Mauritius
Why in news?
Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received the highest Civilian Award of Mauritius at the National Day Celebrations (March 12) of the Republic of Mauritius.
Relevance:
Facts for prelims
Key facts about Mauritius:
- It is an island country in the Indian Ocean which is about 2,000 kms off the southeastern coast of East Africa.
- Its capital is Port Louis.
- It occupies a total area of 2,040 sq. km.
- History: The island of Mauritius is formed due to volcanic activities about 8 million years ago.
- Mount Piton is the highest peak in Mauritius.
- Since it is situated near the Tropic of Capricorn, Mauritius has a tropical climate.
- The climate has fairly uniform temperatures throughout the year.
- Environment:
- The flightless dodo bird, which is currently extinct, was endemic to Mauritius.
- The Mauritian flying fox is the only remaining mammal endemic to the island, and has been severely threatened in recent years.
- Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy.
- The Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission have their headquarters in Mauritius.
Prelims Question:
Consider the following statements regarding the environment of Mauritius:
- The flightless dodo bird, which is currently extinct, was endemic to Mauritius.
- The Mauritian flying fox, an endemic mammal of Mauritius, has been increasing in population in recent years due to conservation efforts.
- Mauritius is an island nation in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(A) Only One
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None
Answer: (B) Only two
Statement 1 and Statement 3 is correct
Statement 2 is incorrect: The population of the Mauritian flying fox has been severely threatened in recent years.
