Which one of the following protected areas is well known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous? [2020]

Which one of the following protected areas is well known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

Kanha National Park
Manas National Park
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

Hard ground swamp deer (Barasingha or Rucervus duvaucelii, IUCN: VU) is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. It has seen a revival in the Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) after near-extinction. Successful breeding programs and conservation efforts helped in the species’ recovery at KNPTR. Swamp deer are extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh, now found only in southwestern Nepal and central/northeastern India.
There are three subspecies of swamp deer in the Indian Subcontinent:
- Western swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) found in Nepal.
- Southern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) found in central and north India.
- Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) found in Kaziranga and Dudhwa National Parks.

Hard ground swamp deer (Barasingha or Rucervus duvaucelii, IUCN: VU) is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. It has seen a revival in the Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) after near-extinction.

Image Source: IUCN

Additional information

Kanha National Park, Tiger Reserve, is located in the Maikal Range of Satpuras. It is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh and Central India. The present-day Kanha area is divided into two protected areas, Hallon and Banjar.
Tribes displaced from the region: Baiga tribe (a semi-nomadic tribe of Central India) lost their forest rights & were not properly compensated.
Vegetation: tropical moist and dry deciduous forests.
Major Flora: Sal, bamboo forests.
Major Fauna: Bengal tiger, gaur, barasingha (swamp deer; VU), dhole, spotted deer, sambar, chausingha.
Major Avifauna: Black ibis, Indian grey hornbill, lesser adjutant, steppe eagle.

Option (b) is incorrect

Manas National Park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site located on the Himalayan Foothills. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park (Bhutan).
Manas River (a tributary of Brahmaputra) passes through the heart of the National Park.
The bhabar-terai region with riverine succession makes it one of the richest areas of biodiversity.
Vegetation: Semi-evergreen forests, moist & dry deciduous forests, savanna woodland, & grasslands.
Major Fauna: Hispid hare, pygmy hog, wild water buffalo, rhinoceros (reintroduced in 2007), elephants, sambar, Chinese pangolin, clouded leopards.
Major Avifauna: It has the world’s largest population of the endangered Bengal florican. Other major bird species include great hornbills, pelicans, eagles, and herons.

Option (c) is incorrect

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the north-western side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri district. It shares its boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala.
Vegetation: tropical moist deciduous, dry deciduous and dry thorn forests.
Major Fauna: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, leopard, bonnet macaque, sloth bear, sambar, Indian giant squirrel.
Avian Major Fauna: Indian white-rumped vulture (CR) and Indian Vulture (CR). Threats: Tourism and invasive species such as Lantana.

Option (d) is incorrect

Located in the Churu district of Rajasthan, it is known for blackbucks (LC).

Answer: (a) Kanha National Park; Difficulty Level: Easy

2020, PYQs