Context
A Himalayan mammal has been confirmed as the newest creature to be spotted in Assam. The Himalayan serow, a goat-antelope, was cited in the 950-sq. km. Manas Tiger Reserve.
About the recent sightings of the goat- antelope
- The Himalayan serow spotted close to the border with Bhutan in Manas’sBansbari-Mathanguri forest.
- The serow has been spotted for the first time in the tiger reserve or anywhere else in Assam.
- The animal was recently spotted near Hurling village in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, RupiBhaba Wildlife Sanctuary, and in the higher reaches of Chamba.
Himalayan serow
- The Himalayan serow (Capricornissumatraensisthar) is restricted to the Himalayan region.
- Several other species of serows are also found and all of them are found in Asia.
- They are generally found at altitudes between 2,000 meters and 4,000 meters.
- They are known to be found in the eastern, central, and western Himalayas.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Manas Tiger Reserve
- Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve, and a biosphere reserve in Assam.
- It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
- The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, and pygmy hog.
- Manas is famous for its population of wild water buffalo.
Rupi Bhaba sanctuary
- RupiBhaba sanctuary is located near Rampur Bushahr in the district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.
- It is neighboring with Great Himalayan National Park and Pin Valley National Park.
- The sanctuary lies across the river Sutlej on National Highway-22 in the Dhauladhar ranges.
- Prominent among the mammals are Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Himalayan Black bear, Himalayan Musk Deer, Serow, Tahr, Himalayan Weasel, and Blue Sheep.
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