Himalayan Serow Sighted in Himachal Pradesh After Two Decades

Key facts

• The Himalayan serow (Capricornis thar) was recorded on camera in the Dalhousie catchment forests adjoining the Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time in two decades.
• The species is classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The Himalayan serow is the state animal of Mizoram.
• The last confirmed sighting in the area was in 2005-06, and the species was believed to have gone extinct locally following an outbreak of mouth-hoof disease.
• The video documentation was captured by field staff during a routine forest patrol, providing the first confirmed visual record from the Dalhousie landscape.
• Forest officials stated that the discovery highlights the ecological richness of the Dalhousie Forest Division and reinforces the need for continued scientific monitoring and habitat protection.