Question

Tick the correct answer.
Wild goats and snow leopards are found in _____.
A. Himalayan region
B. Peninsula region
C. Gir forests
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint:
Wild goats and snow leopards are adapted to live in a cold climate and rocky terrain.
The region has the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest.

Complete answer:
The wild goats are adapted to live in a cold climate and rocky terrain and are found in many mountainous regions. It is also found in the Himalayas and there it is called Himalayan Tahr. It is a nearly endangered species. They have a thick, reddish, woollen coat and a thick undercoat as an adaptive measure to the harsh climate. They have unique toes which enable them to grasp both rough and smooth surfaces. They feed on small alpine trees and shrubs. They are preyed upon by snow leopards which also live in their habitat.

The snow leopard also called as ‘ounce’ is a vulnerable species of wild cats found in the Himalayan region. They are less than 10,000 in number. They are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction in the Himalayan regions of Afghanistan, India and Tibet. They are found in the high elevations of the Himalayas. In the northern side of the Himalayas, it is also found in low elevations. They feed on a large variety of animals depending on the time of the year and the availability of the preys during that time. They prefer hunting “Blue sheep” and “Himalayan Tahr”.

Therefore the answer is A

Note:
India’s first Snow Leopard Conservation Centre is set to be opened in the Uttarkashi forest division in the state of Uttarakhand.

The conservation centre will be developed by the Uttarakhand forest department along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of its six-year-long project, SECURE Himalayas.

The project aims at conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems. It also aims to secure the livelihoods of the people living in this region.

The project also takes into account the conversation of snow leopards and other endangered species and habitats, found in the Himalayas. This project was started in 2017.