UPSC Prelims 2016 · Question 47 of 98

UPSC Prelims 2016 question on Great Indian Hornbill

In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?

  1. Sand deserts of northwest India
  2. Higher Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir
  3. Salt marshes of western Gujarat
  4. Western Ghats
Show answer

Answer: D. Western Ghats

Verdict

The answer is the Western Ghats. The Great Indian Hornbill is most likely to be seen there in its natural habitat.

Analysis

The great hornbill is a large bird reaching about three and a half feet in length, distinguished by a big yellow beak topped with a casque, and it was once a common sight in the Western Ghats. It requires tall, undisturbed evergreen forest with large trees, since it nests in natural cavities and depends on fruiting trees, particularly figs. Deforestation and hunting have depleted populations, and it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. Sand deserts, high Himalayan slopes and salt marshes offer none of these conditions.

Source

The Hindu report on threats to great Indian hornbills near Coimbatore.

How to crack it

Reason from what the species needs rather than from a distribution map. A large frugivorous bird nesting in tree cavities requires tall closed canopy forest with year round fruit, which exists in India mainly in the Western Ghats and the North-East. Three of the four options are open, arid or high altitude habitats and fail that test immediately. Matching body size and diet to habitat structure answers most Indian bird and mammal distribution questions.

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