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The 'Dugong' is the state animal of:
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Answer: Option C — Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Detailed Solution
The Dugong ("Dugong dugon"), also called the "sea cow", is the state animal of the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
About the dugong:
It is a large marine mammal that lives in warm coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
It is the only living member of the family Dugongidae and is related to the manatee. Both belong to the order Sirenia (sea cows).
It is the only strictly herbivorous marine mammal. It feeds mainly on seagrasses, which is why it is called a "sea cow".
It can grow to about 3 metres long and weigh about 400 kg.
It has a fluked tail like a whale's (unlike the manatee, which has a paddle-shaped tail).
It grazes in shallow seagrass beds and is slow-moving.
It is believed that sailors' stories of mermaids may have been inspired by dugongs and manatees.
Conservation status:
- It is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List globally.
- In India, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Its main threats are the loss of seagrass habitats, accidental capture in fishing nets, hunting and boat strikes.
- In India, dugongs are found in the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- India declared its first "Dugong Conservation Reserve" in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, in 2022.
Other state symbols of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
- State bird: Andaman wood pigeon.
- State tree: Andaman padauk.
Other facts about the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
- Its capital, Port Blair, was renamed "Sri Vijaya Puram" in 2024.
- It has more than 570 islands, of which only a few dozen are inhabited.
- Barren Island has India's only active volcano.
- Indira Point, on Great Nicobar Island, is the southernmost point of India.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Command (2001) is India's first and only tri-service theatre command.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Lakshadweep's state animal is the butterfly fish.
- ✗Goa's state animal is the gaur (Indian bison).
- ✗Puducherry's state animal is the squirrel.
Quick tip
Remember: Dugong ("sea cow"; only herbivorous marine mammal) = state animal of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; India's first Dugong Conservation Reserve = Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu (2022); Barren Island = only active volcano.
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Indian States & Union Territories — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian States & Union Territories, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers state-wise GK for India: capitals, formation dates, high courts, state animals, birds and flowers, famous places, and the culture, dances and festivals that identify each state and union territory. Questions commonly ask about the newest state or union territory, the state formed on a particular date, the capitals of states, and which high court serves more than one state. Keep a single table per state with its capital, formation year and key facts. Reorganisations such as that of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 change the answers, so make sure your notes are up to date. Practise the Indian states and union territories questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.