Indian Flora and Fauna

In 2001, Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha witnessed the tragic death of 13 tigers within a week. The deaths were caused by trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by tsetse flies. This incident raised serious concerns about zoo management and animal healthcare in Indian zoos. The zoo is located near the Chandaka forest and is one of the largest zoos in India.

Gir National Park is located in Junagadh district of Gujarat. It is the sole home of Asiatic lions and a major wildlife sanctuary. Kalikote, Balasore, and Madhugarh are incorrect locations.

Simlipal Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha (formerly Orissa). It is part of the Simlipal National Park and Biosphere Reserve, known for Bengal tigers and biodiversity. West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand are incorrect states.

The Great Indian Bustard is primarily found in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan, which is its main habitat. This critically endangered bird needs grassland and scrub ecosystems. The Deccan Plateau, Sundarbans, and Sambhar Lake are not its primary habitats.

The correct scientific name for the Bengal/Indian tiger is Panthera tigris. Panthera pardus refers to the leopard. Felis is the genus for small cats, making Felis tigris incorrect. Felis chaus is the jungle cat.

Kaziranga National Park in Assam harbors the largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceros population. Periyar and Kanha are known for other wildlife, while Corbett is famous for tigers.

The scientific name of the common cobra (Indian spectacled cobra) is Naja naja, where both genus and species names are 'Naja.' This repetition occurs when the species is the type species for its genus. The other options (aja, baja, maja) are not valid taxonomic names.

Naja naja is the correct binomial name for the common cobra. 'Naja' is the genus of cobras. The options 'aja', 'baja', and 'maja' are fictitious and not valid scientific names.

Kanha National Park is situated in Madhya Pradesh, one of India's premier tiger reserves located in the Maikal range of Satpuras. It is not in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, or Uttar Pradesh. The park is famous for its tigers and barasingha deer.

The Peacock is India's national bird, officially designated in 1963. It is native to India and represents grace and beauty in Indian culture. The Cattle Egret is found in India but not the national bird. Mute swan and Whooper swan are European species.

India's National Emblem features four lions standing back to back, adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. It's not a tiger, leopard, or elephant. The lions represent power, courage, and confidence.

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Uttarakhand state in northern India. It is situated in the Chamoli district and is named after the famous Kedarnath Temple. The sanctuary is part of the Garhwal Himalayan region and is known for its diverse flora and fauna.

Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary (now Kaziranga National Park) is located in Assam state in northeastern India. It is UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its one-horned rhinoceros population. The park is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.

Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary (now Kuno National Park) is located in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It is situated in the Sheopur district and has been in news for being the selected site for the Asiatic lion reintroduction project from Gujarat.

Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Karnataka state in southwestern India. It is situated in Kodagu district and is where the river Kaveri originates. The sanctuary is named after the Talakaveri temple at the source of the Kaveri River.