloth Bear | Schedule I/II |
Near Threatened | Close to qualifying for threatened | Leopard Cat, Wild Boar | Schedule II/III |
Least Concern | Lower risk of extinction | Rhesus Macaque | Schedule II/III |
Wildlife Protection Act Schedules
Schedule | Protection Level | Examples | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
Schedule I | Absolute protection | Tiger, Elephant, Gharial | 3-7 years jail |
Schedule II | High protection | Leopard cat, Civets | 3 years jail |
Schedule III | Protected | Nilgai, Wild boar | 2 years jail |
Schedule IV | Protected | Falcons, Turtle species | 3 years jail |
Schedule V | Vermin (can be hunted) | Common crow, Fruit bats | No penalty |
Assessment Criteria
Population decline: Rate and extent of population reduction
Geographic range: Area of occupancy and extent of occurrence
Small population: Total mature individuals and population fragmentation
Quantitative analysis: Probability of extinction in wild
Schedule I species get absolute protection - highest penalty under WPA
Critically Endangered is worse than Endangered (CR > EN > VU)
Same species can be globally Vulnerable but nationally Endangered
Schedule V = vermin species (can be hunted legally)