UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Craig the elephant, and the promise and problem of wildlife ‘superstars’

Question 1

In the context of African elephant conservation, the term 'super tusker' refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A bull elephant whose each tusk weighs approximately 45 kilograms or more

Answer

An adult elephant whose combined tusk length exceeds 3 metres

Answer

A matriarch leading a clan of more than 20 individuals across two ecosystems

Answer

A male elephant in musth whose tusks have not been trimmed by rangers

Question 2

According to the IUCN Red List assessment that reclassified African elephants in 2021, by approximately what percentage has the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) population declined over the last 50 years?

Accepted Answer

At least 60%

Answer

At least 30%

Answer

At least 45%

Answer

At least 86%

Question 3

The 2021 reclassification of African elephants into two distinct species — savanna and forest — for conservation status purposes was published under the authority of which one of the following bodies?

Accepted Answer

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List

Answer

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Answer

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Answer

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat

Question 4

Craig, the elephant whose death in January 2026 reignited global debate on the conservation value of charismatic individual animals, was the flagship resident of which one of the following protected areas?

Accepted Answer

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Answer

Tsavo East National Park, Kenya

Answer

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Answer

Kruger National Park, South Africa

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Craig the elephant, and the promise and problem of wildlife ‘superstars’

Q1. In the context of African elephant conservation, the term 'super tusker' refers to which one of the following?

Q2. According to the IUCN Red List assessment that reclassified African elephants in 2021, by approximately what percentage has the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) population declined over the last 50 years?

Q3. The 2021 reclassification of African elephants into two distinct species — savanna and forest — for conservation status purposes was published under the authority of which one of the following bodies?

Q4. Craig, the elephant whose death in January 2026 reignited global debate on the conservation value of charismatic individual animals, was the flagship resident of which one of the following protected areas?