The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently merged which of the following conservation schemes?
A. Project Cheetah B. Project Elephant C. Project Rhinoceros D. Project Snow Leopard E. Project Tiger
Choose the correct answer:

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) B and E only. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently merged Project Elephant and Project Tiger under a unified framework for better resource management and conservation effectiveness.
Explanation:
· Project Elephant (B):
· Launched in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors.
· Focuses on mitigating human-elephant conflicts and protecting endangered Asian elephants.
· Project Tiger (E):
· Launched in 1973 to protect tigers and their habitats.
· Aims to curb poaching, ensure habitat protection, and manage tiger reserves effectively.
The merging of these projects ensures better coordination and resource sharing between the two flagship conservation initiatives.
Information Booster:
1. Project Elephant and Project Tiger aim to protect India’s key megafauna.
2. Merging helps streamline conservation efforts and optimize resources.
3. Both projects address threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
4. India has 30% of the world’s Asian elephant population and 70% of the world’s wild tigers.
5. Collaborative management improves the effectiveness of habitat conservation and law enforcement.
6. Conservation efforts are vital to maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
Additional Knowledge:
· (A) Project Cheetah:
· Initiated to reintroduce cheetahs in India, particularly in Kuno National Park (2022).
· Focuses on restoring the extinct cheetah population.
· (B) Project Elephant:
· Protects the Asian elephant, focusing on conservation and reducing human-elephant conflicts.
· (C) Project Rhinoceros:
· Focuses on the conservation of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
· Key areas: Kaziranga National Park (Assam) and other northeastern regions.
· (D) Project Snow Leopard:
· Launched in 2009 for the conservation of snow leopards and their habitats in high-altitude regions.
· (E) Project Tiger:
· Ensures the protection of Bengal tigers and their ecosystems.
· India has 54 tiger reserves across various states.
Key Points:
1. Project Elephant and Project Tiger were merged for better coordination.
2. Both projects address key conservation issues like poaching and habitat loss.
3. India leads global efforts in the conservation of tigers and elephants.
4. Collaborative conservation helps ensure long-term survival of these species.
5. Effective resource utilization enhances the efficiency of wildlife management.