Conserve the Breed of 'Mountain Weissel', the Species of Navale

• 26 Jul 2022

Why in News?

On July 25, 2022, Chief Conservator of Forest Research Circle Sanjeev Chaturvedi informed that the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of the Forest Department has given a green signal to the proposal for conservation in the state of The Mountain Weissel, a species of navale, which has played an important role in the ecological balance in the high Himalayan region.

Key Points

• Sanjiv Chaturvedi said that the research wing of the department has prepared a five-year action plan for this. Soon the study of Mountain Weasel will be started at Badrinath, Harki Doon, Harshil and other places.
• Found at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters in the high Himalayan region, this species of nave is found in Ladakh in India. After Ladakh, it will now be protected in Uttarakhand also.
• Somewhat different from the normally visible navels, mountain weasel is a secluded mammalian creature with a thin body and neck, small legs and small heads. This creature of the Family Mustelidae is also beautiful in appearance.
• There are four species of mountain weejal found in Uttarakhand. It is also naturally helpful in regulating the number of species like rats, peaches in the high Himalayan region by hunting them.
• It is worth noting that Mountain Weissel (Mustela Altaica), also known as Pel Weigel, Altai Weigel or Solongoi, lives mainly in high-altitude environments, as well as rocky tundra and grassy woodlands.
• The geographical distribution of this species ranges from Kazakhstan, Tibet and the Himalayas to parts of Asia from Mongolia, northeast China and southern Siberia. However, the most important region for this species is Ladakh, India.