Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu is especially famous for which animal population?

Introduction / Context:

Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India are often associated with particular flagship species. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, located at the tri junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, is a well known protected area in southern India. Exam questions frequently ask which species a particular sanctuary is famous for, in order to test knowledge of biodiversity and conservation hotspots.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Mudumalai is a wildlife sanctuary situated in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu.
• The options given are tigers, birds, elephants, and bisons.
• We assume general exam oriented descriptions of the sanctuary's wildlife.
• Mudumalai is part of a larger elephant and tiger conservation landscape in the Nilgiri biosphere region.

Concept / Approach:

The concept is that Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is especially noted for its large population of Indian elephants. While tigers, bisons (gaur), and many bird species also occur there, exam oriented references typically mention elephants as the key species for which the sanctuary is famous. The area forms part of an important elephant corridor and hosts herds that attract tourists and conservation attention. Therefore, among the listed options, elephants are the most appropriate flagship species associated with Mudumalai.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Verification can be done by reading descriptions of Mudumalai in wildlife and tourism literature, which frequently emphasise the opportunity to see wild elephants in their natural habitat. The sanctuary is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and forms a corridor with Bandipur and Wayanad, all known for elephant populations. While tiger conservation is also important in this region, exam guides that list sanctuaries and their most famous animals typically associate Mudumalai with elephants first, supporting this answer choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes over generalise and assume that every famous sanctuary in this region is primarily a tiger reserve, leading them to pick tigers. Others may think of birds due to the rich avifauna of forest regions. The safer approach is to connect Mudumalai with its most iconic and frequently mentioned species in exam texts, which is the elephant. Remembering key pairings of sanctuaries and flagship animals is a good strategy for tackling such questions.

Final Answer:

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is especially famous for its population of Elephants.