Manas National Park

In News: Assam rhino estimation

Manas National Park – Stats

• The current rhino population in the park was estimated at 40
• The park’s rhinos have a male-female sex ratio of 1:1, arrived at without considering 10 calves and five sub-adults
• The one-horned rhinos in Manas National Park, have an age structure pyramid, indicating higher life expectancy and significant growth in the population.
• There is no wider representation of calves and sub-adults to sustain the population structure
• Population pyramid for calves is clearly an indicative of a low birth rate, but is also suggestive of a lower death rate, which means that there is higher life expectancy
• But such a population may suffer losses if not supplemented through translocations, the report warned.
• A suitable strategy to bring in more rhinos from other rhino-bearing areas is required so as to have a wider representation of calves and sub-adults over time, the report stated

Counting limitations

• “Total count” or direct count method adopted for the population estimation in Manas has a few limitations.
• A total count is generally used when a single species is targeted to be counted in a well-defined, specific area.
• This method assumes the detection probability to be one, which means that each and every animal has a 100% chance of being seen during the counting.
• The limitations of this method include undercounting, as the assumption of a detection probability of 1 is unrealistic, especially if the population closure cannot be established satisfactorily within a small area of 10-20 sq. km.

Manas National Park:

• Manas national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve.
• It is located in the Himalayan foothills in Assam. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
• The name of the park is originated from the Manas River.
• Significance: The Park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. It is also famous for its population of wild water buffalo.
• River: The Manas River flows through the west of the park. Manas is a major tributary of Brahmaputra river.

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”? (2020)

1. Corbett
2. Ranthambore
3. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
4. Sunderbans

Q.2) 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)

1. Kanha National Park
2. Manas National Park
3. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Tal Chhaper Wildlife Sanctuary

Source: The Hindu