Endangered Kashmir Musk Deer rescued after heavy snowfall in south Kashmir’s upper reaches
Srinagar, Jan 28: A rare female Kashmir musk deer was rescued after it strayed into Verinag village of south Kashmir's Anantnag district following heavy snowfall in higher reaches and was shifted to the Mini Zoo in Pahalgam for safety and care.
The animal was captured by the Wildlife Protection Department with assistance from local police and villagers.
"We have safely rescued the musk deer and shifted it to Mini Zoo Pahalgam for protection and care," said Sajad Bhat, Wildlife Warden for Anantnag-Kulgam. "The animal, a female, appears to have descended due to heavy snowfall in the upper reaches."
Bhat said the deer is being provided with appropriate feed and veterinary supervision at the facility. "The mini zoo has suitable conditions and feed for the species," he said. "Once weather conditions improve, the animal will be released back into its natural habitat."
The Kashmir musk deer (Moschus Cupreus) is listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is endemic to the Himalayas.
The species is found across the Kashmir Himalayas, including the Kashmir Valley, Gurez, Kishtwar and parts of Himachal Pradesh.
Earlier classified as a subspecies of the alpine musk deer, it is now recognised as a distinct species.
Wildlife officials said such movements are common during severe winters. "Straying of wild animals from forested areas after heavy snowfall is a normal seasonal occurrence," said Suhail Intessar, Wildlife Warden for North Kashmir. "Similar incidents are reported every winter."
A male musk deer was rescued in Bandipora under comparable conditions in December 2023, when the animal was conserved following standard wildlife protocols.
During a summer expedition in the Gurez sector, Intessar said he also spotted a Kashmir musk deer on a rocky cliff.
"While scanning rocky crevices that usually attract vultures, I noticed movement in a narrow ledge," he said. "It was a musk deer standing on a small patch of ground, clearly exhausted."
He said the absence of canine tusks confirmed it was a female. "Its grey face and throat, along with a greyish-brown back marked by prominent spots, identified it as a Kashmir musk deer," Intessar said.
The Kashmir musk deer is a small, antlerless mammal, measuring about 40 to 50 centimetres at the shoulder.
Despite its name, it is not a true deer. Males have elongated, fang-like canine teeth, while females lack these tusks.
Officials said timely rescue and monitoring are critical for conserving the species, particularly during extreme weather conditions in the Himalayan region.
