Wildlife Translocation as a Conservation Strategy
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC often asks about the effectiveness, challenges, and specific examples of conservation strategies. Translocation is a prominent and often debated method for species revival and genetic health.
Wildlife translocation involves moving animals from one location to another, typically to establish new populations, augment existing ones, or restore species to areas where they have been extirpated. It is a critical tool in biodiversity conservation, especially for endangered species facing habitat fragmentation, genetic isolation, or population decline.
Facts & tables
- Primary Goal
- Aims to enhance genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding depression in isolated populations.
- Scope
- Can involve intra-state or inter-state movement of animals, requiring extensive coordination.
- Process
- Requires careful planning, monitoring (e.g., telemetry), and post-release management.
- Examples in India
- Sariska, Panna, Satkosia, and Similipal Tiger Reserves have undertaken such programs.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Biodiversity Conservation |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) | Spearheads and approves |
| Wildlife Institute of India (WII) | Provides scientific expertise |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Moving animals to new habitats for conservation.
- Addresses genetic isolation and population decline.
- Requires careful planning and inter-state coordination.
- NTCA plays a key role in India.
- Examples: Sariska, Panna, Similipal tiger reserves.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2021 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2020 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Terminology-based question, Factual recall |
| 2014 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Biodiversity Conservation
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2017
Terminology-based question, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2020
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2021
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Similipal’s black tigers are getting help
Wildlife translocation is a conservation method involving moving animals to new habitats to boost genetic diversity and population numbers, exemplified by India's tiger reintroduction efforts.
See also
Past papers
2014–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Similipal’s black tigers are getting help
Wildlife translocation is a conservation method involving moving animals to new habitats to boost genetic diversity and population numbers, exemplified by India's tiger reintroduction efforts.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following pairs
1. Dampa Tiger Reserve: Mizoram
2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary: Sikkim
3. Saramati Peak: Nagaland
Which of the above pairs is /are correctly matched?
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Dampa Tiger Reserve or Dampha Tiger Reserve, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, India, was notified in 1985 and declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is in Tripura. Pair 3 correctly matched: Mt. Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland.
Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
* Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH), also known as core areas of tiger reserves, are identified under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 based on scientific evidence that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation. * Among the options given, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve has the largest area under 'Critical Tiger Habitat'. It spreads over five districts and the total area of the tiger reserve is 3,728 sq. km.
With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct ?
1. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in India in 2025.
2. Sakhya Sagar, which is designated as a Ramsar Site, is situated within this National Park.
3. Its area is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Correct: Madhav National Park was officially declared as India's 58th Tiger Reserve (and the 9th in Madhya Pradesh) by the Union Environment Ministry in March 2025, following a successful tiger reintroduction program that began in 2023. Statement 2 is Correct: Sakhya Sagar, a human-made reservoir created in 1918, is situated inside Madhav National Park. It was officially designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2022 and is known for its abundant marsh crocodile population and migratory waterfowl. Statement 3 is Incorrect: Madhav National Park is located entirely within the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, situated on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands. It does not share its area with Rajasthan. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
With reference to the ‘New York Declaration on Forests’. Which of the following statements are correct?
1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3. It is a legally binding international declaration.
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception.
Select the Correct answer using the code given below.
The correct statements about the New York Declaration on Forests are: 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It does endorse a global timeline to end the loss of forests, aiming for significant reduction by 2020 and ending deforestation by 2030.
4. It is endorsed by a multi-stakeholder group, including governments, companies (big and small), and indigenous communities. Incorrect statements:
3. The New York Declaration on Forests is not a legally binding international declaration. It's a voluntary political declaration.
5. The Declaration is currently endorsed by over 190 entities but it is not endorsed by India. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 1, 2, and 4.
Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience), a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is/are correct ?
1. Ecosystem Survey and Analysis is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
2. Research and Management of Ecosystem Service is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.
3. Capacity Development Support is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Correct: The National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience (NIRANTAR) is a collaborative platform under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Ecosystem Survey & Analysis is one of its four thematic verticals, and its lead institute is the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Research and Management of Ecosystem Service vertical is led by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, not the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The CZA is merely a participating institute under this vertical. Statement 3 is Correct: The Capacity Development Support vertical focuses on research, education, and capacity building. The lead institute for this vertical is the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
* The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement that addresses the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources. It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and specifically focuses on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their utilisation. * Statement 1 is correct: In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are indeed key to the realisation of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. BMCs play a crucial role in this by ensuring that local communities have a say in the access to and use of these resources. * Statement 2 is correct: The Biodiversity Management Committees also have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing. They have the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within their jurisdiction. This is part of their role in managing and conserving biodiversity, and ensuring that the benefits derived from the use of these resources are shared equitably. Therefore, both statements are correct.
With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements:
1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government.
2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside.
3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, all wild animals in protected areas are the property of the government. But, Section 42 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 deals with Certificates of Ownership, empowering the Chief Wildlife Warden to issue these for lawfully possessed wild animals or animal articles (trophies, etc.) with a person. This ensures traceability, allowing identification marking and conditions for housing captive animals, and requires owners to surrender such items if no longer desired, with cancellation of the certificate. Statement 2 is correct: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for the protection of wild animals, whether they are found inside or outside the designated protected areas. Statement 3 is incorrect: As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the capture or killing of a protected wild animal is strictly prohibited, even if it is perceived to be a danger to human life. Special permission is required from the authorities for any such action.
The term 'M-STRIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
M-STRIPES stands for Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status. It's a software-based program launched by the Indian government's National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to -Strengthen protection efforts for Bengal tigers in Indian tiger reserves. -Enhance monitoring and patrolling activities by forest guards.