Tamil Nadu’s elusive Bengal foxes and their shrinking space

* The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants. It classifies species into six schedules, each offering different levels of protection. * Schedule VI of the Act pertains to certain plants that are prohibited from cultivation and planting without a license. Therefore, If a plant species is listed under Schedule VI, it means a license is required for its cultivation. * The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 amended the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The amendment reduced the number of schedules from six to four, simplifying wildlife classification and protection levels. Additionally, the Act also aligned the provisions with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) by introducing a separate schedule (Sch. IV) for species covered under CITES.

Statement-I is incorrect: Following the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, the number of schedules was reduced from six to four. Schedule V (the vermin category) was abolished. The Indian Flying Fox is currently listed under Schedule II, providing it with higher protection. It is no longer legally classified as "vermin" under the Act. Statement-II is incorrect: The Indian Flying Fox is one of the largest bats in the world and is a frugivore. Its diet consists of fruits (like mangoes, guavas, and figs) and nectar. It does not feed on blood; "vampire bats" are a different group of species found primarily in Central and South America. Note: None of the option is correct as both options are incorrect, UPSC dropped this question from the final answer key.

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.

In 1972, the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA) was enacted for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants. It was made to prevent hunting and also to control trade in wildlife products.
Wildlife laws divide species into schedules ranked from I to V. Section 9 of WPA prohibits hunting of any wild animal specified in Schedules 1, 2, 3, and 4. Tiger is listed in Schedule I of the act. So if a species is listed in Schedule I of the act, It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger. Note: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972 underwent amendments in 2022 which impacted the scheduling of wild animals. Previously, there were six schedules. The amendment streamlined them into four schedules.

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.

Gharial – Critically Endangered. Its population has drastically declined due to habitat loss and fishing nets. Leatherback turtle – Vulnerable globally, but in India, it is considered Endangered due to threats like egg poaching and marine pollution. Swamp deer (Barasingha) – Vulnerable, with some subspecies like the Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi critically endangered. In general, considered endangered in certain regions. All three species are under some form of high threat and are considered endangered in India. _NOTE: Endangered means a species is at risk, and IUCN considers Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable as Endangered species. Thus, all the given species are endangered. _ Do not confuse with the IUCN status of the given species; UPSC did not mention the IUCN status in the question.

Southern swamp deer/ hard ground swamp deer, a unique sub-species of Barasingha, also known as the Indian swamp deer, is a herbivorous species that feeds exclusively on grasses (graminivorous) and is well adapted to is adapted to hard ground in open sal forest. Kanha National Park is well-known for the conservation of hard ground swamp deer. Conservation efforts by the park have helped revive its numbers from near extinction. Therefore, the correct answer is Kanha National Park.

* The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), or the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. * A recent assessment for IUCN reports 3000-3500 of these animals live scattered over several areas in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. * The lion-tailed macaque ranks among the rarest and most threatened primates. * IUCN Status: Endangered. * Silent Valley has the largest number of lion-tailed macaques in South India.

* Community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India. * Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the Section 36 D of the WildLife Protection Act (WLPA): The State Government shall constitute a Community Reserve management committee, which shall be the authority responsible for conserving, maintaining and managing the community reserve. The committee shall elect a Chairman who shall also be the Honorary WildLife Warden on the community reserve. * Statement 2 is correct: After a forest has been made into a community reserve, people are not allowed to hunt there, thus hunting is prohibited in community reserves. * Statement 3 is correct: People of such areas are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce. * Statement 4 is incorrect: After a forest has been made into a community reserve, people are also not allowed to use it for agricultural practices such as shifting (jhum) cultivation.

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2002 to identify, safeguard, and promote traditional agricultural systems that have historical, cultural, environmental, and social significance. These systems demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices, rich biodiversity, and resilient rural livelihoods while maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature. Statement 1 is incorrect: The GIAHS program is not primarily aimed at increasing agricultural productivity through modern methods. Instead, it focuses on preserving traditional farming practices, indigenous knowledge, and sustainable land-use systems that have evolved over centuries. While some modern improvements might be integrated to support local livelihoods, the core emphasis is conservation, not productivity enhancement. Statement 2 is correct: The primary goal of GIAHS is to identify and protect unique agricultural systems that are vital for global biodiversity, cultural heritage, and food security. This includes preserving traditional landscapes, indigenous crops, and local community knowledge, ensuring their sustainability for future generations. Statement 3 is incorrect: While some GIAHS products might qualify for Geographical Indication status, it's not an automatic benefit. GI status is granted based on specific criteria related to a product's origin, traditional production techniques, and unique qualities, which require a separate legal recognition process.
Hence, the correct answer is option B. 2 only.

Statement 1 is correct. The article states, 'both the Bengal fox and the golden jackal were listed as “vermin” when the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 came into force'. Statement 2 is incorrect. The article mentions its habitat as 'dry, arid grasslands of south India' and 'semi-arid landscapes', not dense evergreen forests. Statement 3 is incorrect. The article clearly states that its numbers have 'dwindled over the last three to four decades' and sightings are 'increasingly more sparse'.

All four statements are mentioned in the article as threats to the Bengal fox. The article states: 'Habitat loss through agricultural expansion... The moment agriculture becomes irrigated agriculture, it changes the habitat entirely and the landscape becomes unsuitable for the species' (1). 'The fragmentation of open scrubland by roads and development' (2). 'Direct persecution during traditional festivals' (3). 'The encroachment of feral dogs bringing disease into fox territories' (4).

The article explicitly defines the relevance of 'edge species' for the Bengal fox: 'As the foxes are 'edge species', inhabiting habitats between forests and agricultural areas, much of their habitat falls outside protected areas, requiring co-ordination between different government departments in protecting remaining habitats.' Option B accurately reflects this.