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 :

(a) 1 and 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 4 only

Why the answer is (a)

• The Himalayan musk deer lives in alpine forests and scrub at 2,500–4,500 m in the western and central Himalaya.

• Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand) (1) was created specifically to protect musk deer, and Gangotri National Park (2) in the high Uttarkashi Himalaya is prime habitat.

• Kishanpur WLS (3) is a Terai wetland-grassland (Dudhwa) with swamp deer; Manas NP (4) is Assam's sub-Himalayan grassland-forest — neither is musk-deer habitat.

• Hence 1 and 2 only, option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 2 and 3 only: Kishanpur is a Terai sanctuary, not alpine musk-deer habitat.
(c) 3 and 4 only: Neither Kishanpur nor Manas is musk-deer habitat.
(d) 1 and 4 only: Manas is a lowland park; Gangotri, not Manas, has musk deer.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.