Indian Flora and Fauna

Maharashtra's state bird is the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus), commonly called 'Hariyal' in Marathi. This forest-dwelling species is distinct from common urban pigeons which are typically grey or white.

The Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat is the sole remaining natural habitat of the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo leo) in the world. No other Indian state or country has a wild population of these lions.

The Asiatic Lion is the state animal of Gujarat, specifically found in the Gir Forest National Park. Hence, Lion is the correct option.

The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the state bird of Gujarat. These birds are found in large numbers in the Rann of Kutch, which is their only known breeding ground in the Indian subcontinent.

The Swamp Deer (Barasingha) is the official state animal of Madhya Pradesh. This hard-ground swamp deer is found primarily in the Kanha Tiger Reserve and represents a major conservation success story.

Jharkhand literally translates to 'land of forests' and is popularly known as 'Vananchal' or 'Land of Jungles'. The state has significant forest cover and is known for its natural resources, mines, and tribal heritage.

The state bird of Jharkhand is the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), commonly known as cuckoo. This bird was chosen as it's commonly found in the region and has cultural significance. The state also has a state animal (elephant) and state flower (palash).

Sunderbans is the correct answer. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning West Bengal and Bangladesh, famous for its mangrove forests and Royal Bengal Tigers that have adapted to the saline water. Gorumara, Neora, and Singalila are wildlife sanctuaries in North Bengal but lack the global fame and tiger population of Sunderbans.

Ranthambore National Park, located in Rajasthan, India, is famous as one of the premier tiger reserves in the country. It was established specifically for tiger conservation and is renowned for its tiger population and successful tiger preservation programs. The park is not known for deer, lions, or giraffes - those would be found in different wildlife reserves.

Bandipur National Park is located in Karnataka and is one of India's premier tiger reserves. Bandhavgarh is in Madhya Pradesh, Manas is in Assam, and Royal Chitwan is in Nepal.

The Gaur (Indian bison) is the official state animal of Goa, declared in 2012. Bulls, goats, and cows are domestic animals found throughout India but not designated as state symbols of Goa.

Jim Corbett National Park (established 1936 as Hailey National Park) is India's oldest national park. Ranthambore became a national park in 1980, Eravikulam in 1978. Bandipur (likely what 'Banarghat' refers to) was established in 1974. Corbett's 1936 founding date makes it the oldest.

The correct answer is B (Black buck). The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is indeed the state animal of Punjab. Options A (Indian elephant), C (Gaur), and D (Tiger) are state animals of other Indian states.

The Hangul (Kashmir stag) is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir - a rare red deer subspecies found only in the region. Bull is generic, Polar bear is found in Arctic regions, and Yak is found in Ladakh but is not the state animal (though it is the state animal of Ladakh UT).