Kashmir musk deer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kashmir musk deer |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Moschus
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| Species: |
cupreus
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The Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus) is a special type of musk deer. It lives in the mountains of Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. This animal is an endangered species. This means there are not many of them left in the wild. It was once thought to be a subspecies of the alpine musk deer. Now, scientists know it is its own unique species.
This deer also lives in western Nepal. It stands about 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall. Only the male deer have long tusks. They use these tusks to compete with other males. This happens during the mating season.
Where They Live
The Kashmir musk deer lives in high mountain areas. In summer, it prefers remote scrubland. It also lives near scattered rock outcrops. You can find them at the edges of thick pine forests. These areas are usually very high up. They are found between 3,000 and 3,500 meters (9,800 to 11,500 feet) high. They always choose steep slopes, usually more than 20 degrees.
Why They Are Endangered
The Kashmir musk deer faces many dangers. One big problem is habitat loss. This means their natural home is disappearing. Another major threat is poaching. Poachers hunt these animals illegally. They want the deer's special scent glands. These glands are very valuable.
Life in Afghanistan
For many years, no Kashmir musk deer were seen in Afghanistan. From 1948 until 2009, there were no scientific reports. But in June 2009, three deer were spotted. They were found in the Nuristan Province. This showed that the deer still lived there. This was despite a lot of illegal hunting. There was also widespread deforestation. Their habitat was being damaged. Also, laws to protect them were not always followed.
The areas where they can live are shrinking. About 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of suitable habitat remains. This is in Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman Provinces. But these areas are broken up into small pieces.
Special Needs and Threats
The Kashmir musk deer is a "habitat specialist." This means it needs a very specific type of home. It needs certain resources and plants to survive. Because of this, it is very sensitive to habitat loss. This is especially true in higher mountain areas.
Human activities also harm the deer population. For example, livestock grazing damages their food sources. Cities are expanding into their habitat. People also collect wood from their forests. All these actions hurt the montane habitat. This makes it harder for the deer to survive.
