Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical subtropical, temperate and arctic?
- Khangchendzonga National Park
- Nanda Devi National Park
- Neora Valley National Park
- Namdapha National Park
Explanation
Option (d) is correct
- It is located between the Dapha bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range. It is crossed by the Noa Dihing River (a tributary of the Brahmaputra River) that originates at Chaukan Pass.
- It is the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.
- Vegetation: It encompasses a wide variety of vegetation, including evergreen, moist deciduous, subtropical, temperate, and alpine forests, owing to its diverse altitudes and climatic zones.
- It is the only park in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat, namely: Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard.
- It is famous for the critically endangered Namdapha flying squirrel which is endemic to the park.
- Major Fauna: Asian wild dog (dhole), Malayan sun bear, Indian wolf, Asiatic black bear, red panda, red fox, Asian golden cat, Indian elephant, wild boar, musk deer, hog deer, sambar, gaur, takin, bharal (blue sheep).
- Primates: Stump-tailed macaque, slow loris, Western Hoolock gibbon (the only ‘ape’ species found in India), capped langur, Assamese macaque and rhesus macaque.
Option (a) is incorrect
- The park gets its name from the mountain Kangchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world.
- It is a BR and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the first “Mixed Heritage” site of India. It is also included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme.
- Vegetation: Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests.
- Major Fauna: Musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Tibetan wild ass, Himalayan blue sheep, serow, goral, takin.
Option (b) is incorrect
- It is India’s second Biosphere Reserve, and it is under UNESCO’s Man & Biosphere Programme. It’s core area is formed by Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park.
- The Nanda Devi National Park is situated around the peak of Nanda Devi (7816 m). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the National Park lies the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, a glacial basin surrounded by a ring of peaks.
- Major Flora: Fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper.
- Major Fauna: Himalayan musk deer, mainland serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear.
Option (c) is incorrect
- It is located on the Himalayas in Kalimpong. It is the land of Red Panda (EN).
- Vegetation: Himalayan Broadleaf forests.
- Major Flora: Rhododendron, bamboo, oak, ferns, sal.
- Major Fauna: Indian leopard, black bear, sloth bear, golden cat, barking dee, Himalayan flying squirrel, thar.
