Dampa Tiger Reserve, a protected area for wildlife conservation in north east India, is located in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Tiger reserves are spread across many Indian states, and knowing their locations is important for environment, ecology and geography questions. Dampa Tiger Reserve is one of the key reserves in the north eastern part of India. This question tests the learner ability to correctly match Dampa Tiger Reserve with its state on the Indian map.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The protected area is Dampa Tiger Reserve. • It lies in north east India. • We need to identify the state where this tiger reserve is situated. • Options include Assam, Karnataka, Mizoram, Odisha and Tripura.

Concept / Approach:
Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Mizoram along the border with Bangladesh. It consists mainly of moist forests and hilly terrain typical of the north eastern hill states. The approach is to remember that this particular reserve is associated with Mizoram, whereas Assam has other well known reserves like Kaziranga and Manas.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List tiger reserves in north east India region wise. Assam has Kaziranga, Manas and Nameri, while Mizoram and Tripura have fewer but important reserves. Step 2: Recall that Dampa Tiger Reserve is specifically mentioned in Mizoram when reading about wildlife of that state. Step 3: Karnataka and Odisha are not part of the north eastern region so they can be safely eliminated based on regional clues in the question. Step 4: Assam is in the north east but is more often paired with the names Kaziranga and Manas rather than Dampa. Step 5: Tripura has its own wildlife sanctuaries but Dampa is not listed among them in standard material. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is Mizoram.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official lists of tiger reserves in India clearly place Dampa Tiger Reserve under Mizoram. North east India wildlife maps show Dampa in western Mizoram near the international border. Environment and ecology question banks pair the entry Dampa with the state Mizoram in matching questions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Assam: Though rich in tiger reserves, it is associated with Kaziranga, Manas and other names, not Dampa. Karnataka: Located in southern India and known for reserves like Bandipur and Nagarhole, not Dampa. Odisha: Eastern coastal state with reserves and sanctuaries such as Similipal, but not Dampa. Tripura: A small north eastern state where Dampa Tiger Reserve is not located, despite being in the same broad region.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many tiger reserves exist in north east India, learners sometimes assume that Dampa must be in Assam simply because Assam is the best known state in the region. Some also confuse names of sanctuaries and tiger reserves between Mizoram and Tripura. A useful strategy is to remember at least one unique wildlife area for each north eastern state, with Dampa linked to Mizoram.

Final Answer:
Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Mizoram.