Question

Comprehension: India is home to an estimated 10% of the global Snow Leopard population spread across five Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh which is only 5% of the available global habitat for the animal. Project Snow Leopard was introduced in India by the Project Snow Leopard Committee instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, in the year 2009 to safeguard and conserve India's unique natural heritage of high-altitude wildlife populations and their habitats by promoting conservation through participatory policies and actions. Project Tiger and Project Elephant are prevalent in India with the former introduced in 1973 garnering worldwide attention. The Snow Leopard usually occurs at an altitude of \( >2700\, \text{m} \) above sea level and is the apex predator in the Himalayan Region along with the Tibetan Wolf. The project is not only to protect the Snow Leopard, but as with Project Tiger, it is considered an umbrella species and with its protection comes the protection of other species and the habitat which they are all a part of. Top 3 National Parks in India where the Snow Leopard can likely be seen: - Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary — Himachal Pradesh - Ulley Valley — Ladakh - Hemis National Park — Himachal Pradesh The reasons for introduction of Project Snow Leopard are as follows:

• A. High altitudes of India \( >3000\, \text{m} \) including the Himalayan & Trans-Himalayan biogeographic zones support a unique wildlife assemblage of global conservation.
• B. India has ratified international agreements promoting the conservation of high-altitude wildlife species such as the snow leopard.
• C. They mate under the umbrella.
• D. Species whose protection will ensure protection of other species.

Hint:

In ecology, an umbrella species is one that helps protect many other species in its habitat due to its large spatial requirements or ecological significance. Protecting such a species ensures broader ecosystem conservation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understand the phrase in the context of the passage.
The passage states:
\textit{"The project is not only to protect the Snow Leopard, but as with Project Tiger, it is considered an umbrella species and with its protection comes the protection of other species and the habitat which they are all a part of."} Step 2: Interpret the meaning of 'umbrella species'.
An umbrella species is one whose conservation indirectly protects many other species that share its habitat. Protecting this key species and its large habitat means safeguarding the ecological community as a whole. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options.
% Option (1), (3), and (4) are clearly incorrect and based on literal misunderstanding.
% Option (2) correctly reflects the ecological meaning of an umbrella species.