Which of the following animals is officially notified as the state animal of Chhattisgarh in India?

Introduction:
Indian states often select a state animal to represent their unique wildlife and natural heritage. Knowing these symbols is useful for both environment and polity segments of competitive exams. This question focuses on Chhattisgarh and asks which animal among the options is officially recognised as its state animal.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options are tiger, wild buffalo, blue bull and wild ass. - We consider the official declaration by the state government of Chhattisgarh. - Names are common English equivalents of species used in state symbol lists. - We ignore any unofficial or historical alternatives.

Concept / Approach:
Chhattisgarh has chosen the wild Asian buffalo as its state animal. This species is significant in central Indian forests and also symbolises the state's rich biodiversity. Tigers, blue bulls (nilgai) and wild asses are important elsewhere in India but are associated with different states or habitats. Remembering the specific association between wild buffalo and Chhattisgarh is essential for arriving at the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the list of state symbols for Chhattisgarh, including state bird, state tree and state animal. Step 2: Connect wild buffalo with Chhattisgarh, which has significant populations of this species in some forested reserves. Step 3: Recognise that tiger, although a national symbol, is associated as a state animal with other states rather than Chhattisgarh specifically. Step 4: Eliminate blue bull and wild ass as they are state animals of other regions, then choose wild buffalo.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official listings of state symbols and multiple GK sources identify wild buffalo as the state animal of Chhattisgarh. This information is repeated in many exam oriented compilations dealing with Indian state emblems and symbols, which confirms the accuracy of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tiger: National animal of India and state animal for some other states, but not specifically the state animal of Chhattisgarh. Blue Bull (Nilgai): Widespread antelope in northern India, but not designated as the state animal of Chhattisgarh. Wild Ass: Associated with the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, where it has special protection, and not with Chhattisgarh state symbolism.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to choose tiger simply because it is the national animal and is also found in the forests of Chhattisgarh. Another pitfall is to confuse state symbols across different states, especially when preparing from multiple lists. A helpful technique is to create state wise flashcards linking each state to its official animal, bird and tree to avoid such mix ups.

Final Answer:
The state animal of Chhattisgarh is the Wild Buffalo.