The correct option is (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Explanation
Satpura National Park, located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, is part of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. It is the first Reserve Forest of India. The historical ecological range of large mammals in the Central Indian Highlands compared to their present distribution.
Statement-wise Analysis:
Historical records and standard ecological texts indicate that the fauna of the Satpura range was once significantly more diverse regarding megaherbivores and carnivores.
- Statements 1, 2, 3, and 4 are Correct: Animals such as Lions, Elephants, Wild Buffaloes, and Barasingha were once found in the forests of Satpura National Park.
- Lions: The Asiatic Lion, now restricted to Gir (Gujarat), historically roamed across much of Northern and Central India, including the Satpura range.
- Elephants: While currently not resident in this specific park, elephants historically inhabited these central forests.
- Wild Buffaloes: Now largely restricted to Assam and Chhattisgarh, they were once part of the Satpura ecosystem.
- Barasingha: The Hard-ground Barasingha is now famous for its conservation success in Kanha National Park, but its historical range included Satpura.
Key Takeaway:
Satpura National Park historically supported large mammals including Lions, Elephants, Wild Buffaloes, and Barasingha, all of which have faced local extinction in this specific area despite surviving in other isolated pockets of India.