Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?

1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. 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.