Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
- (a) Bhitarkanika National Park
- (b) Keibul Lamjao National Park ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park
- (d) Sultanpur National Park
Why the answer is (b)
• Keibul Lamjao National Park on Loktak Lake, Manipur, is the world's only floating national park: it consists of phumdis — floating mats of vegetation and soil — and is the last home of the endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer) — option (b).
• Bhitarkanika (a) is a mangrove park; Keoladeo (c) a man-made wetland bird sanctuary; Sultanpur (d) a bird sanctuary in Haryana.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Bhitarkanika National Park
- Bhitarkanika is a mangrove ecosystem, not a floating swamp.
- (c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park
- Keoladeo is a wetland bird park without floating phumdis.
- (d) Sultanpur National Park
- Sultanpur is a bird sanctuary in Haryana.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.