RAS question
Bharatpur (Keoladeo) National Park is famous for:
Correct answer: (C) Migratory birds (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Bharatpur's Keoladeo National Park is famous for migratory birds and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explanation
Keoladeo National Park, also known as Bharatpur National Park and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is associated with birds rather than big mammals. Its woodlands, swamps, wet grasslands, and human-made wetlands support resident and migratory birds. The park lies on the Central Asian migratory flyway and attracts winter visitors from regions including Siberia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was an important wintering ground for the Siberian crane, and has 375 bird species according to UNESCO's Statement of Outstanding Universal Value. Therefore, in an RAS geography question about Bharatpur or Keoladeo, migratory birds are the correct association rather than lions, elephants, or tigers.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Lions are not the fauna for which Keoladeo is known; the park is identified with its wetlands and resident and migratory birds.
- (B) Elephants are not the feature associated with this Bharatpur park; Keoladeo is renowned for its wetlands and migratory birds.
- (D) Tigers are not the correct association because Keoladeo is known as a bird sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not as a tiger reserve.
Concept
This question tests the distinctive fauna of Rajasthan's protected areas, a recurring RAS theme in which a place is paired with its principal wildlife association. Keoladeo is the standard Bharatpur association for migratory birds and UNESCO World Heritage recognition.