Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

(a) Kanha National Park

(b) Manas National Park

(d) Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary

5. Ans: a

Explanation:

About Barasingha:

Barasingha in Hindi means twelve-pointer, indicating a characteristic antler pattern in adult stages. Barasingha is a large, graceful deer, similar in shape and general body plan to other deer species such as red deer and sambar.
Two distinctly different subspecies of Barasingha have been recognised: R.d. duvaucelii, from the alluvial plains on the foot of the Himalaya, and R.d. branderi from central India. The latter subspecies has also been known as ‘hard ground barasingha’.
Barasingha’s historic range to extend along marshy areas in the foothills of the Himalaya, all along the Brahmaputra, ganga and Indus basins, from upper Assam to Rohri, along riverbeds in the Sal forests areas of central India, between Ganga and Godavari rivers.
Now the barasingha is only found in three relatively small areas: one in Kheri, philibhit and Bahraich divisions, including Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, and the adjacent divisions in southwestern Nepal; another in Kaziranga and Manas Naitonal Parks in Asssam few in Laokhowa Sanctuary(Asssam ); and the other in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
The barasingha has a distinct preference for swampy grassland areas. It subsist on grass for their diet showing clear preference for coarse grasses.
It has a gestation period of 240-250 days and give birth to single young.

Kanha National Park:

Kanha National Park is nestled in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India that forms the central Indian highlands. The national park is also a Tiger reserve.
The Kanha National park also supports an endemic population of the hard ground barasingha (Cervus duvauceli branderi), whose commendable resurrection over the years has become a very inspiring success story in wildlife conservation.
The lush green forests of Kanha, composed majorly of Sal (Shorea Robusta) and other mixed forest trees, supports the growth of rich and varied flora and fauna.

Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary:

Tal Chhapar is located on the fringe of the Great Indian Thar Desert and is a unique refuge for the most elegant antelope encountered in India “The Black Buck”.
Tal Chhapar sanctuary, with its almost flat tract and interspersed shallow, low-lying areas, has open grassland with scattered Acacia and Prosopis trees, which give it an appearance of a typical savanna.
The sanctuary lies in Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu district in the North-East of Rajasthan.

Manas National Park:

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the State of Assam in North-East India, a biodiversity hotspot. Covering an area of 39,100 hectares, it spans the Manas river and is bounded to the north by the forests of Bhutan.
The site’s scenic beauty includes a range of forested hills, alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen forests.
The site provides critical and viable habitats for rare and endangered species, including tiger, greater one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog and Bengal florican. Among these pygmy hog, hispid hare and golden langur as well as the endangered Bengal florican are endemic to Manas National Park.
The property, has six national and international designations (i.e. World Heritage Site, National Park, Tiger Reserve (core), Biosphere Reserve (national), Elephant Reserve (core) and Important Bird Area).
The Manas-Beki system is the major river system flowing through the property and joining the Brahmaputra river further downstream. These and other rivers carry an enormous amount of silt and rock debris.
The monsoon and river system form four principal geological habitats: Bhabar savannah, Terai tract, marshlands and riverine tracts.
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary provides habitat for 22 of India’s most threatened species of mammals.

Mudumalai National Park

Located in the western side of Tamil Nadu, the national park lies on the North eastern and North Western slopes of Nilgiris, descending to the Mysore plateau, at the tri-junction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
A part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the sanctuary is crusted with other national parks including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Wayanad, Mukurthi and Silent Valley national parks. These parks and reserve forests together are spread across a whopping area of 3300 sq.km of forest land.

Hence, option a is correct.

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