Himalayan musk deer ecology and conservation project

Prakruti khatsuriya

1. Himalayan musk deer ecology & conservation project

2. HIMALAYAN MUSKDEER ( Moschus leucogaster ) The Himalayan musk deer, is a shy solitary and territorial, Himalayan mammal listed as endangered under the IUCN category. Musk deer are commonly known as Kasturi Mriga in Nepali and Lah in the Tibetan language. There are five species of musk deer; the Siberian, Black, Forest, Alpine and Himalayan musk deer. Populations are currently in decline-the result of habitat loss and intensive illegal hunting for musk. introduction

3. HABITAT AND ECOLOGY The Musk Deer inhabits alpine forests and scrub. It feeds mainly on grasses, shrubs, leaves, moss, lichens, shoots, and twigs. It is generally solitary and crepuscular (Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight). The Musk Deer is most active at night or at dawn and dusk.

4. HABITAT AND ECOLOGY continue… Except during the breeding season, the Musk Deer is a solitary animal and is also strongly territorial. Due to the sophistication of the Musk Deer’s scent glands, communication between individual deer is believed to be based primarily on their sense of smell. The musk deer rub their caudal glands against plants and males release musk in their urine during certain times of the year.

5. Geographic Range RANGE DESCRIPTION The Himalayan musk deer is an endangered species confined to the Himalayas, occurring in Tibet, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Its occurrence in China is almost marginal. They are distributed in the eastern Himalayas. The Indian states in which Himalayan Musk deer are found include Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Deer is typically found at elevations between 2,200 and 4,300 meters (7,250 to 14,200 feet), and is rarely found below 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).

6. Geographic Range continue…

7. Present status Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered Previously Published Red List Assessments 2008 – Endangered (EN) 1996 – Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt) Current Population Trend: Decreasing It is believed to be declining throughout its range because of over-harvesting. The Musk Deer is included in Schedule I, Part I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972. Musk Deer populations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan are listed under Appendix I of CITES

8. Present status continue… Unfortunately, enforcement of these laws is often minimal, and the numbers of Musk deer continue to decline throughout the Deer’s distribution. Today, the total population of Musk deer may number 400,000 to 800,000. There were 2 to 3 million Musk deer in China and Tibet in the 1950s; now, there are probably only about 220,000 to 320,000.

9. Threats to survival The Musk Deer’s survival is threatened most seriously by poaching. Besides hunting for meat, which is considered a delicacy locally, hunting of the Musk deer is primarily for the commercial demand for musk. Musk is used in traditional medicines, perfumes, and cosmetic products that include shampoos and conditioners. Musk is used in traditional medicine to treat heart, nerve, skin, abdominal, and breathing ailments. End Use Local National International Food – human Yes No No Medicine - human & veterinary Yes Yes Yes Other chemicals No Yes Yes

10. Musk is only produced in the musk gland of mature male Musk deer. Each musk gland, or “pod”, yields about 15 to 25 grams (0.5 to 1 ounce) of musk. The highest quality of musk is that produced during the Musk Deer’s breeding season, in the winter. Threats to survival continue…

11. Threat 1. Residential & commercial development 2. Agriculture & aquaculture 3. Transportation & service corridors 4. Biological resource use (Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals and Logging & wood harvesting) Threats to survival continue…

12. Musk pods

13. Conservation strategies to mitigate threats Musk deer conservation efforts should be focused on maintenance of essential ecological processes and life support system. For this, it is necessary to give proper protection to the species within existing national parks and sanctuaries, to control the musk trade, both at national and international levels and to utilize the species at a sustainable level for the benefits of rural communities. In situ conservation Ex situ conservation

14. In situ conservation In situ conservation refers to the protection of musk deer within their home range. Poaching and non-sustainable forest harvesting should be highly prohibited at musk deer habitat. In order to fulfill this purpose, several national parks, wildlife reserve and conservation reserve has focus on the protection of this species. National parks and wildlife conservation act 1973 is also focused on the conservation of musk deer through listing Moschus spp as protected species and by providing additional protection for population located in protected area. This type of conservation strategies was also successful in china where Chinese government has established a large number of national, provincial and local nature within their home range.

15. Ex situ conservation Ex-situ conservation can be suitable option for musk deer protection where it has been extinct and endangered. Captive breeding is one of the best strategy of ex-situ conservation. Musk deer has considerably increased after 1996 in Godavari, Nepal after the establishment of musk deer farming at Godavari, Nepal. Simultaneously this type of farming is most successful in china as compared to other countries. Though specific policy has not been built yet for musk deer conservation, it has been recognized the need for encouraging the involvement of private sector in farming of valuable non-timber forest products, wild animals and birds through the formulation of necessary laws. Special attention has to be given on how forest and wildlife conservation can contribute to the human welfare and sustainable development of the country.

16. Restriction on the use and trade In order to support the restriction on the musk deer and its production smuggling , an international cooperation is needed to impose the ban on trade of this product. In addition, use of musk for the medical and perfumes products must be banned. Two international legal agreements directly related to the conservation of musk deer populations are : The first is CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), is an international law that regulate international trade in listed species. The second is the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), which is an international agreement to create and enforce specific types of domestic legislation designated to conserve biodiversity. Nepal as a signatory to both treaties, is responsible, under international law, for implementation and enforcing their provisions.

17. Prakruti Khatsuriya Roll No. : 5 M.Sc. Zoology Sem-3 Thank you…