Rare ‘Musk Deer’ rescued in Watlar, shifted to Range Wayil

 

Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal: A rare Musk deer who had come down from the nearby forests following recent snowfall, was spotted and captured by Wildlife field staff/casual laboirs in Watlar area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Thursday’ reports said.

Reports said that later handed over to wildlife office at Wayil. The musk deer was spotted in the Watlar area by Concerned field staff, who somehow managed to capture it.  One employee Sheikh Mustaffa, said and informed the higher authorities and took the deer to Wayil at wildlife department, he said.

Musk deer are herbivores, living in hilly, forested environments, generally far from human habitation. Like true deer, they eat mainly leaves, flowers, and grasses, with some mosses and lichens. They are solitary animals, and maintain well-defined territories, which they scent mark with their caudal glands. Musk deer are generally shy, and either nocturnal, or crepuscular. The musk is used in perfumes and many traditional medicines, making it one of the most valuable and costly products in the international market. A gram of musk costs between two to three dollars in international market, meaning that the pod of a single stag can easily fetch 70 dollars.

Latter the wild life department casual labours field staff of ‘Wayil’ range took the most prized animal “Musk deer” at Wiyil range.,which come down to human habitations during winter months.

Last year a  musk deer was captured in Gagingeer and in Prang area of Kangan by locals,  they added.