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Scent of trouble: Poachers push
musk deer towards extinction

Musk deer, popularly known as Kasturi Mrig, is fast vanishing from its geographical epicentre of the Himalayas.

About 4000 adult male deer are killed annually for their 'pods' (Kasturi) which is in high demand in the international market. Zoologists estimate the current count of musk deer, which was placed in the vulnerable category in 1986, at 30,000.

International Society of Naturalists general secretary, G M Oza, said musk deer (Moschus Chrysogaster) is found all over the Himalayan region. Geographically, it formerly existed throughout the entire Himalayan upper forest region and was found in the scrub level between 2,200 m and 4,300 m, extending from Pakistan through northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet.

Dr Oza said traditionally musk is used for medicinal purposes, though very little of it is used these days in modern formulations.

He said the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine rate musk both as a stimulant and a sedative. However, scientific studies reveal that musk has negligible therapeutic value.

Dr Oza said poaching and smuggling of musk are still uncontrolled in the country. It is reportedly increasing in Arunachal Pradesh where a large number of pods have been seized in the past decade. The exit points from India include major cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Amritsar and Bombay.

Dr Oza said out of every five musk deers gunned down in the country, only two turn out to be mature males possessing a pod.

UNI

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