Question 68 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Environment

Question

What is/are unique about the 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India?
1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 2 only

Strategy: Evaluate each statement for its accuracy regarding the Kharai camel. Statement 1 highlights its unique ability to swim in seawater, and statement 2 points to its survival by grazing on mangroves, both well-documented characteristics. Statement 3 claims it cannot be domesticated, which contradicts factual information; these camels are indeed domesticated and used by local communities. Therefore, identify statements 1 and 2 as correct, eliminating statement 3.

Key Info: The Kharai camel is a unique breed found primarily in the coastal areas of Kutch, Gujarat, India. Its name is derived from the local word kharo, meaning salty. Its distinct characteristics include:

*   **Habitat and Diet:** The camel is adapted to the harsh saline environment of coastal regions. Its primary diet consists of mangrove leaves and other halophytes, which are salt-tolerant plants found in intertidal zones.
*   **Swimming Ability:** Unlike other camel breeds, the Kharai camel can swim in seawater for up to three kilometers to reach mangrove islands for grazing. This adaptation is crucial for its survival in fragmented coastal ecosystems.
*   **Domestication Status:** The Kharai camel is a domesticated breed reared by local pastoralist communities, particularly the Maldharis in Kutch. They are utilized for their milk, and male calves are often sold for economic purposes.
*   **Conservation Status:** The breed is recognized as a unique indigenous breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) and listed as endangered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Threats to its population include habitat loss from industrialization, shrinking mangrove forests, and grazing restrictions.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3

What is/are unique about the 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India? It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater. It survives by grazing on mangroves. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

What is/are unique about the 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India?

It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.

It survives by grazing on mangroves.

It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.