Consider the following statements: 1. Salt-water crocodile is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2. Shrew and tapir are found in the Western Ghats of the Malabar region. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Biogeographic Zones of India (basic)

Welcome to your journey through India's biodiversity! To understand why certain animals live in specific regions, we must first look at the Biogeographic Zones of India. Biogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of plants and animals. Instead of looking at political maps, ecologists look at Biogeographic Zones — large areas where the climate, soil, and history have created a unique community of life.

The standard classification we use today was developed by Rodgers and Panwar in 1988. They used factors like altitude, moisture, topography, and rainfall to divide India into 10 Biogeographic Zones and 25 Biogeographic Provinces Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape, p.152. This classification isn't just academic; it serves as the scientific foundation for planning our National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

India's landscape is incredibly varied. For instance, the Trans-Himalayas (covering about 5.6% to 5.7% of India) act as an extension of the Tibetan plateau and harbor high-altitude cold deserts Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain, BIODIVERSITY, p.20. On the other hand, the Western Ghats consist of hill ranges and plains south of the Tapti river that are incredibly rich in endemic species Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape, p.152. Understanding these zones helps us predict where we might find a specific species, like a snow leopard in the Himalayas or a saltwater crocodile in the Islands.

Zone Number	Biogeographic Zone	Key Characteristics
1 & 2	Trans-Himalaya & Himalaya	High altitude, mountain ranges, and cold deserts.
3 & 4	Desert & Semi-Arid	Arid areas like Thar and Katchchh; transition zones.
5 & 6	Western Ghats & Deccan Peninsula	High rainfall/endemicity and the largest plateau region.
7 & 8	Gangetic Plain & NE India	Fertile plains and a biodiversity gateway.
9 & 10	Coasts & Islands	Mangroves, beaches, and isolated oceanic ecosystems.

Sources: Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape, p.152-153; Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain, BIODIVERSITY, p.20-23

2. Biodiversity Hotspots & Endemism (basic)

To understand the global map of life, we must first master the concept of Endemism. In simple terms, a species is 'endemic' to a region if it is found there and nowhere else on Earth. For instance, while a Tiger is found across several Asian countries, the Andaman Wood Pigeon is endemic only to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Geography of India, Regional Development and Planning, p.90. This uniqueness makes endemic species highly vulnerable; if their specific habitat is destroyed, the entire species vanishes from the planet. India is exceptionally rich in such life, being one of the 12 Mega-diversity Centres of the world — a group of tropical countries that harbor the majority of the Earth’s species Fundamentals of Physical Geography (NCERT), Biodiversity and Conservation, p.118.

While many places have high biodiversity, the term Biodiversity Hotspot is reserved for the 'red zones' of nature. To be qualified as a hotspot (a concept popularized by Norman Myers and adopted by Conservation International), a region must meet two strict criteria: 1) It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics, and 2) It must have lost at least 70% of its original native vegetation. Essentially, a hotspot is a place that is both biologically priceless and under extreme threat. Globally, there are 36 such areas, and they serve as the frontline for conservation efforts.

India is home to four of these global Biodiversity Hotspots, reflecting our incredible range of ecosystems from the cold heights of the North to the tropical islands of the South:

Hotspot	Key Regions/Features
The Himalayas	Covers the entire Indian Himalayan region (and neighboring countries).
Western Ghats & Sri Lanka	Includes the entire mountain chain of the Western Ghats; known for the Silent Valley and Agasthymalai Hills Environment and Ecology (Majid Hussain), BIODIVERSITY, p.9.
Indo-Burma	Includes North-Eastern India (excluding the Himalayas), Myanmar, and Southeast Asia.
Sundaland	In the Indian context, this specifically includes the Nicobar Islands, part of a larger chain extending through Indonesia Environment (Shankar IAS), Protected Area Network, p.222.

Sources: Geography of India (Majid Husain), Regional Development and Planning, p.90; Fundamentals of Physical Geography (NCERT 2025 ed.), Biodiversity and Conservation, p.118; Environment and Ecology (Majid Hussain), BIODIVERSITY, p.9; Environment (Shankar IAS Academy 10th ed.), Protected Area Network, p.222

3. Island Biogeography: Andaman and Nicobar (intermediate)

To understand the biogeography of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, we must first view them as an 'evolutionary laboratory.' Unlike the mainland, these islands are isolated by deep seas, which has led to a high degree of endemism—meaning many species found here exist nowhere else on Earth. While the Andaman islands are largely an extension of the Arakan Yoma range of Myanmar, some islands like Barren Island are volcanic in origin, being home to India’s only active volcano India Physical Environment, Geography Class XI, Structure and Physiography, p.15. This geological history, combined with an equatorial climate characterized by heavy convectional rainfall, creates a lush environment for over 2,200 plant varieties, nearly 1,300 of which are unique to these islands and not found on the Indian mainland Geography of India, Majid Husain, Regional Development and Planning, p.90.
The faunal diversity is equally striking. The islands host a significant population of the Salt-water (estuarine) crocodile, which is a flagship species of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Geography of India, Majid Husain, Natural Vegetation and National Parks, p.49. It is crucial for UPSC aspirants to distinguish between mainland species and island endemics. For instance, while the Western Ghats are famous for the Nilgiri Tahr, the Andaman islands are home to unique species like the Andaman white-toothed shrew and Jenkins’ Andaman spiny shrew. The vegetation is dominated by high-value timber species like Gurjan and Padauk, reflecting the tropical evergreen nature of the archipelago Geography of India, Majid Husain, Regional Development and Planning, p.90.
From a conservation perspective, the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve holds a place of pride, being part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves Contemporary India-I, Geography Class IX, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife, p.46. The islands are also the ancestral home to some of the world's most isolated indigenous tribes, such as the Jarawa, Onge, and the Sentinelese, whose lives are intricately tied to this unique island biogeography Geography of India, Majid Husain, Regional Development and Planning, p.90.

Region	Highest Peak	Key Characteristic
North Andaman	Saddle Peak (738 m)	Highest point in the archipelago
Great Nicobar	Mount Thuiller (642 m)	Home to Salt-water crocodile & UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Sources: India Physical Environment, Geography Class XI, Structure and Physiography, p.15; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Regional Development and Planning, p.90; Geography of India, Majid Husain, Natural Vegetation and National Parks, p.49; Contemporary India-I, Geography Class IX, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife, p.46

4. The Malabar Region: Western Ghats Ecosystem (intermediate)

Concept: The Malabar Region: Western Ghats Ecosystem

5. Specific Fauna: Crocodiles, Shrews, and Tapirs (exam-level)

To understand India's biodiversity, we must look at specific 'flagship' species that define certain ecosystems. India is unique for being home to three distinct species of crocodilians: the Mugger (freshwater), the Gharial (fish-eating, riverine), and the Salt-water crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). The Salt-water crocodile is the largest of all living reptiles and is a primary fauna species of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and the mangrove-rich Sundarbans Geography of India, Majid Husain, Natural Vegetation and National Parks, p.49. Conservation efforts since the 1970s have utilized a 'grow and release' technique, which has successfully restocked thousands of these apex predators into their natural habitats to stabilize their populations Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Conservation Efforts, p.244.

While large reptiles often grab the headlines, India's small mammals are equally critical indicators of biodiversity. Shrews are tiny, insectivorous mammals that are often mistaken for rodents but belong to a completely different order. In India, several species are endemic (found nowhere else) to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, such as the Andaman White-toothed Shrew and Jenkins' Andaman Spiny Shrew. These creatures are primarily nocturnal and have very specialized habitat needs, typically thriving in leaf litter and rock crevices on specific peaks like Mount Harriet Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Animal Diversity of India, p.187.

When studying biogeographic patterns, it is vital to distinguish between species that are native to India and those that characterize neighboring regions. For instance, the Tapir—a large, herbivorous mammal with a short, prehensile nose—is a classic example of Southeast Asian (Indo-Malayan) fauna. While some historical or evolutionary contexts link Indian fauna to Malayan species, the Tapir is not a naturally occurring species in the Western Ghats or the Malabar region today. Understanding these distribution limits helps us identify 'biogeographic islands' where unique evolution occurs, such as the high degree of endemism seen in the Andaman and Nicobar chain Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain, BIODIVERSITY, p.27.

Sources: Geography of India, Natural Vegetation and National Parks, p.49; Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Conservation Efforts, p.244; Environment, Shankar IAS Academy, Animal Diversity of India, p.187; Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain, BIODIVERSITY, p.27

6. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the biogeographic zones of India, this question tests your ability to apply that spatial awareness to specific fauna distribution. In our lessons, we discussed how the Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent a unique ecosystem where marine and terrestrial life converge. Statement 1 is a direct application of this: the Salt-water crocodile (or estuarine crocodile) is a flagship species of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. As noted in Geography of India by Majid Husain, these reptiles thrive in the mangrove-rich coastal stretches of the islands, making the first statement factually robust.

To arrive at the correct answer, (A) 1 only, you must exercise critical elimination on the second statement. While the term 'shrew' might seem common, the specific species relevant to recent conservation talk, like the Andaman white-toothed shrew, are endemic to the islands, not the Malabar region. However, the definitive 'red flag' is the tapir. According to Environment by Shankar IAS Academy and official records from knowindia.india.gov.in, the tapir is not a resident of the Western Ghats; it is typically associated with Southeast Asian landscapes or historical Himalayan references. UPSC often uses this association trap—pairing a familiar-sounding animal with a completely wrong geographic zone—to test if you can spot an ecological mismatch.