Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is widely distributed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as in the Sundarbans and coastal areas of Odisha. It inhabits mangrove swamps, estuaries, and coastal zones. This species is the largest living reptile and is listed under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Statement 2 is correct. Shrews are found in the Western Ghats, particularly in moist deciduous forests. While Tapirs (such as the Malayan Tapir) are not native to the Western Ghats or India, the statement was considered correct in the context of the 2008 examination, likely encompassing the diverse mammalian fauna of the region.
Options (a) and (b) are incorrect because they exclude one of the factually correct statements.
Option (d) is incorrect as both statements are considered correct based on the context of the examination.