Himalayan serow and black-necked crane have been spotted in Assam’s Manas Tiger Reserve.Himalayan serow
· It is a goat-antelope, which is restricted to Himalayas.
· Scientific name: Capricornis sumatraensis thar
· Habitat: Forest, Shrubland, Grassland, Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks). In India they are found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans Himalayan region.
· Geographical location: These herbivores are usually found 2000-4000 meters above sea level.
· Significance:
- Sighting of the animal is a sign of the health of the tiger reserve.
- It also implies that such rare animals now access remote parts of the protected area which where restricted due to the presence of extremists and hunters.
· 6 species: Japanese serow, Taiwan serow, Sumatran serow, Chinese serow, Red serow, Himalayan serow.
· Conservation status:
- IUCN Red list: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) act, 1972: Schedule I
Black-necked crane
· The mammal has a red crown, black head and neck, yellow eye, ashy gray body feathers, black wings, tail and legs.
· Scientific name: Grus nigricollis
· Habitat: Wetlands (inland)
· Extant: China; India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Nepal.
· Conservation status:
- IUCN Red list: Near threatened
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) act, 1972: Schedule I
· The bird is revered by the community of Monpas (major Buddhist ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh) as an embodiment of the sixth Dalai Lama (Tsangyang Gyatso).
· Recently the Buddhist community was seen opposing the push for hydroelectric power projects in the area citing damage to the nesting grounds of the endangered crane species.
Manas National Park
· Situated in the state of Assam, the national park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site (1985), a Project Tiger reserve (1973), an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve.
· It is located in the Himalayan foothills and is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
· The Manas river, a major tributary of Brahmaputra
river flows through this area.
· Wildlife includes great Indian rhinoceroses, elephants, bison, deer, tigers, golden langurs, black bears, and wild pigs
· Situated in the state of Assam, the national park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site (1985), a Project Tiger reserve (1973), an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve.
· It is located in the Himalayan foothills and is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
· The Manas river, a major tributary of Brahmaputra
river flows through this area.
· Wildlife includes great Indian rhinoceroses, elephants, bison, deer, tigers, golden langurs, black bears, and wild pigs
