Asiatic Cheetah
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) Asiatic Cheetah is extinct from India.
2) The primary and main reason for decline of its population is the destruction of its habitat.- Published on 30 Jun 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Only 1
- Until the 20th century, the Asiatic cheetah was quite common and roamed all the way from Israel, the Arabian Peninsula to Iran, Afghanistan and India. In India, they ranged as far south as the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
- The Asiatic cheetah, also known as the "hunting leopard" in India was kept by kings and princes to hunt.
- Most of the Asiatic Cheetahs perished due to their hunting or their capture by humans. Destruction of habitat was the secondary reason which came later.
- With the death of the last remaining population of the Asiatic cheetah in India, the species was declared extinct in India; it is the only animal in recorded history to become extinct from India due to unnatural causes.
