UPSC CSE Prelims 2018
A male tiger vas removed from the Pench Tiger Reserve and was relocated in Parma National Park. Later, this tiger trekked toward his home 250 miles away. The trek of this solitary tiger highlights a crisis. Many wildlife reserves exist as islands of fragile habitat in a vast sea of humanity, yet tigers can range over a hundred miles, seeking prey, mates and territory. Nearly one third of India’s tigers live outside the tiger reserves, a situation that is dangerous for both human and animals. The tigers and prey can only disperse if there are recognized corridors of land between protected areas to allow unmolested passage.
Which of the following is the most rational and crucial message given by the passage?
The passage highlights that tigers possess extensive ranging patterns, often covering over a hundred miles. It identifies a critical issue where existing wildlife reserves function as isolated habitats. The text explicitly states that "tigers and prey can only disperse if there are recognized corridors of land between protected areas to allow unmolested passage." This directly underscores the necessity of safe wildlife corridors as a fundamental element of effective conservation strategies, making it the most rational and crucial message.
The passage identifies a conflict between human activity and wildlife movement but does not assert that this conflict is inherently unresolvable. Instead, it proposes a specific solution-the establishment of wildlife corridors-which implies that resolution is possible through strategic intervention.
While the establishment of protected areas is important, the central message of the passage is not merely about increasing the number of reserves. It focuses on the functional isolation of existing reserves and the critical need for interconnectivity between them to facilitate wildlife dispersal.
The passage attributes the crisis to the fragmentation and isolation of wildlife habitats within human-dominated landscapes. It does not suggest that the primary issue lies with the professional management standards of India's National Parks and tiger reserves.