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UPSC Prelims 2020 Paper-1 📅 04 Oct, 2020

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:
1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A
1 and 2 only
B
2 and 4 only
C
3 only
D
1, 3 and 4 only
Result Summary
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UPSC Prelims
2020 • 04 Oct, 2020 • Paper-1
With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:
1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer
1 and 2 only
Matriarchal Structure: Elephant herds possess a strict matriarchal social structure. The oldest and most experienced female (the matriarch) leads the group. Sta......
Ref/Book : UPSC Prelims 2020
Ref. Subject Environment
Chapter -
Ref. Topic Biodiversity
Pg. No -
💡 Analysis & Explanation
Matriarchal Structure ▼
Elephant herds possess a strict matriarchal social structure. The oldest and most experienced female (the matriarch) leads the group. Statement 1 is correct.
Gestation Duration ▼
Elephants possess the longest gestation period among all land mammals, lasting up to an incredible 22 months, enabling extensive fetal brain development. Statement 2 is correct.
Reproductive Span ▼
Female elephants can live for 60 to 70 years and typically remain capable of calving well into their 50s or even 60s, contradicting the restrictive 40-year limit claim. Statement 3 is incorrect.
Population Distribution ▼
According to the official Elephant Census, the state of Karnataka consistently holds the highest population of wild elephants in India, followed by Assam and Kerala. Statement 4 is incorrect.
Conclusion ▼
The biological facts presented in statements 1 and 2 are accurate.
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