Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites ?
- (a) Corbett National Park
- (b) Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- (d) Sariska National Park
Why the answer is (b)
• Because all Asiatic lions live in one landscape around Gir, a single epidemic or disaster could wipe them out; the Supreme Court in 2013 ordered translocation of some lions to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh — option (b).
• Gujarat has resisted; Kuno was instead used in 2022 for the reintroduction of African cheetahs.
• Corbett (a), Mudumalai (c) and Sariska (d) are tiger habitats not selected for lions.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Corbett National Park
- Corbett was not proposed for lions.
- (c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- Mudumalai was not proposed for lions.
- (d) Sariska National Park
- Sariska was for tiger reintroduction, not lions.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.