Previous Year Question
Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?
Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
Gangotri National Park
Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Manas National Park
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
3 and 4 only
1 and 4 only
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
The musk deer inhabits high-altitude temperate and subalpine forests, scrublands and alpine meadows of the Himalayas.
It generally uses coniferous and birch forests and difficult mountainous areas around the tree line as its habitat.
Askot Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural habitat of the musk deer. It is located in the Kumaon Himalayas in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
The sanctuary contains high-altitude forests, alpine meadows and Himalayan scrublands suitable for the musk deer.
The Askot region also provides habitat to the snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, bharal and several Himalayan birds.
Gangotri National Park is also a natural habitat of the musk deer. It is located in the upper Bhagirathi Valley in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
The coniferous forests, subalpine zones and high-Himalayan landscape of Gangotri National Park are suitable for the musk deer.
The Gangotri Glacier and the source region of the Bhagirathi River are also situated within this wider protected landscape.
The musk deer belongs to the genus Moschus. A musk gland or musk pod is present near the abdomen of the male musk deer.
Males do not possess antlers but have elongated canine teeth projecting from the upper jaw.
Illegal hunting for musk has historically been a serious threat to its population.
Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh.
The Terai forests and wet grasslands of Kishanpur are not the high-Himalayan habitat required by the musk deer.
Manas National Park is located in the Himalayan foothills of Assam and is known for species such as the tiger, elephant, gaur, pygmy hog and golden langur.
Manas National Park is also not situated within the high-Himalayan natural habitat of the musk deer.