Question

Which animal has become extinct from India?
a. Snow leopard
b. Hippopotamus
c. Wolf
d. Cheetah

Answer 1

Hint: Extinction is the process of evolution, which is defined as the disappearance of a population or species. All its genetic heritage is lost, when a species becomes extinct. Those species which are under risk or threat of being extinct are defined as Endangered species.

Complete answer:
The species is said to be extinct, when there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world. Extinction is also defined as the process of dying out. The process is a natural part of evolution but sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual, due to the involvement of human activities. Factors such as large body size, small population, and position at a higher trophic level favor extinction. The cheetah has become extinct from India.

> Option D:
Cheetahs became extinct due to various reasons like hunting, poaching, destruction of habitat and human intervention, and less availability of large areas of grassland.

> Option A:
The snow leopard has been declared Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because the global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individuals and is expected to decline.

> Option B:
Hippopotamuses, continue to decline due to widespread poaching for meat and ivory from the hippo's long ivory canine teeth. The two types of hippos, the common hippo, and the pygmy hippo are listed as Vulnerable and Endangered, respectively.

> Option C:
Wolf, is also categorized as an endangered species.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Indian cheetah is also known as Asiatic cheetah has been known to exist in India for a very long time. Due to access hunting, deforestation, and habitat loss, the fastest land animal on the earth became extinct in India. The Asiatic cheetah is a rare and critically endangered species, now found today only in Iran, so also known as the Iranian cheetah, the world's last few are occasional sightings in neighboring countries of India.