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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 :
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 (1 and 2 only). The Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster) is native to high-altitude alpine environments, typically found at elevations between 2,500m and 4,500m in the Himalayas.
- Askot Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, it is specifically known as the "Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary," established primarily to protect this species.
- Gangotri National Park: Situated in the high-altitude region of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, its sub-alpine and alpine ecosystems provide the ideal natural habitat for the musk deer.
- Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, it consists of tropical moist deciduous forests, which are unsuitable for high-altitude musk deer.
- Manas National Park: Located in the foothills of Assam, it features a tropical climate and grasslands, habitats naturally alien to the musk deer.
Therefore, since musk deer are restricted to the high Himalayan landscape, only sites 1 and 2 are geographically and ecologically appropriate.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Habitat Mismatch' trap. You aren't expected to visit every park, but you must know that Musk Deer are 'Alpine' (High Altitude) specialists. Askot is literally named 'Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary', acting as the anchor. The strategy is to filter parks by Elevation (Alpine vs. Terai/Plains).
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Are musk deer (genus Moschus) naturally found in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand, India?
- Statement 2: Are musk deer (genus Moschus) naturally found in Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand, India?
- Statement 3: Are musk deer (genus Moschus) naturally found in Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, India?
- Statement 4: Are musk deer (genus Moschus) naturally found in Manas National Park in Assam, India?
- The passage lists Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and explicitly names Musk Deer (Endangered) among its present animals.
- Gives the sanctuary location as Uttarakhand, India, matching the geographic part of the statement.
Lists Dachigam (a Himalayan protected area) as protecting 'Musk-deer', showing musk deer occur in Himalayan national parks.
A student could note that if Dachigam (in the Himalaya) has musk deer, other Himalayan sanctuaries (e.g., in Uttarakhand) at suitable altitudes might also host them and then check Askot's altitude and habitat.
Gives the stated range for 'Himalayan Musk Deer' as 'Himalayan of Bhutan, North India (Sikkim), Nepal & China' and describes alpine/high-altitude habitats.
A student could compare Askot's location in the Indian Himalaya and its alpine habitats to this range to judge plausibility of musk deer presence.
Notes that high-altitude Indian Himalaya (>3,000 m) support 'two species of musk deer' among other mountain ungulates.
A student could check whether Askot includes similar high-altitude zones (~3,000 m) where musk deer are known to occur.
Describes the Project Snow Leopard states (including Uttarakhand) and links cold/high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems to unique wildlife assemblages.
Since Uttarakhand is listed among states with these cold Himalayan ecosystems, a student could infer musk-deer habitat may occur in parts of the state (then examine Askot's specific ecosystem).
Gives the species name 'Himalayan Musk Deer', its range (Himalayan Bhutan, North India (Sikkim), Nepal & China) and typical alpine/high‑altitude habitats.
A student could compare this Himalayan, high‑altitude range/habitat with Gangotri's location and elevation to assess if conditions match.
Lists Dachigam National Park (Jammu & Kashmir) as protecting 'Musk-deer', showing musk deer occur in Himalayan national parks in the region.
A student could note that musk deer are present in Himalayan protected areas and check whether Gangotri is a similar Himalayan protected area where they might occur.
Shows musk deer as a named main fauna of the Dihang‑Dibang biosphere reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, indicating distribution across multiple Himalayan/NE highland reserves in India.
A student could infer musk deer are found in several Himalayan/adjacent highland reserves and then compare Gangotri's biogeographic region to these reserves.
Includes 'musk-deer' in a list of Indian herbivorous wild mammals, supporting that musk deer are part of India's high‑altitude fauna assemblage.
A student could use this as a general rule that musk deer occur in Indian highland fauna and then check Gangotri's fauna lists or altitude to evaluate plausibility.
- This passage lists the recorded species for Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and does not include musk deer.
- The species explicitly named for Kishanpur are Swamp deer, Bengal Florican and Sarus crane, indicating musk deer are not reported there in this source.
- This passage explicitly identifies locations where Musk Deer are found (Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Gangotri National Park).
- By naming other sanctuaries as hosts for Musk Deer and not Kishanpur, it supports that Kishanpur is not listed as a natural site for Musk Deer in these materials.
Lists the Himalayan musk deer with an explicit range: 'Himalayan of Bhutan, North India (Sikkim), Nepal & China' and describes an alpine/high‑altitude habitat.
A student could compare Kishanpur's elevation/ecosystem to 'alpine/high altitude' to judge plausibility (if Kishanpur is lowland, presence is unlikely).
Mentions White‑bellied musk‑deer occurring in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim — i.e. montane northern states.
Use a map or basic state locations to see that these are Himalayan/montane regions unlike most of Uttar Pradesh; if Kishanpur is not in those regions, musk deer are less likely.
Table listing Dachigam (Srinagar, J&K) as a sanctuary protecting 'Musk‑deer', reinforcing musk deer association with Himalayan protected areas.
Compare which protected areas in the snippets (Himalayan ones) protect musk deer versus those in Uttar Pradesh (which list other deer species) to assess whether Kishanpur fits the pattern.
Listings of many national parks/sanctuaries and their 'dominant species' show regional specialization — e.g., Dudhwa (Lakhimpur‑Kheri, Uttar Pradesh) lists swamp‑deer, sambar, chital but not musk deer.
Note that a UP sanctuary (Dudhwa) lists lowland deer species but not musk deer; a student could treat absence in nearby UP protected‑area lists as a clue that musk deer are not typical for UP lowland sanctuaries like Kishanpur.
Describes tropical/dry deciduous forests of the plains (including Uttar Pradesh) and lists 'common animals' such as lion, tiger, pig, deer and elephant — a different ecological community than alpine musk deer habitat.
A student could compare Kishanpur's forest type (if it is dry deciduous/lowland) with this list to infer musk deer (alpine specialist) are ecologically unlikely there.
- This passage lists species reported from Manas National Park (Assam) and does not include musk deer among them.
- The named fauna for Manas are Bengal tiger, Indian elephant and Assam roofed turtle, indicating the passage's inventory for that park excludes musk deer.
- This passage explicitly lists Musk Deer (Endangered) as present at Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttarakhand), showing where musk deer are recorded in these source lists.
- The passage names specific protected areas with musk deer (Askot, Gangotri) and does not list Manas among musk-deer locations, implying musk deer are reported elsewhere, not at Manas in these sources.
Explicitly describes the Himalayan Musk Deer range as 'Himalayan of Bhutan, North India (Sikkim), Nepal & China' and gives alpine/high‑altitude habitat.
A student can compare this high‑altitude range/habitat with Manas' location/elevation (using a map or basic geography) to judge whether Manas fits the typical musk‑deer habitat.
Lists 'Musk‑deer' as a dominant species protected at Dachigam (Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir), reinforcing occurrence in Himalayan/North India parks rather than plains.
Use the pattern that musk deer are protected in Himalayan parks to infer they are more likely in northern highland parks than Assam lowland parks like Manas.
Provides a species list for Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve (Assam) that omits 'musk deer' while naming many other deer species (swamp‑deer, hog‑deer, sambar, pygmy‑hog).
Treat the absence of musk deer in this authoritative species list as a negative clue; a student could verify by checking other park species lists or field guides for Manas.
Notes musk‑deer as an endangered species in India, indicating their distribution is restricted and worth checking park‑by‑park rather than assuming widespread occurrence.
Combine the fact of restricted/endangered status with Manas' species list (snippet 1) and geographic location to assess likelihood of natural presence.
Mentions 'deers‑musk‑deer' among a list of herbivorous species in India but does not tie them to Assam or Manas specifically, implying musk deer are a recognised Indian deer group but not universally present.
A student can take this general inclusion and then check ecological requirements (e.g., altitude) to see if Manas meets them.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Askot is famously the 'Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary'. Source: Standard Environment Maps/Shankar IAS Protected Areas chapter.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Endangered Species & their Critical Habitats (Protected Area Network). specifically 'Alpine Fauna'.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map these Specialist Sanctuaries: 1) National Chambal (Gharial), 2) Vikramshila (Gangetic Dolphin), 3) Dachigam (Hangul), 4) Keibul Lamjao (Sangai), 5) Sri Lankamalleswara (Jerdon's Courser). Know that Uttarakhand's State Animal is the Alpine Musk Deer.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Stop memorizing random lists. Instead, tag animals by 'Biome' (Alpine, Desert, Swamp, Rainforest). Tag Parks by 'Biome'. Match them. Musk Deer (Alpine) cannot survive in Kishanpur (Terai Swamp) or Manas (Tropical Foothills).
Musk deer are species of the Himalayan high‑altitude fauna and are associated with alpine and subalpine habitats.
High yield for geography and environment questions: knowing which species are characteristic of the Himalayan high‑altitude zone helps answer distribution and conservation questions. Connects to topics on biogeographic zones, protected area selection, and species adaptation. Enables elimination-style answers about species presence by matching habitat requirements.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > 16'6. Why to conserve the high altitude ecosystem? > p. 241
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > 16.6. PROJECT SI{OW LEOPARD :t: > p. 240
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > ENVIRONMENT > p. 175
Himalayan musk deer are listed as endangered and face threats from hunting and trade in musk glands.
Important for UPSC questions on wildlife protection, Schedule listings, and threats to biodiversity. Links to the Wildlife Protection Act, species-specific conservation measures, and policy discussions on anti‑poaching and trade regulation. Useful for framing answers on causes of species decline and priority conservation actions.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > ENVIRONMENT > p. 175
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > WILDLIFE > p. 41
Different national parks and sanctuaries list different dominant species; musk deer are reported for some parks (e.g., Dachigam) but not universally for all Himalayan protected areas.
Helps aspirants tackle questions asking which species occur in particular protected areas by prompting consultation of park‑wise species lists and habitat matching. Connects to conservation planning, regional biodiversity comparisons, and objective‑type questions on species presence/absence.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 39
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 41
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 40
Himalayan musk deer are distributed across high-altitude Himalayan regions of North India, Nepal, Bhutan and adjacent areas.
High-yield for UPSC questions on species distribution and conservation; helps link species to mountain ecosystems, transboundary conservation issues, and region-specific protection measures. Enables answering matching questions about species and their native ranges.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > ENVIRONMENT > p. 175
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 39
Musk deer are associated with alpine environments, high-altitude meadows and similar cold-region habitats.
Crucial for linking ecological zones to characteristic fauna in geography and environment sections; useful for questions asking which species inhabit alpine vs. tropical zones and for reasoning about protected-area suitability.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > ENVIRONMENT > p. 175
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.8 > p. 50
National parks and biosphere reserves explicitly list dominant or main fauna (e.g., Dachigam and Dihang-Dibang include musk deer).
Important for memorizing and reasoning about which protected areas host which flagship/endangered species — a common UPSC demand in biodiversity and conservation questions. Helps in elimination strategies on protected-area/species matching tasks.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 39
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.8 > p. 50
Musk deer are recorded from Himalayan states (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim) and parts of the Northeast rather than the Gangetic plains.
High-yield for questions on species distribution and protected-area biogeography; helps eliminate incorrect options about species presence in plains vs mountain regions and links to conservation planning and regional biodiversity questions.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > x) not evaluated (ne) > p. 15
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > ENVIRONMENT > p. 175
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.8 > p. 50
The 'State Animal' of Uttarakhand is the Alpine Musk Deer. A logical sibling question is the 'Snow Leopard', whose flagship habitat is Hemis (Ladakh) and Great Himalayan National Park (HP), or the 'Red Panda' found in Khangchendzonga (Sikkim) and Namdapha (Arunachal).
The 'UP Logic': Uttar Pradesh is a plains state (Gangetic plain/Terai). It has no high peaks or alpine meadows. Musk Deer are strictly high-altitude animals. Therefore, Kishanpur (in UP) is geographically impossible. Eliminate option 3. You are left with A or D. Manas (Assam) is famous for Rhinos/Elephants (tropical grasslands). Unlikely for an alpine deer. Mark A.
Environment-Geography Link: This links to 'Vertical Zonation of Vegetation' in the Himalayas. Musk Deer occupy the Birch-Rhododendron scrub zone (3000m+). In Mains GS3, cite this as a species vulnerable to 'Range Contraction' due to Climate Change (warming pushing treelines higher, shrinking their alpine island).