RAS question
National Chambal Sanctuary is famous for conservation of which species?
Correct answer: (D) Gharial.
National Chambal Sanctuary is famous for the conservation of the gharial, a critically endangered species protected along the Chambal River.
Explanation
National Chambal Sanctuary follows the Chambal River landscape across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; its Rajasthan stretch is associated with areas around Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur. According to the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board, gharials and freshwater dolphins are among the sanctuary's prominent species, and the sanctuary was notified in 1979 mainly to protect the rapidly declining population of the critically endangered gharial. The Chambal River flowing through the sanctuary protects gharials in the wild, making gharial the best answer. Its wider conservation context also includes turtles, the threatened Gangetic dolphin and other river fauna.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Great Indian Bustard is linked with Desert National Park, not National Chambal Sanctuary.
- (B) Blackbuck is not the species for which National Chambal Sanctuary is famous here; blackbuck is associated with Tal Chhapar.
- (C) Tiger is a Rajasthan wildlife marker for reserves such as Ranthambore and Sariska, not this Chambal riverine sanctuary.
Concept
This question tests the Rajasthan geography theme of matching protected areas with their flagship species. Such pairs recur in RAS because they test ecological regions, conservation priorities and map locations together.