Shimla: For the first time, the endangered ‘Kasturi Mrig’ (musk deer), which plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, has been spotted in two out of the five wildlife sanctuaries in the Chamba district besides a musk deer was observed in another sanctuary after nearly 15 years.
Chamba Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Wildlife, Kuldeep Singh Jamwal informed that musk deer were spotted for the first time in Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary and Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary while after a gap of nearly fifteen years, a musk deer was spotted in Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary. The other two wildlife sanctuaries in Chamba are Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary and Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kuldeep said that although they had previously heard reports from locals about the presence of musk deer but they didn’t have any concrete evidence. However, this time, they have recorded evidence confirming their presence.
The musk deer are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists and plays a significant role in the eco system.
Experts believe that musk deer are hunted for their musk pods, which are used in the perfume, medicinal etc. industries besides thier uses in occult practices. The musk pod is known for its. strong, earthy, and woody scent, the pods can fetch a high price on the illegal market.
DFO said that one of the musk deer spotted was male. When asked about the total number of musk deer in these sanctuaries, the DFO said that the sightings were purely by chance. He further said that in the future, they may conduct a census to determine the exact number of musk deer, including the breakdown of males, females, and fawns.
To ensure their protection, the department has restricted entry to the wildlife sanctuaries and deployed forest guards to patrol the areas.
However, a source said that the media coverage of the chance discovery of the endangered species could inadvertently alert hunters to their presence in specific sanctuaries. This increased awareness may lead to attempts to hunt the deer, further complicating the department's efforts to protect the musk deer.
The DFO informed that they were surprised to spot a sambar in the Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary, located at an elevation of around 2,400 meters. Since sambars are typically found in the Shivalik Ranges or lower hill areas, it raises questions and warrants further research into how they have reached such a high altitude.