1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 4 only
7. Ans: a
Explanation:
About Musk Deer:
- Musk deer are small solitary forest ruminants that inhabit the forested and alpine scrub habitats of mountains in Asia. It is shy, cryptic and nocturnal or crepuscular.
- Musk deer differ from other deer in not having antlers and facial glands. They have a gall bladder, caudal gland and musk gland which other deer does not possess. The musk has been in use in indigenous medicine since ancient times.
- They have only one pair of teats wheres other have two.
- In India, the musk deer inhabits forests areas between 2500m and the tree line on the southern side of the Greater Himalayas. It is reported to occur in and around 23 Protected Areas located in the states and UT of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- The musk deer are relatively sedentary animals, meeting their requirements for food and cover within their small home ranges in all seasons.
Askot Wildlife sanctuary
- Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand lies at the junction of the Western and Central Himalayas.
- The Sanctuary was notified in July 1986, and covers three major watersheds: Kali, East Dhauli and Goriganga.
- The Sanctuary harbours the typical fauna of Himalayan forests as well as alpine pastures. Some of the rare and endangered species found in the Sanctuary are Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Tahr, Bharal or Blue Sheep, Goral, Serow, Asiatic Black Bear and Brown Bear.
Gangotri national park
- It is the largest (2,390 km2) Protected Area in the state of Uttarakhand, it lies in the upper catchments of River Bhagirathi.
- The Gangotri glacier lies at the centre of the Park and gives rise to River Bhagirathi. The Park has a relatively good forest cover and the vegetation types vary from Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests to the Alpine scrub and pastures. The GNP also forms a corridor between Govind National Park in the west and the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.
- So far, 15 species of mammal and 150 bird species have been documented from the park which includes Snow leopard, Black bear, Brown bear, Musk deer , Blue sheep or Bharal, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan monal, Koklass and Himalayan Snowcock.
Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS)
- It is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve near Mailani in Uttar Pradesh. Spread in a compact area of 200 sq Km, it is part of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, covering terai forest and meadows. It is home to Tigers, Leopards, Pythons, Barking Deer, Ghariyal, Wild Boar and Swamp Deers.
- Kishanpur has one of the most important terai grasslands left in northern India.
- It is not the natural habitat for Musk Deer.
Manas National Park
- The Manas National Park has four principal geological habitats: Bhabar savannah, Terai tract, marshlands and riverine tracts, therefore Musk Deer is not naturally found in Manas National Park.
- For more Information Refer Question No-6
Hence, option a is correct.
Read: Previous Year UPSC Environment Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2020