Question: Recently which of the following state/UT has declared the snow leopard and the black-necked crane as its state animal and state bird?
a) Chandigarh
b) Ladakh
c) Daman and Diu
d) None of these
Answer: (b)
Related Facts:-
- On 31 August 2021; the Union Territory of Ladakh has declared the snow leopard and the black-necked crane as its state animal and state bird, respectively.
- Both snow leopards and black-necked cranes are rare species great attraction value for tourists.
- Especially the snow leopard at the Hemis National Park, for which the tourists come even in winters.
- Black-necked cranes have a great cultural significance and are mentioned in the local folk stories and folk songs.
- The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust has been working for snow leopards for more than three decades now.
- According to World Wide Fund-India (WWF-India), there is a significant threat to the successful breeding of black-necked cranes.
- This threat comes from the damage to the eggs and chicks caused by feral dogs owned by armed forces as well as by the local nomads.
- Another threat to the bird is the loss of their habitat, the human pressure on the wetlands, and the primary habitat of cranes.
- The government agencies, along with the WWF-India for over one decade, have been working towards conserving high altitude wetlands with the black-necked crane as a priority species in the Ladakh region.
Links:-
https://weather.com/en-IN/india/environment/news/2021-09-02-ladakh-state-animal-and-bird