Endangered Kashmir musk deer rescued
Srinagar, Jan 27: A rare female Kashmir musk deer was rescued after it strayed into Verinag village of south Kashmir's Anantnag district following heavy snowfall in the 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 locals and Police.
ìWe have safely rescued the musk deer and shifted it to Mini Zoo Pahalgam for protection and care,î Wildlife Warden for Anantnag-Kulgam Sajad Bhat said. ìThe animal, a female, appears to have descended due to heavy snowfall in the upper reaches.î
Bhat said the deer was being provided appropriate feed and veterinary supervision at the facility.
ìThe mini zoo has suitable conditions and feed for the species,î he said. ìOnce weather conditions improve, the animal will be released back into its natural habitat.î
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 Kashmir, 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.
ìStraying of wild animals from forested areas after heavy snowfall is a normal seasonal occurrence,î Wildlife Warden for North Kashmir Suhail Intessar said. ìSimilar incidents are reported every winter.î
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.
ìWhile scanning rocky crevices that usually attract vultures, I noticed movement in a narrow ledge,î he said. ìIt was a musk deer standing on a small patch of ground, clearly exhausted.î
He said the absence of canine tusks confirmed it was a female.
ìIts grey face and throat, along with a greyish-brown back marked by prominent spots, identified it as a Kashmir musk deer,î Intessar said.
The Kashmir musk deer is a small, antlerless mammal, measuring about 40 to 50 cm 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.
