SNIPPETS 17 JANUARY 2026

Kruger National Park: South Africa’s largest and oldest national park+ It lies in north-eastern South Africa, spanning the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe+ Characterised by savannah grasslands, riverine forests, and bushveld ecosystems+ Major rivers include the Limpopo, Letaba, Olifants, Sabie and Crocodile+ Forms part of the Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO

Indian Giant Squirrel = Shekru (Maharashtra state animal) + Scientific name: Ratufa indica+ Arboreal tree squirrel, lives in forest canopies+ Distinctive multi-coloured fur+ Found in: Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Satpura Range+ States: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, MP, Gujarat, etc+ Behaviour: Mostly solitary, diurnal+ Seen during Tiger Estimation → indicator of healthy ecosystem+ IUCN Status: Least Concern

Boeing E-4B Nightwatch: “Doomsday Plane” + Operated by the US military+ Acts as National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC)+ Designed for nuclear war & catastrophic attacks+  Part of NC3 (Nuclear Command, Control & Communications)+ Built on Boeing 747-200 platform+ EMP-hardened; shielded from nuclear & thermal radiation+ Highly secure communication systems+ Can stay airborne for extended periods via in-flight refuelling

Mount Elbrus: Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe and an ancient, extinct volcano with two distinct peaks (East and West)+ Part of the Caucasus mountain system and a major centre for mountaineering and alpine tourism+ Located in: Southwestern Russia, in the Caucasus Mountains, just north of the Georgia border+ Lies between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea mountain corridor