Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in 1. Blue-finned Mahseer : Cauvery River 2. Irrawaddy Dolphin : Chambal River 3. Rusty-spotted Cat : Eastern Ghats Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Let's evaluate each pair:

1. Blue-finned Mahseer : Cauvery River: This pair is correctly matched. The Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor khudree), an endangered species of freshwater fish, is indeed found in the Cauvery River basin, particularly in its upstream stretches and tributaries. Conservation efforts often focus on its habitat in this region.

2. Irrawaddy Dolphin : Chambal River: This pair is incorrectly matched. Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are primarily found in coastal areas and large rivers in Southeast Asia, such as the Mekong, Irrawaddy, and Mahakam rivers, as well as some brackish waters. The Chambal River is known for being a habitat for the critically endangered Gharial and Gangetic Dolphins, not Irrawaddy Dolphins.

3. Rusty-spotted Cat : Eastern Ghats: This pair is correctly matched. The Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is one of the smallest wild cats in the world, found in parts of India and Sri Lanka. Its habitat in India includes deciduous forests and grasslands, and it is known to be found in various regions, including the Eastern Ghats.

Therefore, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.