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:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 4 only
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- Musk deer are mostly found in the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in high alpine environments above 2,500 meters.
- The Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park, both located in Uttarakhand, are home to musk deer, so statements 1 and 2 are correct.
- However, the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Manas National Park in Assam are not known to have musk deer, so statements 3 and 4 are not correct.