News: Recently, a report “Plant Breeding Programmes in Indian Zoos: Assessment and Strategic Actions (2024)”, released by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has revealed that no breeding programme has been started in Indian zoos for the conservation of musk deer, classified as ‘endangered’ by IUCN.
About Musk Deer
- It is a solitary shy animal which lives in mountainous regions from Siberia to the Himalayas.
- There are mainly two species of musk deer found in India-
- i) Himalayan Musk Deer ii) Apline Musk Deer
Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster)
- It is a musk deer species occurring in the Himalayas of Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan and China.
- In India, it inhabits parts of Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, the northern part of Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- It is also known as White-bellied Musk Deer. It’s commonly known as “Kasturi mriga” in Nepali and “Lah” in Tibetan language.
- It was previously considered a subspecies of the Alpine musk deer, but was separated on the basis of different skull proportions.
- It is under threat due to its hunting primarily for its musk which is used in manufacture of perfume, medicine and cosmetics.
Characteristics
- Musk glands and teeth: Males have long, curved canine teeth and a musk gland, which is located in a sac between the genitals and the umbilicus.
- Behaviour: During the day, it hides in dense cover and is shy and secretive. At night, it emerges to feed in more open habitats.
- It is herbivores and eats grasses, forbs, mosses, lichen, twigs, shoots, and plant leaves.
- Himalayan musk deer can live for up to 10 to 14 years.
Protected Areas and Projects
- Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1972, in the western Himalayas, is the site of a captive breeding program.
- Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary: Located in Uttarakhand, dedicated specifically to musk deer conservation.
- Himalayan Musk Project started in 1982- It was the the flagship conservation program, but its success has been limited by lack of founder stock to initiate a sustainable breeding programme.
- ‘Founder stock’ means the pair from which breeding can be carried forward.
Conservation
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
