Siberian musk deer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siberian musk deer |
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| Siberian musk deer at the Plzeň Zoo | |
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Moschus
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| Species: |
moschiferus
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| Range of the Siberian musk deer | |
The Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) is a special kind of deer that lives in the mountain forests of Northeast Asia. You can find them most often in the cold taiga forests of southern Siberia. They also live in parts of Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, and the Korean peninsula.
These deer are quite small, which helps them hide from predators in rocky areas. They can also run very fast to escape danger. Even though they have long, pointy fangs, Siberian musk deer are actually plant-eaters. Their favorite food is lichens, which are like mossy growths found on trees and rocks.
Sadly, too much hunting for their special musk gland has caused the number of these deer to drop. Experts have observed a significant decline in their numbers, and this trend is a serious concern for their future. However, many countries are now working hard to help the Siberian musk deer population grow again.
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Meet the Siberian Musk Deer!
Siberian musk deer are found in different areas, and scientists have identified a few types, or subspecies, based on where they live:
- The M. m. moschiferus lives in Siberia, Mongolia, Russia, North China, and Korea.
- The M. m. turovi is found in the Russian Far East.
- The M. m. arcticus lives in the Verkhoyansk Range.
- The M. m. sachalinensis makes its home on Sakhalin Island.
- Another type, M. m. parvipes, also lives in Korea.
A Look at Their Past
The oldest signs of musk deer have been found in China and the southern part of the Russian Far East. These findings date back to ancient times, called the Upper and Middle Pleistocene periods.
Musk deer first developed in the mountain forests of eastern Asia. From there, they spread widely across the mountain regions of Central and South-East Asia. In the north, they moved into the southern Russian Far East. They even lived on Sakhalin Island before it became separated from the mainland a long time ago.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Siberian musk deer become adults when they are about one year old. On average, these deer live for 10 to 14 years.
During the time when they are ready to have babies, male deer grow tusks instead of antlers. They use these tusks to compete with other males and to attract females. Males with longer and stronger tusks look more impressive. This makes them more attractive to females, as their offspring are likely to be healthier.
After mating, female deer are pregnant for over six months. They usually give birth to one to three babies, most often between May and June.
How They Behave
Siberian musk deer mark their territory to warn other deer not to enter. When marking their areas, they gather fallen branches, tree trunks, and plant stems. They arrange these items in a circle. As they place the branches, the deer often sniff them and turn their bodies towards the marked spot. Another way they mark their territory is by leaving droppings in areas they claim or in new places.
Home and Food
Most Siberian musk deer are active at night. They live in mountainous taiga forests and prefer shrub-covered slopes where there is plenty of food. The rocky terrain offers many small cracks and hiding spots. These places help the musk deer hide from predators like the Siberian tiger, Amur leopard, snow leopard, Eurasian lynx, wolf, Red fox, brown bear, Asian black bear, wolverine, and yellow-throated marten.
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Musk deer like to eat foods that are easy to digest and rich in protein, but low in fiber. In winter, when food is scarce, they can survive on poorer quality foods. These foods might be low in protein but still provide enough energy and are easy to digest.
Their diet mostly includes lichens, pine needles, leaves, and tree barks. During winter, lichens make up almost all of what they eat.
Special Features
These deer are mostly active at night and do not travel far. They like to live in high places, usually above 2,600 meters (about 8,500 feet). Adult musk deer are small, weighing between 7 and 17 kilograms (about 15 to 37 pounds).
The Siberian musk deer is listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN, which means it is at risk. It is hunted for its musk gland, which is very valuable, sometimes selling for as much as $45,000 for just one kilogram. Only a small amount of musk can be taken from an adult male. While it is possible to remove the gland without harming the deer, sadly, this is not often done. In 2016, a Korean company called Sooam Biotech was reported to be trying to make copies of the Siberian musk deer to help save the species.
The most noticeable features of the Siberian musk deer are its tusks and its face, which looks a bit like a kangaroo's. Males grow these tusks to show off, instead of growing antlers like other deer.
A unique type of Siberian musk deer lives on the island of Sakhalin.
How Many Are Left?
The total number of Siberian musk deer in the world is estimated to be around 230,000, but this number is decreasing.
- In the Russian Federation, the Sakhalin population is 500–600, and it is decreasing.
- The Eastern Siberian population in Russia is 27,000–30,000, and it is decreasing.
- The Far Eastern population in Russia is 150,000, and it is decreasing.
- In Mongolia, there are about 44,000, and this number is decreasing.
- The numbers in China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea are unknown, but they are also believed to be decreasing.
What Threats Do They Face?
The number of Siberian musk deer started to shrink in China, where they used to be very common. In the Sichuan Basin, for example, musk production made up 80% of the local trade in the 1950s. Later, musk deer were found in other parts of Asia and Russia, and these places also started their own musk markets. After the 1980s, the amount of musk collected began to decline because of too much hunting for their glands. This cycle of over-hunting greatly reduced the musk deer's population.
Another big threat is losing their homes because of deforestation, which is when forests are cut down. For a long time, China cut down more of its forests than it could replant. A huge amount of China's forest resources were cut down in the past 25 years to get wood to sell. Losing forests is a serious threat to the musk deer's long-term survival because these deer can only live in specific forest areas.
Protecting the Musk Deer
The Siberian musk deer is considered vulnerable, meaning they are at risk, and their numbers are still decreasing. In Russia, the Siberian musk deer is protected as "Very Rare" under specific laws, like part 7.1 of the Law of the Mongolian Animal Kingdom (2000) and the 1995 Mongolian Hunting Law. These deer are also protected in National Parks, which are home to about 13% of the Siberian musk deer population.
Around the world, selling musk is carefully watched by an international agreement called CITES. All trade involving musk has strict rules to stop people from hunting too many deer and to help protect the species.
