UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Kaziranga bids adieu to iconic patrol elephant Joymala
Q1. Kaziranga National Park holds the world's single largest population of which one of the following species?
- A. Great one-horned rhinoceros
- B. Royal Bengal tiger
- C. Asiatic elephant
- D. Eastern swamp deer
Q2. With reference to Kaziranga and Manas, consider the following statements:
1. Both were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the same year, 1985.
2. Kaziranga lies on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, whereas Manas lies along the Manas River at the foot of the Himalayas.
3. Unlike Manas, Kaziranga has never been designated a Tiger Reserve.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Both were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the same year, 1985.
- Kaziranga lies on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, whereas Manas lies along the Manas River at the foot of the Himalayas.
- Unlike Manas, Kaziranga has never been designated a Tiger Reserve.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. As per the 2022 census, approximately how many greater one-horned rhinoceroses are found in Kaziranga National Park?
- A. 2,613
- B. 1,855
- C. 3,339
- D. 2,048
Q4. Which one of the following best describes the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)?
- A. The largest of the three Asian rhino species, restricted mainly to India and Nepal
- B. The smallest Asian rhino, confined to Sumatra and Borneo
- C. A two-horned Asian rhino surviving only in Java
- D. The largest of all rhinoceros species worldwide
Q5. With reference to kumki (patrol) elephants used in Indian wildlife management, consider the following statements:
1. Kumkis are captive-trained elephants deployed to capture, rescue or treat wild elephants.
2. At Kaziranga, patrol elephants are colloquially termed 'jungle warriors'.
3. Kumkis are, by definition, wild untrained tuskers seized directly from the forest for immediate patrol duty.
4. Patrol elephants help forest staff traverse flood-prone, dense terrain during anti-poaching duty.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Kumkis are captive-trained elephants deployed to capture, rescue or treat wild elephants.
- At Kaziranga, patrol elephants are colloquially termed 'jungle warriors'.
- Kumkis are, by definition, wild untrained tuskers seized directly from the forest for immediate patrol duty.
- Patrol elephants help forest staff traverse flood-prone, dense terrain during anti-poaching duty.
- A. 3 only
- B. 1 and 3
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q6. In Indian wildlife management, the term 'kumki' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A captive-trained elephant used to capture, rescue or treat wild elephants
- B. A wild bull elephant in musth that raids crops
- C. A forest guard specially trained in tranquiliser darting
- D. An elevated watchtower used for anti-poaching surveillance
Q7. With reference to the Kaziranga patrol elephant Joymala, consider the following statements:
1. She was inducted as a patrol elephant in 1992 and served until her death in 2026.
2. She gained international fame in 2004 when a stray tiger leapt over her during a patrol.
3. She was the only patrol elephant ever deployed at Kaziranga.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- She was inducted as a patrol elephant in 1992 and served until her death in 2026.
- She gained international fame in 2004 when a stray tiger leapt over her during a patrol.
- She was the only patrol elephant ever deployed at Kaziranga.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. For approximately how many years did Joymala serve as a Kaziranga patrol elephant before her death in 2026?
- A. 34 years
- B. 24 years
- C. 44 years
- D. 66 years
Q9. In India, the core or critical habitat of a Tiger Reserve is notified under which one of the following?
- A. Section 38V of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2006)
- B. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- C. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- D. The Indian Forest Act, 1927
Q10. Among Assam's protected areas, how many are inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (natural)?
Q11. Which one of the following Assam protected areas was the first to be constituted as a Tiger Reserve?
- A. Manas
- B. Kaziranga
- C. Orang
- D. Nameri