Answer: (B)
● Statement 1 is correct: According to the Elephant Corridors of India 2023 report published by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), West Bengal has the highest number of identified elephant corridors in the country, with 26 corridors accounting for nearly 17% of the national total.
● Statement 2 is correct: The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, giving it the highest level of legal protection against hunting, poaching, and illegal trade.
● Statement 3 is incorrect: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 defines specific statutory categories for Protected Areas—namely National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves. While corridors can sometimes be declared as Conservation or Community Reserves, the Act does not recognize "elephant corridors" as a distinct legal category of protected area.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
August 17, 2026 411
