Analyzing National Parks and Their Famous Wildlife

Let's examine each pair provided in the question to determine which national parks are correctly matched with the animal they are famous for. Understanding the key species protected in India's national parks is important for competitive exams.

Now, let's look at each pair in detail:

• Pair 1: Ranthambhore and Tiger
  Ranthambhore National Park is located in Rajasthan, India, and is indeed very famous for its population of tigers. It is one of the best places in India to see tigers in their natural habitat. This pair is correctly matched.
• Pair 2: Periyar and Elephant
  Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala, India. It is widely known for its significant population of Indian elephants, often seen bathing or playing in the Periyar Lake. It is also a tiger reserve. This pair is correctly matched.
• Pair 3: Manas and Lion
  Manas National Park is located in Assam, India. While it is a rich biodiversity area, it is primarily famous for its tigers (it's a Project Tiger Reserve), elephants (part of Project Elephant), and the rare Indian one-horned rhinoceros (part of Project Rhino). Lions, specifically Asiatic lions, are not found in Manas; they are found in the Gir Forest. This pair is incorrectly matched.
• Pair 4: Gir and Rhinoceros
  Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat, India. Gir is uniquely famous as the last remaining natural habitat of the Asiatic Lion in the world. Rhinoceros species are not found in Gir. This pair is incorrectly matched.

Based on the analysis, the correctly matched pairs are 1 (Ranthambhore - Tiger) and 2 (Periyar - Elephant).

Identifying the Correct Option

We found that pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched, while pairs 3 and 4 are incorrectly matched. We need to select the option that lists only the correct pairs.

• Option 1: 1, 2 and 3 only (Incorrect, includes 3)
• Option 2: 1 and 2 only (Correct)
• Option 3: 1 and 4 only (Incorrect, includes 4)
• Option 4: 2 only (Incorrect, misses 1)

Therefore, the correct answer is the one stating that only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

Revision Table: National Parks and Wildlife

Additional Information on Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries

India has a diverse range of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, each protecting unique ecosystems and species. These protected areas play a crucial role in conservation efforts.

• National Parks: These are areas strictly reserved for the betterment of wildlife and biodiversity, where no human activity is permitted.
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: These are protected areas that are also reserved for the conservation of wildlife, but certain human activities, such as collection of minor forest produce or regulated tourism, might be allowed.
• Understanding which animals are native to which regions of India helps in matching national parks with their famous species. For example, Asiatic Lions are only found in Gir. Tigers have a wider distribution across many parks, while the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros is primarily found in Assam (Kaziranga, Manas) and parts of West Bengal and Nepal.
• Conservation projects like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and Project Rhino have been instrumental in protecting these key species in their habitats within these parks and sanctuaries.