Which of the following is NOT a part of ex-situ conservation?

Sacred groves

The correct answer is Option (2) -Sacred groves

Ex situ conservation involves the preservation of threatened species outside their natural habitats. It is a method of safeguarding biodiversity by removing endangered plants and animals from their original ecosystems and placing them in specially designed facilities or areas. The goal is to provide a secure environment where these species can be protected and managed, especially when their survival is at risk in the wild.

Zoological parks,botanical gardens and wildlife safari parks serve this purpose. There are many animals that have become extinct in the wild but continue to be maintained in zoological parks. In recent years ex situ conservation has advanced beyond keeping threatened species in enclosures. Now gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile condition for long periods using cryopreservation techniques, eggs can be fertilised in vitro, and plants can be propagated using tissue culture methods. Seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important plants can be kept for long periods in seed banks.

correct option: (2) Sacred groves: Sacred groves are not a part of ex situ conservation. They are actually a form of in situ conservation, where specific tracts of forests or natural areas are protected due to their religious or cultural significance. These areas are considered sacred and are protected by local communities, which helps in preserving the biodiversity found within them.