Wildlife Conservation

The correct answer is (a) Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda, and Asiatic Wild Ass. The Great Indian Bustard is a large bird found in India and Pakistan that is critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining in the wild. The musk deer is a small deer found in the Himalayan region that is also critically endangered, due to habitat loss and poaching. The red panda is a small carnivorous mammal found in the Himalayan region that is endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. The Asiatic wild ass, also known as the onager, is a species of horse found in parts of Asia that is endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a pan-India wildlife research organization, has been promoting the cause of nature conservation since 1883. **Statement 1 is incorrect.** BNHS Vision: Premier independent scientific organization with a broad-based constituency, excelling in the conservation of threatened species and habitats. **Statement 2 is correct.** BNHS Mission: Conservation of nature, primarily biological diversity through action based on research, education, and public awareness. **Statement 3 is correct.** It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.

**Statement 1 is incorrect:** The Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, not the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. **Statement 2 is correct:** The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006. Thus, NTCA is a statutory body. It is responsible for the implementation of Project Tiger. **Statement 3 is correct:** The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and was chaired by the Prime Minister. It aimed to plan and coordinate measures for the conservation and management of the Ganga River. (It was later replaced by the National Ganga Council in 2016.)