Though to be extinct, the rarely seen Himalayan serow, a goat antelope, has been sighted and captured in a camera by the state wildlife wing in Himachal Pradesh’s remote Spiti Valley for the first time. Much to the delight of wildlife officials, the rare creature spotted at Hurling village in Spiti valley of Lahaul-Spiti district.Also Read - Stunning Fresh Snowfall PICS of Kufri, Narkanda in Himachal Will Make You Want to Travel
An official said it was an extremely shy animal and can only be sighted during winters, when it migrates to lower elevations. “It is an extremely shy animal and its habitat is dense forests. Only in winter its sighting in the GHNP is possible when it migrates to lower elevations,” GHNP Deputy Ranger Roshan Lal Chaudhary told IANS. Also Read - IRCTC Latest News: Railways Set to Operate These Unreserved Trains Between Punjab, Himachal Pradesh From Today | Complete List Here
Officials were instructed to maintain a strict watch on the animal and protect it from any potential threats, according to a Times of India report. Also Read - Shocking! 80% Women in THESE South Indian States Justify Men Beating Their Wives: Survey
Here are some pictures captured by the team:
A video taken by the wildlife officials shows the rare animal moving near a stream where it was grazing, however, it fled soon after sensing human movement.
Chaudhary further said one could encounter signs of serow like pellets, resting places and footmarks, but it is almost impossible to spot the animal. “In 2018 only once its sighting was recorded in a camera trap installed in the GHNP,” he said.
Hunting of the Himalayan Serow is prohibited as it is included under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and it has also been listed as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation for Nature.