“Himalayan serow” spotted in the Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam

What is the News?

Himalayan Serow has been spotted in the Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.

 About Himalayan Serow:

• Himalayan serow is a subspecies of the mainland serow. It resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
• Species: There are several species of serows in the world. All of them are found in Asia. However, the Himalayan serow is restricted to the Himalayan region.
• Habitat: They are found at high altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres. They are known to be found in the eastern, central and western Himalayas but not in the Trans Himalayan region.
• Diet: Himalayan serows are herbivores animals.
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• The Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I.

Significance of the sighting of Himalayan Serow:

• Himalayan serow has been spotted for the first time in the Manas tiger reserve or anywhere else in Assam. However, this does not mean the animal never visited Assam forests before.
  • The sightings of these rare animals and birds are due to better access to remote parts of the protected area.
  • The other rare animals and birds sighted recently in Manas National Park were,
    • The black-necked crane
    • A critically endangered white-bellied heron.

Manas National Park:

• Manas national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve.
• Location: It is located in the Himalayan foothills in Assam. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
• Origin of Name: The name of the park is originated from the Manas River.
• Significance: The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. It is also famous for its population of wild water buffalo.
• Human History: Pagrang is the only forest village located in the core of the Manas national park. Apart from this village 56 more villages surround the park. Many more fringe villages are directly or indirectly dependent on the park.
• River: The Manas river flows through the west of the park. Manas is a major tributary of Brahmaputra river. The river is named after the serpent goddess Manasa

Source: The Hindu

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