Characteristics of Indian Elephants
Question
With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 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.
Options
1 and 2 only
2 and 4 only
3 only
1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Elephant herds are strictly matriarchal, led by the oldest and most experienced female (Statement 1 is correct). Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal, lasting up to 22 months (Statement 2 is correct). Female elephants can continue to calve well beyond 40 years, often into their 50s or 60s (Statement 3 is incorrect). According to the Elephant Census, Karnataka has the highest elephant population in India, followed by Assam and Kerala (Statement 4 is incorrect). > One-line conceptual takeaway: Elephant herds are matriarchal and possess extreme biological traits like a 22-month gestation period. Answer: (a).
Question details
Year
2020
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q72
Subject
Environment
Sub-topic
Biodiversity & Conservation
Type
Statement-based
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Current-affairs-linked
Source hint
Project Elephant / Kerala Elephant Tragedy 2020
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