Context:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister released 10 gharials into the Chambal River at the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary in Morena.
Gharials:
- Freshwater crocodile
- Global Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
- Primarily seen in 3 tributaries of the Ganga River: the Chambal and Girwa Rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.
- However, today, only fragmented populations remain in Nepal and northern India.
- Distribution in India – Located in 3 States: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
- Madhya Pradesh is known as the ‘gharial state of India’
- Features:
- One of the largest of all crocodilian species
- Most aquatic of all crocodilians, for it never moves far from the water.
- Poorly equipped for locomotion on land.
- Key Sanctuaries: National Chambal (MP), Katerniaghat (UP), Son River (MP), and Satkosia Gorge (Odisha).
- Conservations Status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically endangered.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
Source: IE
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Asiatic lions are naturally found in India only.
2. Double-humped camels are naturally found in India only.
3. One-horned rhinoceros are naturally found in India only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is not correct. Besides India, they are found throughout the highlands of central Asia from Turkistan to Mongolia and their total population is around 20 million.
Statement 3 is not correct. One-horned rhinoceros are naturally found in Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.