The question asks to identify animals that cannot be hunted as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, except under specific legal provisions. This requires knowledge of the schedules under the Act, particularly Schedule I, which provides the highest level of protection.
Correct Option: D) 1, 2 and 3
The question asks about the primary habitat of the Indian Gazelle, also known as Chinkara. To answer this, one needs to recall the typical geographical distribution and preferred ecosystems of this species.
Correct Option: C) The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is characterized by sand dunes, thorny scrub, and dry grasslands. The Indian Gazelle (Chinkara) is highly adapted to these dry conditions and is commonly found in the Thar Desert and other arid and semi-arid plains and hills of India and Pakistan. Their ability to survive with minimal water intake makes them perfectly suited for such environments.
The question asks to identify the animal whose major threat is hunting for local use, and the trade of its skin, scales, and meat. This requires knowledge of the conservation status and specific threats faced by each animal listed in the options.
A) Chinese Pangolin — Pangolins are critically endangered due to extensive poaching for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine, and their meat, which is considered a delicacy. This aligns perfectly with the threats described in the question.
The question asks to identify the animal that has a specialized habitat preference for sand deserts. This requires knowledge of the typical habitats of the listed feline species.
B) Sand Cat — The Sand Cat (Felis margarita) is perfectly adapted to desert life, with features like thick fur to protect against extreme temperatures, large ears for enhanced hearing to detect prey under sand, and padded paws to move silently and avoid sinking in sand. Its distribution is entirely within arid and semi-arid regions.
The question asks to identify an animal that is endemic to the Nicobar Islands. Endemic means that the species is found exclusively in that geographical area. We need to evaluate each option based on its known distribution.
Based on this evaluation, the Crab-Eating Macaque is the only animal listed that is endemic to the Nicobar Islands.
Correct Option: B) Crab Eating Macaque
The question asks about the salinity tolerance limit of the Ganges River Dolphin. This requires knowledge of the ecological characteristics of this specific species, particularly its habitat requirements and physiological limitations regarding water salinity.
C) 10 ppt — The Ganges River Dolphin is a freshwater species and cannot tolerate salinity levels above approximately 10 ppt. Higher salinity levels can cause osmotic stress and other physiological problems, making survival impossible for this species.