In a ‘first’, Himalayan serow spotted in Assam

Category
Environment
Published
8th Mar, 2021

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

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.