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:
Correct Answer: Option A
The musk deer is a small, shy, solitary animal belonging to the family Cervidae, and it inhabits mountainous regions from Siberia to the Himalayas.
Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, located near Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, was specifically established for the conservation of the musk deer and its habitat.
Gangotri National Park, situated in the Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand, is home to various rare and endangered species, including the musk deer, bharal, black bear, and snow leopard.
Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, primarily provides habitat for species like tigers, chital, and wild boars.
Manas National Park in Assam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Project Tiger reserve, is located in the Himalayan foothills and is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan; it is less likely to be a primary habitat for musk deer.
Therefore, the most likely places to find the musk deer are Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park.
Hence, option a is the correct answer.