Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: African Elephants
Why in the News?
Savanna elephants have experienced a significant population decline of around 70% across surveyed sites, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss.
Decline in African Elephants Population
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Features of African Elephants:
- African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, known for their size, intelligence, and complex social structures.
- They are divided into savanna (bush) elephants (larger, with bigger tusks and open grassland habitat) and forest elephants (smaller, with straighter tusks and dense forest habitats).
- Highly intelligent, African elephants display memory, empathy, and intricate social bonds within herds.
- Conservation status:
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- CITES: Appendix I
- IUCN: Savanna Elephants (Endangered); Forest Elephants (Critically Endangered)
Geographical Spread
- Savanna Elephants: Primarily in eastern and southern Africa, notably in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.
- Forest Elephants: Mainly in central and western Africa, including Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and parts of Cameroon.
PYQ:[2020] With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only |
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