✅ Answer: A) 1 and 2 onlyPairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched. Kaziranga is in Assam (one-horned rhino). Gir Forest is in Gujarat (Asiatic lion). Pair 3 is incorrect — Sundarbans National Park is in West Bengal (not Odisha). Bhitarkanika National Park is in Odisha (saltwater crocodile, mangroves). Sundarbans is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site.

✅ Answer: A) OdishaChilika Lake is located in Odisha. It is India’s largest coastal lagoon and was designated as India’s first Ramsar site in 1981 (along with Keoladeo Ghana, Rajasthan). Chilika Lake is famous for migratory birds (flamingos, pelicans), Irrawaddy dolphins, and diverse fish species. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal. It supports the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen.

✅ Answer: A) Telangana and Andhra PradeshThe Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve spans both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It is the largest tiger reserve in India by area (~3,568 sq km). It is located in the Nallamala Hills along the Krishna river. It is also home to leopards, sloth bears, and Indian wolves. The reserve is named after the Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam dams on the Krishna river.

✅ Answer: A) AssamManas National Park is located in Assam, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Bhutan border. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve, Elephant Reserve, and Biosphere Reserve. It is famous for the golden langur, pygmy hog (world’s smallest pig), hispid hare, and Assam roofed turtle. The Manas river flows through the park. It was declared a World Heritage Site in Danger in 1992 due to poaching but was removed from the list in 2011.

✅ Answer: A) Limited human activities like grazing and collection of forest produce are allowedIn a Wildlife Sanctuary, limited human activities like grazing, collection of forest produce, and settlement of rights are allowed. In a National Park, no human activities are allowed — it has the strictest protection. The boundary of a National Park can only be changed by the state legislature; a Wildlife Sanctuary’s boundary can be changed by the state government. Both are established under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

✅ Answer: C) 1992Project Elephant was launched in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors. India has about 30,000 elephants — the largest population in Asia. There are 30 elephant reserves in India. Karnataka has the highest elephant population. The elephant is India’s National Heritage Animal. Project Tiger was launched in 1973. Project Crocodile was launched in 1975. Project Snow Leopard was launched in 2009.

✅ Answer: A) Migratory birds, especially Siberian CraneKeoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) in Rajasthan is famous for migratory birds, especially the Siberian Crane. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site. It was one of India’s first two Ramsar sites (1981). The Siberian Crane (now critically endangered) used to winter here but has not been seen in recent years. The park hosts over 370 bird species. It was originally a hunting ground for the Maharaja of Bharatpur.

✅ Answer: D) 2018The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim was recognised by UNESCO in 2018 — the most recently recognised Indian biosphere reserve. It includes Kanchenjunga peak (3rd highest in world, 8,586m). It is home to snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan black bear, and various rare plants. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first UNESCO-recognised Indian biosphere reserve (2000). India has 18 biosphere reserves; 12 are UNESCO-recognised.

✅ Answer: C) National Aquatic AnimalThe Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is India’s National Aquatic Animal. It is classified as Endangered by IUCN. It is found in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river systems. It is blind (uses echolocation). India’s National Animal is the Tiger; National Bird is the Peacock; National Heritage Animal is the Elephant; National Flower is the Lotus; National Tree is the Banyan. Project Dolphin was launched in 2020 to protect Gangetic and Irrawaddy dolphins.

✅ Answer: A) Royal Bengal Tiger and mangrove forestsSundarbans National Park in West Bengal is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger and the world’s largest mangrove forest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve, and Biosphere Reserve. The Sundarbans delta is shared between India and Bangladesh. It is formed by the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. The mangrove forests protect the coast from cyclones and tsunamis. The tigers here are known to swim and are adapted to the tidal environment.