Threat: poaching & illegal trade for its musk. Habitat: Kashmir, Kumaon and Sikkim. More nature reserves for musk deer should be established to protect a greater proportion of musk deer habitat and of the population. Threats: The habitat of hispid hares is highly fragmented due to increasing agriculture, flood control, and human development. The Siberian musk deer is a species of small, stocky musk deer living in the forested mountainous regions of Northeast Asia. International Zoo Yearbook, 32: 32–38. The spatial distribution of musk deer reflected the musk deer habitats mostly spread through the Picea smithiana and blue pine forest and some habitats close to the alpine scrub nearby to the rocky cliffs. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), one kilogram of musk can fetch US $45,000 in the international market. The musk gland of the musk deer is located in the back is the high price. During the survey, Musk deer were observed in two ecological zones/habitat typesin the park , i.e. XIUXIANG MENG, 1 * DEGUANG LIU, 2 JINCHAO FENG, 1 ZHIBIN MENG 3. blocks in the habitat for the status and habitat utilization of musk deer in LNP. Worldwide, the population size of Siberian musk deer is threatened by severe illegal poaching for commercially valuable musk and meat, habitat losses, and forest fire. Results found that elevation, aspect, canopy-cover, and tree species significantly affected the habitat selection of musk deer. In our study, BCAMD is located in the natural habitat of wild Alpine musk deer and undergoes seasonal climatic patterns also, which remain relatively constant interannually . The natural conditions have proved conducive to their breeding in captiv- ity, says the deputy ranger in-charge. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 23: 1366–1369. are shy, solitary animals famous for the musk secreted by the adult male. With a kangaroo-like face, long, muscular hind legs, shorter and weaker forelimbs, small chest, highly arched back, and large rear, these animals move in a sequence of coordinated jumps. 5, 10 SEPTEMBER 2006 Table 2. Himalayan / White-bellied Musk Deer. The Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus) is an endangered species of musk deer native to Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.Recent studies have shown that the species is also native to western Nepal. population of Musk deer in MNP was estimated as 64 individuals. The rear side is small and arched which aids them to organize the jumps. 91, NO. This species was originally described as a subspecies to the alpine musk deer, but is now classified as a separate species.The deer stand at 60 cm (2.0 ft) tall, and only males have tusks and … This demands comes at a huge cost to the ecology. S athyakumar, S., P rasad, S.N., W alker, S., 1993. Indian musk deer doesn't possess any antlers. Finding of the Musk deer in the natural habitat is challenging. are small forest ungulates that are unique to Asia and are mainly distributed in China.In the last 30 years, because of indiscriminate trapping, hunting, and killing of the musk deer for musk and the loss of suitable habitat due to deforestation, the distribution and population of wild musk deer have declined. The construction of wildlife nature reserves needs to be further strengthened to protect the existing and potential habitats of musk deer in these simulated climatically suitable areas. The pod is located in the preputial region near the genitals of the male deer. It mainly deals with types of fecal deposits, distribution of those deposits in different topography and forests. Hog deer. Himalayan musk deer are most active between dusk and dawn, alternately resting and feeding throughout this period. The coat has short and soft hair with yellowish or white spots over the body. Moreover, presence and absence of livestock was not found to have any significant effect on the habitat section of musk deer suggesting the selection as an evolutionary adaptation rather than an outcome of interspecific interactions with the livestock. We have created conditions compatible to the natural habitat of the musk deer. Deer are able to live in a wide spectrum of habitat out there. Musk deer (Moschus spp.) Musk deer (Moschus spp, family Moschidae) are an economically important and highly endangered taxon.All seven musk deer species are considered Endangered on the IUCN Red List except for M. moschiferus which is Vulnerable (Nyambayar et al., 2008, Timmins and Duckworth, 2008, Wang and Harris, 2008).Musk deer are distributed from the Arctic Circle in Russia to south and … populations of musk deer. Possible 60 musk deer survive in Dachigam National Park with a density of 0.42 individuals per sq. Nevertheless, relatively low survival and reproduction rates of deer meant that farms regularly required replenishment with wild deer. The study also deals with other related evidences found in the study area. Neighbouring individuals may utilize common latrines, an activity with becomes more frequent during the mating season. Deer Natural Habitat. replace natural musk in traditional Asian medicine and protect natural . Indian Musk deer is a small sized deer covered with dark brown colored coat. They roam along the Arctic Tundra, and their exact habitat preference varies based upon the season. At night, musk deer can be seen in the open areas of their habitat as they graze, while during the day, they remain in dense cover. At the same time, legislation should be strengthened to stop poaching, vigorous action needs to be taken against poachers and musk smugglers, and the laws against offenders need to be enforced. Habitat of the Musk Ox. However, musk deer establish and repeatedly use the same latrines for defecation. Some of them live on the plains, others in the tundra. It may surprise you to learn there are species of deer that also live in the mountains and in the tropical rainforests. “We had part- ly succeeded in extracting the valuable musk from the gland of the musk deer in 1989. The species is nocturnal, crepuscular, and elusive, making direct observation of habitat use and behavior difficult. Another factor contributing to the decline in the population of musk deer is the destruction of their natural habitats due to human activities. Wild musk deer live in a seasonal environment and enter estrus seasonally (Sheng, 1998). RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 698 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. Musk deer farming, therefore, has become one of the most appropriate ways to protect and utilize musk deer resources. 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