Kaziranga Records First Yellow-Throated Marten

A Yellow-Throated Marten (Martes flavigula) has been recorded for the first time in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam, during routine camera-trapping conducted by the Kaziranga Tiger Cell.

About the Discovery

• The sighting confirms the presence of this mesopredator in the semi-evergreen forest patches of Kaziranga.
• The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity and ecological health of the protected area.
• The species was photographed during wildlife monitoring under the park’s conservation programme.

About Yellow-Throated Marten (Martes flavigula)

• • It belongs to the Mustelidae family, which is a diverse family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, stoats, badgers, otters, martens, grisons, and wolverines.
  • It is the largest marten species in Asia.
  • It is a diurnal (day-active) and arboreal (tree-climbing) carnivore.
  • It is an omnivorous species, feeding on small mammals, birds, fruits, and carrion. 
  • Unlike other mustelids, martens are highly social and often hunt in pairs or groups.
  • It is known for its bold, aggressive and fearless behaviour, often compared with the honey badger.
  • It weighs around 1–2 kilograms and has a distinctive yellow-orange throat and chest.
  • Distribution: Found across the Himalayan region, Northeast India, Southeast Asia, China, Korea and parts of Russia.
    • In India, it occurs in forested habitats of the Eastern Himalayas and Northeastern States.
  • Ecological Importance: It plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
    • It acts as a seed disperser, helping forest regeneration.
    • It controls populations of small mammals, birds, insects and reptiles.
    • As a mesopredator, it occupies an intermediate position in the food chain below apex predators such as tigers and leopards.

• Conservation Status

• • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Protected under Schedule II.
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

About Kaziranga National Park

• Located in Assam along the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River across the districts of Nagaon, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts.

• Located in Assam Bounded by the Brahmaputra River in the north/east and Karbi Anglong Hills in the south.
• Lies within the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.
• National Highway 715 (earlier NH-37) passes along the park landscape.

Major Rivers & Wetlands

• Important rivers: Brahmaputra, Diphlu (Difalu), Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri.
• Contains numerous beels (wetlands) and oxbow lakes.

Administrative Ranges

• Central Range (Kohora), Western Range (Bagori), Eastern Range (Agaratoli), Burapahar Range (Ghorakati), Northern Range (Biswanath).

Major Fauna (Big Five of Kaziranga)

• Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros: Hosts the world’s largest population of the One-Horned Rhinoceros.
• Royal Bengal Tiger: Recorded the third-highest tiger density in India after Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Corbett National Park, 
• Wild Water Buffalo: Home to the largest population of wild water buffalo in the world.
• Asian Elephant 
• Eastern Swamp Deer (Barasingha)

Other Important Species

• Ganges River Dolphin, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur
• Recently recorded sighting of Smew bird & Gharial.

Conservation Significance

• Holds around two-thirds of the world’s Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros population.
• Also designated as an Important Bird Area and biodiversity hotspot.
• One of India’s most important Tiger Reserves.
• Habitat for 9 of India’s 14 primate species.

Important Timeline

• 1905: Proposed Reserve Forest.
• 1916: Kaziranga Game Sanctuary.
• 1950: Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary.
• 1974: Declared a National Park.
• 1985: Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• 2007: Declared a Tiger Reserve.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Yellow-Throated Marten:

1. It belongs to the Mustelidae family.
2. It is a nocturnal carnivore found only in the Himalayan region.
3. It is protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only

One-Line Wrap

The first-ever recording of the Yellow-Throated Marten in Kaziranga highlights the park’s growing ecological significance and underscores the success of biodiversity conservation efforts in Assam.

Source