If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?

The correct answer is B) Chambal River. The Chambal is one of the last strongholds of the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a fish-eating crocodilian with a slender snout built for catching fish. The National Chambal Sanctuary, spread across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, protects its clean, fast-flowing stretches, which is why gharials are seen here in the wild.

• Bhitarkanika (Odisha) is a mangrove ecosystem famous for the estuarine (saltwater) crocodile, not the gharial.
• Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) is a brackish lagoon known for its bird life, including flamingos, not for gharials.
• Deepor Beel (Assam) is a Ramsar wetland near Guwahati, important for waterbirds.

The core concept here is habitat-based species identification, which is a recurring Environment and Biodiversity theme. For Mains, the Chambal case links to conservation under Project Crocodile and to the wider question of river health, since gharials depend on sand banks and unpolluted water.

Trap: aspirants pick Bhitarkanika because crocodiles and mangroves are strongly associated with it. Match the species to its specific river or wetland, not just to the broad crocodile family.