Himalayan Serow spotted in Assam for the First Time

GUWAHATI: A Himalayan mammal regarded it to be a "Himalayan Serow"-somewhere between a goat and an antelope has been spotted for the very first time in Assam.

It is to be mentioned that the serow was first spotted in the Manas Tiger Reserve in December 2020 by a couple of tourist and guides.

According to the additional principal chief conservator of the forest for areas under the Bodoland Territorial Council, Anindya Swargowari confirming the visuals received said that the mammal is none other than "Himalayan Serow".

He further added that the serow has been spotted for the first time in the Manas Tiger Reserve but this does not mean the animal never visited our forests before.

What kind of animal is Himalayan Serow?

According to a biologist, the Himalayan serow as resembling a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig. It's a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.

The Himalayan serow, or Capricornis sumatraensis thar, is restricted to the Himalayan region and can be regarded as a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).

Where has this serow been first sighted?

This is the first recorded human sighting of the serow in Himachal Pradesh. The animal has been spotted a few times earlier in the state, but that has always been through camera traps.

Earlier, the animal was spotted by locals and wildlife officials at a riverside rocky wall near Hurling village in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, on December 11, 2020. It was again sighted in the area on December 13, 2020.

Why is the sighting of the serow unusual?

Serows are generally not found at an altitude with an average elevation of 4,270 metres above sea level, however, it was never before has a serow been seen in the Himalayan cold desert. Wildlife officials believe this particular animal may have strayed into the Spiti valley from the Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary in adjoining Kinnaur.

Is the serow a threatened or endangered species?

Previously assessed as 'near threatened', the Himalayan serow is now been categorised as 'vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides absolute protection.

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