Musk deer are endemic to Asia, residing in and around the greater Himalayas, Tibetan plateau, and Siberia (Wilson et al., 2011). This group consists of seven species: Himalayan musk deer Moschus leucogaster, Alpine musk deer M. chrysogaster, Kashmir musk deer M. cupreus, Black musk deer M. fuscus, Forest musk deer M. berezevoskii, Siberian musk deer M. moschiferus and Anhui musk deer M. anhuiensis, which inhabit thirteen countries in Asia (Zhou et al., 2004; Wilson and Russell, 2011; DNPWC, 2016). Six out of the seven species are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) because poaching of the animals for their musk pod (found only in male musk deer) has rapidly dwindled their populations, pushing the species on the verge of extinction. This problem has been exacerbated by habitat destruction and degradation for infrastructure development and overharvesting of timber and firewood (Green, 1986; Yang et al., 2003; Ilyas, 2014). Hence, we are focusing on musk deer conservation through the following projects.
a. Research Program: In our research project, we are focusing on the distribution of Himalayan and Kashmir musk deer, the habitat ecology of Kashmir musk deer, and the latrine site behavior of musk deer.
b. Anti-poaching operation Program
We organized two trainings in Manang district for youths to operate anti-poaching activities. This program is now being continued sustainably.
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