According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law? 1. Gharial 2. Indian wild ass 3. Wild buffalo Select the correct answer using the code given below:

All three animals—Gharial, Indian wild ass, and Wild buffalo—are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides them the highest level of legal protection and prohibits hunting except under specific circumstances, such as when an animal becomes a threat to human life. A common error is selecting (a) or (c) by assuming only "Critically Endangered" species like the Gharial are strictly protected, whereas the Act includes all three in its highest protection category regardless of their specific IUCN status. This question tests the core concept of species classification and the corresponding legal safeguards provided under the various Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.