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📌 The Question:
Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the “vermin” category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Statement II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

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✅ Correct Answer: (c)

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⚡ Lightning Classroom Explanation:

🔹 Statement I — Correct ✅

The Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) was historically placed under Schedule V (Vermin) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, largely due to its perceived role in orchard damage.
👉 Though its protection status has evolved over time, the question refers to its classification as vermin, which is factually correct in context.

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🔹 Statement II — Incorrect ❌

The Indian Flying Fox does NOT feed on blood.

• It is frugivorous and nectarivorous
• Feeds on fruits, nectar, pollen
• Plays a keystone ecological role in:
  • Seed dispersal
  • Pollination of forest trees

🧠 Blood-feeding bats are vampire bats, found mainly in Latin America, not in India.

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📌 Why the confusion?

• Flying foxes are often mistaken as harmful due to:
  • Orchard raids (mango, guava, etc.)
  • Large roosting colonies
• But ecologically, they are forest regenerators, not predators.

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🧠 Curiosity Raiser:
👉 One flying fox can disperse seeds over 50–100 km in a single night, making it vital for tropical forest survival.

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📚 Enrich Notes (UPSC Edge):

• Vermin (Schedule V) species could historically be hunted
• Keystone species = species whose removal collapses ecosystems
• Fruit bats ≠ Vampire bats (common UPSC trap)

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🕊️ IAS Monk Whisper:
“Sometimes nature’s most accused creatures are its most silent guardians.”