RAS question
Gir National Park, known for Asiatic lions, is in which state?
Correct answer: (A) Gujarat.
Gir National Park, known for Asiatic lions, is located in Gujarat.
Explanation
Gir National Park is in Gujarat, about 65 km south-east in Junagadh district, as the official District Junagadh page states. The park was established on 18 September 1965 as a forest reserve to conserve the Asiatic lion, and its association with Asiatic lions points directly to Gujarat. The District Junagadh page describes Gir as one of India's finest wildlife sanctuaries and identifies the lion as its main wildlife attraction. Gir National Park was established in 1965, and India has 106 national parks covering about 1.35% of the country's total geographic area, placing this fact within the standard national-parks portion of Environment and Ecology.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Uttarakhand is wrong because the official District Junagadh page locates Gir National Park in Junagadh district of Gujarat, not in Uttarakhand.
- (C) Rajasthan is wrong because Gir National Park is associated with Asiatic lions and is located in Gujarat.
- (D) Assam is wrong because Gir National Park is located in Gujarat and is the protected area associated with Asiatic lions.
Concept
This tests the Environment and Ecology mapping of national parks to states and flagship species. RAS repeats such questions because protected-area locations are a compact way to test biodiversity, conservation and geography together.