Correct Option
The correct option is Blue Bull .
Explanation
Since the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Government of India has launched several species-specific conservation projects to protect endangered wildlife. These projects focus on species with declining populations or those critical to their ecosystems. Species that are abundant or classified as Least Concern generally do not have dedicated conservation projects.
Option Analysis
- Kashmir Stag is incorrect: The Project Hangul was launched in 1970 by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir with the support of the IUCN and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It aims to protect the Kashmir Stag (Hangul), which is a critically endangered subspecies of the red deer.
- Saltwater Crocodile is incorrect: The Crocodile Conservation Project was launched by the Government of India in 1975 with support from the UNDP and FAO. It focused on the conservation of three crocodilian species: the Saltwater Crocodile, the Mugger, and the Gharial.
- Great Indian Bustard is incorrect: The Project Great Indian Bustard was launched by the Rajasthan Government in 2013, and the species is also a priority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme. It is a dedicated effort to save the critically endangered bird.
- Blue Bull is correct: The Blue Bull (Nilgai) is the largest Asian antelope and is abundant across the northern Indian plains. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Due to its large population and the damage it causes to crops, it has not been the subject of a conservation project. In fact, some states have occasionally requested permission to declare it as vermin to control its population.
Key Takeaway: Dedicated conservation projects in India (e.g., Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Hangul) are reserved for flagship or endangered species requiring urgent intervention, whereas abundant species like the Nilgai do not require such focused recovery programs.