In Indian wildlife conservation, which wildlife sanctuary was selected as an alternative home for the Asiatic lion outside the Gir Forest of Gujarat?

Introduction / Context:
The Asiatic lion is one of the most iconic large carnivores of India and has its last natural stronghold in the Gir region of Gujarat. Because concentrating an entire wild population in a single area is risky, wildlife planners have discussed and tried alternative homes or second habitats for the species. This question checks knowledge of which sanctuary was selected historically as an alternative home for the Indian or Asiatic lion outside Gir.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The species concerned is the Asiatic lion, sometimes called the Indian lion. • The idea is to provide an alternative home or second habitat outside its main range. • Options list several famous sanctuaries in different states of India. • We assume standard information from Indian wildlife conservation history and exam oriented general knowledge.

Concept / Approach:
Conservation biologists worry about the risk of disease, natural disasters or human conflict wiping out a species that survives only in one region. For the Asiatic lion, Gir in Gujarat is the core habitat. Historically, Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was selected and used as an alternative home where a small number of lions were introduced. Although that population did not survive in the long term, the sanctuary remains the classical answer in many general knowledge questions that ask about an alternative home for the Indian lion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the only wild population of Asiatic lions naturally occurs in and around Gir Forest in Gujarat. Step 2: Remember that to reduce the risk of having all lions in one area, a second home was identified and some individuals were translocated. Step 3: From historical accounts, this second home project involved Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in present day Uttar Pradesh. Step 4: Examine the options: Bandipur in Karnataka is famous for tigers and elephants, Keoladeo Ghana for birds, Periyar for elephants and tigers, but Chandraprabha is the one associated with experimental lion introduction. Step 5: Conclude that Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh is the sanctuary that was selected as an alternative home for the Indian lion.

Verification / Alternative check:
Various exam guides and conservation histories mention that lions were released in Chandraprabha Sanctuary near Varanasi in the 1950s as an experiment to establish a second population. Although poaching and other issues led to the disappearance of that population, the sanctuary name continues to appear in multiple choice questions as the alternative home chosen for the species at that time. No similar lion relocation experiment is associated in older literature with Bandipur, Keoladeo Ghana or Periyar.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka) is primarily known for tigers, elephants and other wildlife, not for a historic lion introduction project. Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary (Rajasthan) is world famous for migratory birds such as cranes, storks and ducks, not for lions. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve (Kerala) is an important protected area for elephants and tigers in the Western Ghats, but not recorded as an alternative home for the Asiatic lion.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to pick a very well known sanctuary like Bandipur or Periyar simply because they are famous, without recalling their specific flagship species. Another error is to confuse later discussions about relocation sites like Kuno in Madhya Pradesh with older experiments. This question refers to the historic alternative home experiment, which points clearly to Chandraprabha Sanctuary.

Final Answer:
The sanctuary selected as an alternative home for the Indian lion was Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.