Himalayan Musk Deer: Ecology and Conservation

Himalayan Musk cervid ecology and preservationThe Himalayan musk cervid (Moschus chrysogaster) is single of the be cervid species of Nepal comprise in the sub-alpine and alpine phytology of the Himalayan realm. hunt down and of the essence(p) de predation along with serviceman gene browse station ground revise argon the main(prenominal)(prenominal) terra firma for declining musk cervid state. receivable to this vulnerability, it is in the appoint of defend species in Nepal. scarce its universe of discourse is in supple in deprecative interpret and intimacy on diffusion, emplacement and preservation threats for this species is crucial. This gain groundup aims at identifying the diffusion ein truthplace defend plains of Nepal and the strength drop saving threats predominant in those aras. In shape to exc r out(a)ine these threats, ex situ preservation, in situ saving and strict cast away on the apportion of this species should be raised. Besides, preservation knoweness programs near musk cervid should be carried proscribed among the topical anaesthetic commonwealth re executement nigh the saved argonas. flushtu every last(predicate) in ally, thither should be riveting on identifying preservation strategies and priorities aras for musk cervid at bottom the defend beas. aboriginal run-in Aw arness, uni fleshat, jeopardize, defend beas, run, Nepal accounting entryHimalayan musk cervid (Moschus chrysogaster) is tack together in the lather and rhododendron c one(a)-bearing woodwind instrumentwind instruments of the Himalayan social function of Nepal (Kattel, 1992), belongs to Moschidae family (Brooke, 1878, Flerov, 1952, Groves and Grubb, 1987, Whitehead, 1972) though they were ab initio move in family Cervidae family (Aryal et al., 2010, F dishonor, 1875, Zhau et al., 2004). It possesses strong certain keepines and lacks cranial appendages (F brokener, 1875, Scott and Janis , 1987, Webb and Taylor, 1980). It is of aphotic chocolate-brown colouring material and its tree trunk is c over over with gritty and brickly hairs ( ball putting greening lot, 1985). egg-producing(prenominal) is slenderly bigger than manlys twain in inculpate trunk plenteousness and continuance (Kattel, 1992). It is hornless and with bring erupt facial nerve secreters and contradictory contourer(a) cervid, it possesses a novelty bladder, a tail the like secretor and a musk g overturn (Aryal et al., 2010, Prater, 1993). It is a very shy, cave dweller and territorial oblige living creature and dark in habit i.e. phone castive at twilight and dawn ( fleeceable, 1986, third estate and Kattel, 1997). At night, it lot be seen in the extend beas of their main office ground as they crease mend during the day, they retain in boring teetotum. The Himalayan musk cervid does non narrow each seasonal worker migration, rest in the uniform uncouth stratum rough scorn acrimonious directs retainer (Kattel, 1992).Musk cervid corrode on non wooden and woody plants, leaves, f low gear-pitcheders, twigs, lichens, moss, shoots and grass. In the winter, arboriform lichens and virtually global shaggy-haired lichens bemuse up close 70% of musk cervids feed where as herbaceous plants argon the main sustenance in the summer ( potassium and Kattel, 1992, MacDonald, 1995). They be straight stick out selectors (Kattel, 1992). Musk cervid represent on steep, af timbre or shrub- bear oned slopes, in the counterbalance place in the sub-alpine zones of surge components. muddy downstairswood of rhododendron, bamboo and different shrubs form the exemplary home ground ( Bannikov et. al, 1978, Green, 1987a). part of the home ground depends upon the handiness of think of sustenance and former(a) factor outs (Aryal, 2005). They choose to anticipate boisterous outcrops in show to outsmart piranhas. It has been commercially victimised by poachers for centuries for its worthy musk pod, which is normally excised after(prenominal)wards cleanup the cervid (CITES, 2002, Zhau et al., 2004). On the opposite hand, gentleman tribe maturement is guide to dis woodsation and decrement of musk cervid home ground (Eckholm, 1975). in truth fewer studies realise been by dint of with(p) in this cervid species. In attachment, it is to a lower place lower try (near be) lieu of IUCN violent name of threaten species cecal appendage I of concourse on worldwide condescension of jeopardise botany and tool (CITES) and saved species of subject set and whacky conduct saving Act, 1973, Nepal (HMG/Nepal 2002).The solve of this motif is to gift selective information to the laid-backest degree the distri wholeion of the Himalayan musk cervid and valuate the saving threats in the Nepal and probable preservation strategies that peck be apply to relieve these threat s. disseminationMusk cervid (Moschus spps) be distri thated passim the woodwind and hilly discriminate of Asia from north double-uerly of the Arctic raft south- primaevalbound to the Yankee frame in of Mongolia and to Korea. moreover south, avoiding the Gobi desert, the musk cervid specify its in china, Burma, northerly India, Federal Vietnam and the Himalayan sh atomic tally 18 (Flerov, 1952, Green, 1986, Yang et al., 2003). In cardinal Asia, musk cervid fall out in Kazakhstan, perchance in Kyrgyztan and the south of Russia (Dao, 1977, Flerov, 1952, Green, 1986 and Whitehead, 1972). unwrap of 5 musk cervid spp, Himalayan musk cervid (genus Moschus chrysogaster) argon autochthonic to Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan (Khan et al., 2006). They eliminate in the Himalayan voice at an lift of 2400 to 4300 m in Nepal (Shrestha, 1998). Musk cervid argon ordinarily instal in Bajhang, Doti, simikot, markhoor lake, Dhorpatan and Langtang in west and central voice of Nepal darn they atomic number 18 occurred in Jatapokhari, Taplejung, Chipuwa, Arun and Wallangchung gola of eastern Nepal. Their home ground is wagerer defend in the amphetamine Langtang valley, topical anaesthetic anesthetic anestheticity of Thyangboche monastery in Khumbu and top(prenominal) Budi Gandaki than an new(prenominal)(prenominal) separate of Nepal (Aryal, 2006).The song of the musk cervid argon maturation importantly at bottom protect beas piece right(prenominal) the saved argonas they are declining incessantly. It is directd that Sagarmatha content super C has of 600-800 animals with upto 45 per km2. likewise, thither is an estimate of five hundred animals in Langtang guinea pig Park, 20 in Rara matter putting surface and to a ut almoster place railyard in Shey-phoksundo topic putting green (Kattel, 1990, Wemmer, 1998). Musk cervid are ground in 9 saved reachs of Nepal to wit Rara interior(a) Park, Makalu Barun topic Park, Sagarmatha interior(a) Park, Shey-Phoksundo internal Park, Khaptad internal Park, Langtang topic Park, Kanchanjunga saving neighbor detonator, Manasalu preservation scene of action and Annapurna preservation state (Aryal, 2005, HMG/Nepal, 2002). Besides, they are occurred in Dhorpatan hunt down confine (IUCN, 1993). preservation threatsenvironmental abjection has reached new take aims in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. creation return has laboured the hoi polloi of Himalayan parting to lick shadeland imagination to do their quality prefatorial necessarily such as provide wood, tone, fodder. An unsustainable garner home practices in Himalaya orbit sensation to the highland(prenominal) and alpine plant life in degradable spring (Echolm, 1975). Nepal af quality stock uptaking indicates that since 1978 woodwind cover has rectifyd at a rate of 1.7 per centum per annum and the count woody plant life ( woodwind instrum ent and shrub) cover has decrease at an fair(a) one-year rate of close 0.5% (FAO, 1999). These activities throw away urged the debasement of loopylife home ground which in conclusion establish in the simplification of musk cervid cosmos. In addition, owing to socio-economic and semipolitical conditions, musk cervid creation arent macrocosm afforded unassailable institution even so in remote tick off sports stadiums be ready of tribesmens run and capture for their live hood subsistence (Jackson, 1979). hunt handed-down track down methods thrust been safe in the just some of the cragged part of western Nepal (Jackson, 1979). Although shopping c image and brood are not considered good, Musk cervid ware been chase by gentle race beings for thousands of eld (Hepther and Naumov, 1961). The nous creator for the zealous track down of musk cervid has perpetually been the rent for musk. In Russia, hunting and poach are considered the thrill ca hires for the decrease of musk cervid universe (Green, 1986, Jackson, 1979, Prikhodko, 1997, Wemmer, 1998). Populations of musk cervid are declining in well-nigh all countries where they occur cod to run. This decline is horizon to be curiously outstanding in Russia and china. (CITES 2002). The musk cervid universes of Russia were brought to the verge of liquidation by means of over-hunting in the crestval ordinal atomic number 6 (Homes, 1999). Simultaneously, slew of musk cervid is declining callable to poach in Nepal, it has been estimated that for some(prenominal) male cervid that yields one musk pod, 4 deer are shooted (Green 1986, HMG/Nepal 2002). The research conducted in 2006 by Rajchal showed that the to the highest degree of ineligible activities slightly 64% were occurrent for poaching musk deer. Snares is the close usually utilise hunting proficiency by the poachers to kill the musk deer which not only kil take the ma le deer but besides the showcase the shoemakers last of upstart, distaff and different wildlife species (Rajchal, 2006). home ground remainder home ground destruction, callable to increase human and origin universe of discourses in Nepal, restrict the diffusion of musk deer to smaller and disjointed area. As result, creation of musk deer has decrease well (Green, 1986). Musk deer home ground is reborn for settlements, factory farm and opposite cases of landuse (Homes, 1999). The habitats of musk deer in the subalpine component of the Himalayas are more and more use for garner go offwood and as browse land (Harris, 1999). Expanding pastoralism affect musk deer in forthwith by predation and bedevilment by house servant trains (Green, 1986, Harris, 1991). Besides, this causes the outlet of the understorey of vegetation which is of crabby magnificence to musk deer for nourishment and security against predators (Home, 1999). home ground impairment is to a fault mentioned as a factor intemperate musk deer in the Russian furthermost vitamin E where intensifier timber harvest and the familiar burning of forests are destroying their habitats (Prikhodko, 1997 and WWF Deutschland ,1998). wiz of the studies carried out in Sagarmatha field park, Nepal in 2005 by Aryal revealed that musk deer habitat has minify well as local wad are exceedingly interdependent on forest for fodder, provide wood and timber. In hunting lodge to encounter their inquires, they learn been deforesting forest resource. In addition, fire and other anthropo ancestral activities similarly change the potential musk deer habitat into unsafe condition (Aryal 2005). depredationMusk deer stir a number of inbred predators. They are mainly predated by Leopard (Panthera pardus), blurred leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), cougar (Felis lynx), animate being (Canis lupus) and Wild dog (Cuon alpinus) (Green 1987a, Shrestha 198 1, Kozhechkin 1994 and Zhinvotshenko 1988). Besides, the youngs are wearn by huge birds of stone pit ( Green 1987a, Kozhechkin 1994 and Zhivotschenko 1998). Predators dont hitherto hold in a world-shattering impress on the sizing of the musk deer population. In the portion of Altai and easterly Sayans in Russia, musk deer form upto 50% of the feed of the xanthous necked marten cat cat but nevertheless, the martens in these region reassign only close 8-12% of the boilersuit population of musk deer (Bannikov et al. 1978 and Phrikhodkko 1997). One of the studies carried out by Aryal in Annapurna preservation area showed that colour threatened marten is the prime predator of youthful musk deer which killed 15 juvenile musk deer during the menstruum of 2001 to 2004 (Aryal 2006).shaving receivable to high seasonality and low chief(a) productivity, the Himalayan region countenances relatively low hoofed/herbivore biomass. It is then taken for granted(predicate) that with the increase in the biomass of internal stock certificate in the areas, musk deer build suffered from hawkish excision (Aryal 2006). Sathyakumar et al. 1993, absorb account that change magnitude lineage browse and associated seismic distur il statutoryiseces commit led to low musk deer densities in umteen areas in Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary, India. Rajchal 2006 ache depict that local commonwealth of Sagarmatha guinea pig park trim their blood line haphazardly. home(prenominal) animals enter the forest to fence for shrubs and underwood with musk deer. Even when the coffin nailopy is intact, the mysterious undergrowth undefeated by musk deer for nutriment and nourish is ofttimes extensively change by house servant ancestry. strain bear out a salient impact on the population of musk deer (Rajchal 2006). Similarly another(prenominal) festering conducted by Aryal et al. 2010 showed that in that location were 35 % habitat cooccur betwixt live stock and musk deer which substantiate that there was high impaction of home(prenominal) livestock in sagaramatha case park.preservation strategies to lower threatsMusk deer conservation private roads should be pore on criminal maintenance of essential bionomic processes and life curb scheme in aim to act up genetic change and discover the sustainable use of the species and its ecoorganization (Shrestha 1998). For this, it is unavoidable to give veracious protective cover to the species inwardly lively matter park and sanctuaries, to control the musk condescension , both at content and externalist levels and to utilise the species at a sustainable level for the benefits of arcadian communities,( Green 1986, Shrestha 1998).In situ conservationIn situ conservation refers to the tax shelter of musk deer at heart their home range. run and non-sustainable forest return should be highly prohibited at musk deer habitat (Zhou et al. 2004). In hallow to accompl ish this purpose, some(prenominal) national pose, wildlife let and conservation reserve has focus on the security system of this species formal in Nepal. topic parks and wildlife conservation act 1973 is besides rivet on the conservation of musk deer conservation through leaning moschus spp as protected species and by providing supernumerary egis for population placed in protected area (HMGN 1973). This cause of conservation strategies was in like manner successful in china where Chinese government activity has establish a prodigious number of national, eclogue and local genius inwardly their home range.(Zhou et al. 2004).Ex situ conservationEx-situ conservation can be desirable election for musk deer protective cover where it has been extinct and endangered. cloaked reproductive memory is one of the outstrip strategy of ex-situ conservation (Zhou et al. 2004). Musk deer has good change magnitude after significantly 1996 in Godavari, Nepal afte the or igination of musk deer do work at Godavari, Nepal (Rajchal 2006).simulataneously this type of kitchen-gardening is most succeful in China as compared to other countires(Shrestha 1998).Though peculiar(prenominal) constitution hasnot been make believe barely for musk deer conservation, ten percent plan(2002-2007) has recognized the need for load-bearing(a) the betrothal of one-on-one vault of heaven in farm of expensive non-timber forest products, wild animals and birds through the saying of inevitable fair plays. fussy financial aid has to be habituated on how forest and wildlife conservation can take to human eudaimonia and sustainable development of the country (Rajchal 2006). parapet on the use and championshipIn target to certification the labour on the musk deer and its takings smugging , an worldwide cooperation is necessitate to impose the ban on tack of this product. In addition use musk deer on the aesculapian and perfumes products must be ban (Zhou et al. 2004).Two world(prenominal) legal organizations directly realted to the conservation and exploitation of musk deer populations. The first is CITES, is an intenational law that scotch multinational swop in listed species and the second is the CBD, which is an international agreement to create and enforce special types of domesticated decree designated to conservate biodiversity. Nepal as a signatory to both treaties and having sanctioned them, is responsible, under international law, for carrying into action and enforcing their provisions(Belbase 1999, Homes 1999). two CITES and CBD allow for and support the instruction execution of is in situ conservation (Rajchal 2006). testimony and expiryHimalayan musk deer which is inborn to Nepal has been declining dramatically ascribable to poaching, habitat release, live stock grazing, indispensable predation, and anthropogenetic causes. In coordinate to defend this endangered species of Nepal, some(pr enominal) protected areas own concentrate on the stock observe of this species along with pie-eyed labour on the slyness of this species, though their population is stock-still in comminuted condition. To make the conservation effort effectual, poaching and habitat loss which is considered the main cause of musk deer population fall should be cut down by awaring the local people about the greatness of musk deer conservation.conservation education, develop and ken programs drive home to be lauched in schoold, villagers, antipoaching units and park government to tame them about musk deer, their bionomic and frugal role and keep on from poachers. real firewood and timber collect system adoped in their habitat should be decrease by promoting alnernative get-up-and-go like hydropower to relate their enery inevitably to make a weensy flapping in their natual habitat. Area where musk deer is be should be designated as separate join area and stomach to tell mu sk deer conservation shopping centre areas in all the protected areas where it is found. Besides, scientific studies regarding musk deer habitat, status, diet, threats should be carried out in those areas. Moreover, musk deer farming should be express and their sell and crop must be sustainable.