Indian Flora and Fauna

Periyar National Park is located in Kerala state in southern India. It is situated in the Idukki and Kottayam districts and is one of the most visited national parks in South India. The park is centered around the Periyar River and is famous for its elephant and tiger populations.

The flying fox is a species of bat - specifically a large fruit bat. Despite the confusing name, it is definitely a bat, not a bird of prey like eagles, vultures, or owls. They are called 'flying fox' due to their fox-like facial features.

Salman Khan was arrested for poaching a black antelope (chinkara) near Jodhpur, Rajasthan in 1998. This high-profile case involved hunting endangered species during a film shoot. The incidents occurred in the Jodhpur district, not Jaipur, Udaipur, or Kota.

Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, not Shahdol district as stated (though Shahdol is nearby). It is renowned for having one of the highest densities of Bengal tigers in India. The other locations - Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Chikmagalur (Karnataka), and Nainital (Uttarakhand) - host different wildlife sanctuaries.

Both mugger crocodiles and Asian elephants are endangered species in India. The crocodile population declined due to habitat loss and hunting, while elephants face threats from poaching and habitat fragmentation. Conservation efforts like Project Crocodile and Project Elephant aim to protect these species.

The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is endemic to central China, specifically Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Its habitat restricted to bamboo forests makes it a conservation icon. The WWF adopted this black-and-white bear as its logo in 1961, chosen for its universal appeal and endangered status.

The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat was established in 1965 specifically to protect the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), which is restricted to this single habitat. Gir Forest is the last remaining refuge of the Asiatic lion subspecies, making it crucial for conservation. Tigers live in reserves like Ranthambore; leopards are widespread across India.

Elephas maximus is the scientific name for the Asian elephant. This endangered species is primarily found in the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Kerala, Karnataka, and Odisha (formerly Orissa). The other options - Black buck, Wild buffalo - are different endangered species found in India.

The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) was rediscovered in central India in 2002 by the Bombay Natural History Society after being thought extinct for over 113 years. The Pink-headed Duck and Himalayan Mountain Quail remain critically endangered and possibly extinct, while the Masked Finfoot is rare but was never 'lost' and rediscovered.

The Javan rhinoceros is the most critically endangered rhino species with fewer than 75 individuals remaining, all in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park. The Sumatran rhino is also critically endangered but has a slightly larger population, while the Indian one-horned rhino has rebounded to over 3,700 individuals. African black rhino populations have also shown recovery.

This is a duplicate question of 42053. The Javan rhinoceros is the most critically endangered rhino species with fewer than 75 individuals remaining, all in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park.

Kaziranga National Park is located in the state of Assam, in northeastern India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its one-horned rhinoceros population. Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, and Gujarat are incorrect locations for Kaziranga.

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve is located in Jammu and Kashmir, a region known for its scenic beauty and alpine meadows. It was established to protect the unique Himalayan ecosystem. Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, and Madhya Pradesh are incorrect locations.

Bandipur National Park is located in the state of Karnataka, in the southern part of India. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is known for its tiger and elephant populations. Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and West Bengal are incorrect locations.

Kanha National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh, in central India. It is one of India's largest national parks and inspired Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book.' Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, and West Bengal are incorrect locations.