Flora and Fauna of India — Study Notes

Overview

India is one of the world's 17 mega-diverse countries, hosting around 7–8% of all recorded species on just 2.4% of Earth's land area. This diversity stems from varied climatic zones—from the Himalayas to tropical rainforests and deserts. For RRB NTPC General Awareness, you must know the major **national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, endangered species, and flagship wildlife**. Questions typically ask about the location of a park, which animal is protected there, or identification of endangered species. This topic bridges geography, environment and static GK, so expect 2–4 direct questions from national parks, biosphere reserves and endangered fauna.

Mastery means memorising the state-wise distribution of about 15–20 important protected areas, recognising India's key endangered species (both IUCN Red List and Wildlife Protection Act schedules), and understanding India's biodiversity hotspots—Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas. Keep a mental map of which animal is the mascot or key species of which park.

Key Concepts

• **National Parks** are IUCN Category II protected areas where human activity (except tourism and research) is strictly prohibited. India has over 100 national parks; boundaries are defined by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature.
• **Wildlife Sanctuaries** allow limited human activity like grazing and collection of forest produce, but killing or capturing wildlife is banned. India has about 550 wildlife sanctuaries.
• **Biosphere Reserves** are multi-use areas with core zones (strict protection), buffer zones (limited activity) and transition zones (human settlements). India has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves, 12 of which are on UNESCO's World Network.
• **Endangered species** are classified under IUCN categories: Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU). India's Wildlife Protection Act 1972 lists species in Schedules I to V; Schedule I offers maximum protection.
• **Biodiversity hotspots**: India hosts two out of 36 global hotspots—Western Ghats & Sri Lanka, and Indo-Burma (includes Eastern Himalayas and Northeast). These are defined by high endemism and significant habitat loss.
• **Project Tiger** (1973) and **Project Elephant** (1992) are flagship conservation programmes. As of 2023, India has 53 tiger reserves under Project Tiger.
• **Endemic species** are found only in India or specific regions within India. Examples: Lion-tailed Macaque (Western Ghats), Sangai deer (Manipur), Nilgiri Tahr (Western Ghats).
• **Migratory species**: Siberian cranes (now extinct in India), Amur falcons (Nagaland), flamingos (Rann of Kutch, Chilika) and bar-headed geese (wetlands) come seasonally; protected under international conventions like CMS and Ramsar.

Formulas / Key Facts

1. **India's biodiversity rank**: 7th in mammals, 9th in birds, 5th in reptiles and amphibians. 2. **Total Protected Areas (approx.)**: 106 National Parks, 566 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 18 Biosphere Reserves (as of 2023). 3. **UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Natural)**: 7 — Kaziranga, Keoladeo, Manas, Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers, Sundarbans, Western Ghats, Great Himalayan National Park. 4. **Project Tiger**: Launched 1973; 53 tiger reserves; mascot species: Bengal Tiger (Schedule I). 5. **Project Elephant**: Launched 1992; focus on 32 elephant reserves; Asian Elephant (Schedule I). 6. **Asiatic Lion**: Found **only** in Gir National Park, Gujarat. Schedule I, Critically Endangered. 7. **One-Horned Rhinoceros**: Kaziranga (Assam), Manas (Assam), Jaldapara (West Bengal), Orang (Assam). Schedule I, Vulnerable. 8. **Snow Leopard**: High-altitude Himalayas (Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim); Schedule I, Vulnerable. 9. **Great Indian Bustard**: Critically Endangered; primarily Desert National Park (Rajasthan). Schedule I. 10. **Ganges River Dolphin**: National Aquatic Animal; Schedule I, Endangered; found in Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems. 11. **Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve**: First biosphere reserve in India (1986), includes Mudumalai, Bandipur, Nagarhole. 12. **Western Ghats**: Biodiversity hotspot; endemic species include Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Malabar Civet.

Worked Examples

**Example 1: Identifying the park from the animal** *Question:* Kaziranga National Park is famous for which endangered animal? *Solution:* Kaziranga (Assam) is the world's largest population stronghold of the **One-Horned Rhinoceros**. Also home to Bengal tiger, Asian elephant and swamp deer. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. *Answer:* One-Horned Rhinoceros.

**Example 2: State-park matching** *Question:* Which national park is located in Madhya Pradesh and is known for its tiger population? *Solution:* Madhya Pradesh has multiple tiger reserves: **Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Panna**. Kanha is famous for the barasingha (swamp deer) as well. Bandhavgarh has the highest density of tigers. *Answer:* Kanha or Bandhavgarh (exam will name one specifically; know both).

**Example 3: Endangered species classification** *Question:* Which of the following is Critically Endangered: (A) Bengal Tiger (B) Great Indian Bustard (C) Asian Elephant (D) Snow Leopard *Solution:* According to IUCN Red List—

• Bengal Tiger: Endangered
• Great Indian Bustard: **Critically Endangered** (fewer than 150 individuals)
• Asian Elephant: Endangered
• Snow Leopard: Vulnerable

*Answer:* (B) Great Indian Bustard.

Common Mistakes

1. **Confusing Gir and Kaziranga**: Gir National Park (Gujarat) is for **Asiatic Lion**, Kaziranga (Assam) is for **One-Horned Rhino**. Students mix these up. Remember: "Gir-Lion, Kaziranga-Rhino." 2. **Manas vs. Sundarbans**: Both are in eastern India and UNESCO sites, but Manas (Assam) is known for rhinos and golden langur; Sundarbans (West Bengal) is famous for **Royal Bengal Tiger** and mangrove forests. Don't confuse their states or flagship animals. 3. **Assuming all big cats are endangered equally**: Bengal tiger is Endangered, Snow Leopard is Vulnerable, Asiatic Lion is Critically Endangered (IUCN lists it as EN but very small population). Cheetah is **extinct** in India (reintroduced in 2022 from Namibia). 4. **Biosphere reserve vs. national park**: Students use the terms interchangeably. A biosphere reserve can **contain** national parks and sanctuaries (e.g., Nilgiri BR includes Mudumalai NP). The BR is a larger landscape concept; NP is strict protection. 5. **Forgetting state locations**: Exam questions often hinge on "In which state is X park?" Corbett is Uttarakhand, Periyar is Kerala, Ranthambore is Rajasthan. Make flashcards state-wise.

Quick Reference

• **Gir National Park (Gujarat)**: Only home of Asiatic Lion.
• **Kaziranga NP (Assam)**: One-Horned Rhinoceros, UNESCO site.
• **Jim Corbett NP (Uttarakhand)**: First national park in India (1936, then Hailey NP); Bengal tiger.
• **Sundarbans NP (West Bengal)**: Royal Bengal Tiger, largest mangrove forest, UNESCO site.
• **Keoladeo Ghana NP (Rajasthan)**: Bird sanctuary, migratory waterfowl, UNESCO site (formerly Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary).
• **Periyar NP (Kerala)**: Elephant, tiger; located in Western Ghats.
• **Ranthambore NP (Rajasthan)**: Famous for tiger sightings, historical Ranthambore Fort inside.
• **Great Himalayan NP (Himachal Pradesh)**: Snow leopard, Himalayan biodiversity, UNESCO site.
• **Bandipur NP (Karnataka)**: Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; tiger, elephant, gaur.
• **Endangered species to memorize**: Asiatic Lion, One-Horned Rhino, Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, Great Indian Bustard, Ganges River Dolphin, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Hangul (Kashmir stag).
• **India's National Animal**: Bengal Tiger. **National Bird**: Indian Peacock. **National Aquatic Animal**: Ganges River Dolphin.
• **Western Ghats + Eastern Himalayas**: India's two biodiversity hotspots.
• **Total Tiger Reserves**: 53 (as of 2023).
• **Wildlife Protection Act**: 1972; Schedule I gives absolute protection (no hunting, high penalties).
• **Project Tiger launched**: 1973. **Project Elephant launched**: 1992.

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**Exam Tip**: Make a table — columns for Park Name | State | Famous For | UNESCO (Yes/No). Fill in 20 top parks. Revise this table weekly. For endangered species, group by habitat: Himalayan (snow leopard, red panda), Grassland (Great Indian Bustard), Wetland (dolphins), Forest (tiger, lion). This structure prevents last-minute cramming confusion.