Understanding the disappearance of Egyptian Vulture in Tamil Nadu

Statement 1 is Correct: The Western Hoolock Gibbon is native to North-east India, and the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam is a prominent protected area specifically dedicated to this species. Furthermore, the Western Hoolock Gibbon is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Statement 2 is Correct: They are highly arboreal canopy-dwellers. They move primarily through brachiation—a specialized mode of locomotion where they use their exceptionally long arms to swing swiftly and effortlessly from tree branch to tree branch. Statement 3 is Incorrect: Gibbons are classified as "lesser apes" (family *Hylobatidae*). Unlike "great apes" such as gorillas which possess massive, heavy builds, Hoolock gibbons are small, slender, and lightweight. Adults typically weigh only 6 to 9 kg, a physical adaptation that is essential for their remarkable aerial agility in the forest canopy. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

The Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula) is a rare, tree-dwelling spider found in limited forest areas in India. ❌ Statement I is incorrect:
* It is a spider (arachnid), not an omnivorous crustacean. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* Its habitat is restricted to some forest areas in the Eastern Ghats. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It is arboreal, living in trees and tree crevices. So, the correct answer is: D

Statement 1 is Correct: Doyang Lake in Nagaland represents a major community-led conservation victory. Previously, hundreds of thousands of Amur Falcons were trapped and hunted annually. Following sustained interventions by conservationists, NGOs, and the Nagaland Forest Department, local communities completely stopped the hunting, turning into protectors. This safe passage earned Nagaland the title "Falcon Capital of the World." Statement 2 is Incorrect: Scientists use advanced tracking technologies (like lightweight solar-powered satellite transmitters) to monitor and study the falcons' migration routes, stopover durations, and flight speeds. These devices collect data for researchers; they do not guide the birds. The falcons rely entirely on natural navigation and environmental cues to find their way back to stopover sites. Statement 3 is Incorrect: Amur Falcons are long-distance migratory raptors, not permanent residents of India. They breed in Siberia and Northern China and migrate annually to their wintering grounds in Southern Africa. During their approximately 22,000 km journey, they use Northeast India—specifically Doyang Lake in Nagaland—as a temporary stopover for a few weeks (October–November) to build fat reserves before undertaking a massive non-stop flight across the Arabian Sea. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

* The National Aquatic animal of India is the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica). * The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal on 18th May 2010.
* The dolphin is blind and faces a severe threat from the heavy pollution and habitat destruction in the waters where it lives. * It has been declared Endangered in the IUCN Red List, and it is assumed that fewer than 2000 individuals remain. This dolphin, called susu or susuk in India, is thought to represent the purity of the Ganga.

* 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.

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.

Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttarakhand): Musk deer are found in the high altitudes of the Himalayan region. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Uttarakhand, is specifically known for conserving the musk deer and its habitat. Gangotri National Park (Uttarakhand): Gangotri National Park, also located in Uttarakhand, is another high altitude region where musk deer can be found. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh): This sanctuary primarily consists of terai grasslands and does not provide a suitable habitat for musk deer. Manas National Park (Assam): This park is located in the northeastern plains and is home to species like tigers, rhinos, and elephants, but not musk deer. Therefore, the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat are Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park.

The Star tortoise, Monitor lizard, and Pygmy Hog are all species that are naturally found in India. * The Star tortoise is a medium-sized species of tortoise found in the dry and arid forests of India. * Monitor lizards are prevalent in India, with four kinds occurring: Bengal monitor lizard, water monitor lizard, desert monitor lizard, and yellow monitor lizard. * The Pygmy Hog is a critically endangered species that was once found in Bhutan, Nepal, and India, but is now only found in India. * However, Spider monkeys are not found in India. They live in tropical climates, specifically the evergreen forests of Central and South America. Therefore, the correct answer is 1, 2, and 3 only.

* 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 1 is incorrect: The article states the Egyptian Vulture is globally listed as 'Endangered' by the IUCN, not Critically Endangered. Statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct as per the article. It mentions local extinction in The Nilgiris, Karnataka having significant breeding populations, and Tamil Nadu serving as a wintering habitat for migratory birds.

The article explicitly mentions the use of veterinary NSAIDs (like diclofenac), electrocution, disturbance of nesting cliffs, and changes in traditional livestock-rearing practices (shift to settled agriculture) as factors contributing to the decline. Increased predation by invasive species (Statement 5) is not mentioned in the article.

The article explicitly states that the Egyptian Vulture shared a unique cultural association with 'several communities and temple traditions across peninsular India', specifically mentioning a photograph from 1906 depicting them being fed by priests at the Vedagiriswarar Temple at Tirukazhukundram. It also mentions Kota communities, renowned for their traditional leather-working practices, unintentionally creating ideal feeding opportunities for vultures. Statements 3 and 4 are not mentioned in the article.