HIMALAYAN SEROW (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Env and Eco )

Context: Recently, a Himalayan serow was spotted in the central part of Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Himalayan Serow

• About: It is a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
• Physical Features: It’s a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.
• Distribution: Typically found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres.

o Known to inhabit the eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not the Trans Himalayan region.

o The Trans-Himalayas Mountain Region, or Tibet Himalayan Region, lies to the north of the Great Himalayas and includes the Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar, and Kailash mountain ranges.

• Conservation Status:

o IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

o CITES: Appendix I

o The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Nameri Tiger Reserve

• Location: Situated in the northern part of the Sonitpur district of Assam, along the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Bounded by: Jia-Bhoreli river in the west and Bor-Dikorai river in the east.
• Habitat: Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh lies to the north, creating a contiguous habitat.