Jim Corbett National Park, one of India’s earliest national parks, was originally established primarily to protect which of the following animals?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on wildlife conservation and the history of national parks in India. Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is often cited as India’s first national park and is a key part of Project Tiger, a flagship programme for tiger conservation. Understanding which flagship species a park was meant to protect helps candidates in environmental studies and general knowledge exams, as many protected areas are known by their association with specific animals.

Given Data / Assumptions:
We are asked which animal Jim Corbett National Park was established to protect. The options are:

• Bengal Tigers
• Snow Leopards
• Asiatic Lions
• One-Horned Rhinos

We assume that the learner is familiar with the basic geography of these species: tigers in various forests, snow leopards in high Himalayan regions, Asiatic lions in Gir, and one horned rhinos in certain grasslands like Kaziranga.

Concept / Approach:
Jim Corbett National Park is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand and is famous as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Its primary objective was to protect the Bengal Tiger and its habitat. Snow leopards inhabit higher Himalayan altitudes, not the Terai and hill forests of Corbett. Asiatic lions are confined to Gir National Park in Gujarat, and one horned rhinos are protected mainly in Kaziranga and a few other reserves, not in Corbett. Therefore, the correct animal associated with Corbett is the Bengal Tiger.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Corbett National Park is a central part of Project Tiger and is renowned for its tiger population. Step 2: Match this with the options and note that Bengal Tigers are the big cats protected in such low altitude forest reserves. Step 3: Recognise that Snow Leopards live at much higher altitudes and are associated with different protected areas, not Corbett. Step 4: Recall that Asiatic Lions are famously restricted to Gir National Park in Gujarat, not to Corbett in Uttarakhand. Step 5: Understand that one horned rhinos are the key species of Kaziranga and other northeastern reserves, not Corbett. Choose Bengal Tigers as the answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Alternative verification is easy: most environment and ecology textbooks list Corbett National Park under the heading of tiger reserves and identify it as India’s first national park dedicated to tiger conservation. The park is often described in exam material with phrases like “famous for tigers and rich biodiversity.” No reliable source claims that Corbett was created primarily for snow leopards, lions, or rhinos. Additionally, pictures and documentaries about Corbett overwhelmingly feature tigers, elephants, and deer, reinforcing the association with Bengal Tigers.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Snow Leopards: High altitude species found in rugged mountains; their core protected areas are different from Corbett.

Asiatic Lions: Confined to Gir National Park in Gujarat, a completely different region and habitat type.

One-Horned Rhinos: Associated mainly with Kaziranga and a few other reserves in northeastern India, not with Corbett.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may simply think of any large or charismatic animal and guess without considering the specific habitat and park. Another mistake is mixing up flagship species and locations, such as confusing Corbett with Kaziranga or Gir. To avoid this, always memorise park–species pairs: Corbett – Tiger, Gir – Lion, Kaziranga – Rhino, Keoladeo – Birds, and so on. This makes such questions quick and straightforward to answer.

Final Answer:
Jim Corbett National Park was established primarily to protect the Bengal Tigers.