Conservation Strategy and some Studies on Habitat Ecology of Musk Deer (<I>Moschus moschiferus</I>) - a Vanisidng Species

Abstract

The Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus) was once well distributed along the Himalayan region at altitude of 2700 to 4700 m. The indiscriminate killing of the deer for musk (Kasturi), which has great demand in indigenous medicine and perfumery had threatened its extinction. The destruction of habitat, climatic changes had also been contributed to their thinning number. Captive breeding of the musk deer has produced some encouraging results by which it can be led back from the brink of extinction. But it is simply not possible to sustain a long term captive breeding programme for such specialized animal. The habitat ecology, traditionally used poaching practices, causes of depletion, extraction of musk and its conservation strategy have been discussed in this study.