What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India? 1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater. 2. It survives by grazing on mangroves. 3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The Kharai camel is a breed from the Kutch region of Gujarat, and its uniqueness lies in its adaptation to saline, coastal habitats. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, and statement 3 is wrong, so the answer is A.

Statement 1 is correct. The Kharai can swim up to about 3 km in seawater, which lets it graze on coastal islands and marshy tracts where other camels cannot go.

Statement 2 is correct. It browses mainly on mangroves, such as Avicennia marina, a feed most other camel breeds cannot use. This is why its survival is tied to the coastal ecology of Kutch.

Statement 3 is wrong. The Kharai is not a wild animal. It is reared by the Maldhari pastoral community as livestock. Grazing freely in the coastal areas does not mean it cannot be domesticated.

Core concept: adaptation of indigenous livestock breeds to specific eco-regions, and the link between such breeds, pastoral livelihoods and local ecosystems. For Mains, this fits under animal husbandry, biodiversity conservation and livelihood of pastoral communities.

Trap: Aspirants see "swims" and "mangroves" and assume the animal must be wild. Many Indian breeds are semi-free-ranging yet fully domesticated.