2012 · EnvironmentPrevious Year Question
Q95.
What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?
A. Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains.
B. Oryx is poached for its antlers whereas Chiru is poached for its musk.
C. Oryx exists in western India only whereas Chiru exists in north-east India only.
D. None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.
Answer

A

Explanation

Oryx is an antelope adapted to hot arid deserts (found in Africa and Middle East; Arabian Oryx etc.). Chiru (Tibetan Antelope) is adapted to cold steppes and semi-desert areas of the high-altitude Tibetan plateau/Himalayas. Statement B is incorrect — Chiru is poached for its ultra-fine wool (shahtoosh), not musk. Statement C is incorrect — Oryx is not found in western India (it's an African/Middle Eastern animal); Chiru is in the Himalayan region/Ladakh, not northeast India.