Ex situ conservation approach does not involve:

The correct answer is Option (1) → Biodiversity hotspots

Ex situ conservation means that threatened plants and animals are taken out of their natural habitat and cared for in a special place. In situ conservation protects them in their own habitat.

(1) Biodiversity hotspots — Not part of ex situ conservation. A hotspot is a region with very high species richness and many endemic species, and it is protected where it lies. This is in situ conservation.

(2) Zoological parks — Part of ex situ conservation. Threatened animals are kept and bred there.

(3) Botanical gardens — Part of ex situ conservation. Threatened plants are kept and grown there.

(4) Wildlife safari parks — Part of ex situ conservation. Animals are kept in a special setting outside their natural home.

NCERT Extract:
Summary – “… Biodiversity conservation may be in situ as well as ex situ. In in situ conservation, the endangered species are protected in their natural habitat so that the entire ecosystem is protected. Recently, 34 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ in the world have been proposed for intensive conservation efforts. Of these, three (Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Himalaya and Indo-Burma) cover India’s rich biodiversity regions. Our country’s in situ conservation efforts are reflected in its 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks, > 450 wildlife sanctuaries and many sacred groves. Ex situ conservation methods include protective maintenance of threatened species in zoological parks and botanical gardens, in vitro fertilisation, tissue culture propagation and cryopreservation of gametes.”