Correct Option
The protected areas declared as Tiger Reserves among the given options are Bandipur, Manas, and Sunderbans.
- Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) was designated a Tiger Reserve in 1973, making it one of the earliest under Project Tiger.
- Manas National Park (Assam) is a Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve, a Biosphere Reserve, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Sunderbans National Park (West Bengal) is a Tiger Reserve, a Biosphere Reserve, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its unique mangrove ecosystem and Royal Bengal Tiger population.
- Bhitarkanika National Park (Odisha) is not a designated Tiger Reserve. It is a significant protected area known for its saltwater crocodiles and mangrove forests, and it is also a Ramsar site.
Incorrect Options
Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect because they either fail to include all the designated Tiger Reserves or incorrectly include Bhitarkanika National Park, which is not a Tiger Reserve. Bhitarkanika is primarily known for its estuarine crocodiles and mangrove biodiversity, not for tiger conservation under Project Tiger.