UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India needs a second home for Asiatic lions

Q1. The 2025 figure of 891 Asiatic lions was produced by which of the following exercises?

  • A. The All India Tiger Estimation extended by the National Tiger Conservation Authority
  • B. The 16th Lion Population Estimation conducted by the State of Gujarat
  • C. A decadal synchronised census by the Zoological Survey of India
  • D. The National Wildlife Census conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India

Q2. In the context of Asiatic lion conservation, Kuno-Palpur was identified primarily as which one of the following?

  • A. A captive-breeding centre to raise lion cubs for later release into Gir
  • B. The most suitable site to establish a second, free-ranging wild population of lions through translocation
  • C. A rescue-and-rehabilitation centre for lions injured in human-wildlife conflict
  • D. An ex-situ safari park for displaying lions to tourists

Q3. In September 2022, how many cheetahs were flown in from Namibia and released at Kuno National Park under Project Cheetah?

  • A. 6
  • B. 8
  • C. 12
  • D. 20

Q4. The field survey that assessed Kuno, Darrah–Jawahar Sagar and Sitamata and ranked Kuno as most suitable for lion reintroduction was carried out by which institution?

  • A. Zoological Survey of India
  • B. Bombay Natural History Society
  • C. Wildlife Institute of India
  • D. National Tiger Conservation Authority

Q5. The Asiatic lion is counted among how many critically endangered species identified by the Union Environment Ministry for dedicated recovery programmes?

  • A. 15
  • B. 17
  • C. 21
  • D. 25

Q6. The rationale that a single localised population could be wiped out by one epidemic or large forest fire — justifying a second home for the lion — was judicially accepted, mandating translocation, in which year?

  • A. 2005
  • B. 2013
  • C. 2018
  • D. 2020

Q7. Regarding the Centre-State dimension of the lion translocation issue, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Supreme Court's 2013 order was directed at the Gujarat Government, which has resisted parting with lions.
  2. Kuno, the court-designated recipient site, lies in Madhya Pradesh.
  3. The Centre subsequently prioritised Kuno for the African cheetah instead of the lion.
  4. Since forests and wildlife fall under the Union List, the Centre can order translocation without any State involvement.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4