Musk Deer Research Articles

Seasonal reproduction of northernmost endangered forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in China and the synchronization with climatic conditions

Reproductive rhythms, as a response to environmental seasonality, may maximize the survival possibility of both newborns and parents, which is vital for ex situ conservation and sustainable management in wildlife. Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) is a critically endangered ungulate of China. In order to estimate its reproduction characteristics and performance in northern China, a historical distribution area, the parturition pattern of the northernmost captive forest musk deer in Huailai Musk Deer Farm from 2017 to 2018 was analyzed. We found that the parturition of forest musk deer was highly seasonal with a peak on May 27<sup>th</sup>, and 75% of parturitions were completed within 22 days from May to June, which could be an adaptation to the seasonality of local food resources. The parturition peak was four weeks before the best hydrothermal conditions when food resources were maximally provided. The time lag between the parturition date and the peak of food availability was affected by climatic conditions during lactation as warmer temperatures in the 4<sup>th</sup> and 5<sup>th</sup> week and heavier precipitation in the 4<sup>th</sup> week of lactation shortened the time lag by five days (P < 0.05). The synchronization between parturition rhythms and seasonality of climatic conditions indicated that the forest musk deer could be farmed in Northeastern Taihang Mountains and northern China, where there is a suitable climate for the musk deer reproduction. Sustainable musk production and musk deer release into the wild where there are suitable climatic conditions has been proved to be practicable, which can benefit the ex situ conservation of endangered forest musk deer and musk resources sustainability.

Habitat Suitability Evaluation of Four Ungulate Species in Baishuihe National Nature Reserve Based on MaxEnt Model

MaxEnt model was used to evaluate habitat suitability of four ungulate protected species in Baishuihe National Nature Reserve. The results were as follows: (1) After 20 repetitions, the AUC values of training sets of Impala, Iguana, forest musk deer and Antelope were 0.962, 0.947, 0.924 and 0.945, respectively; (2) The suitable habitats for Impala, Iguana, forest musk deer and Antelope accounted for 14%, 27%, 25% and 24% of the total area of the reserve respectively, while the sub-suitable habitats account for 27%, 19%, 35% and 34% of the total area of the reserve, and the unsuitable habitats accounted for 59%, 54%, 40% and 42% of the total area of the reserve respectively. (3) The three largest environmental factors that contributed the most to Impala were slope aspect, slope and deciduous thickets. To Iguana, the three factors were bamboo forest, cultivated bamboo forest, and deciduous thickets. To forest musk deer, the three factors were slope, deciduous shrub and bamboo forest. And to Antelope, the three factors were slope aspect, bamboo forest and deciduous broad-leaved forest.

Social behavior of musk deer during the mating season potentially influences the diversity of their gut microbiome

An increasing body of research has revealed that social behavior shapes the animal gut microbiome community and leads to the similarity among the same social group. However, some additional factors (e.g., diet and habitat within each social group) may also contribute to this similarity within the social group and dissimilarity between social groups. Here, we investigated the potential correlation between social behavior and the gut microbiome community in 179 musk deer from four breeding regions in the Maerkang Captive Center, Sichuan. The dominant gut microbiome phyla in the musk deer in this study were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. We found significant effects on the alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiome due to the breeding regions. The similarity within breeding regions was higher than that between the breeding regions. Due to their solitary lifestyle, captive musk deer are raised in single cages with no direct social contact most of the time. Deer in all of the breeding regions have the same diet and similar living conditions. However, during each mating season from November to January, in each region, one adult male and about six adult females will be put together into a large cage. Social behavior happens during cohabitation, including mating behavior, grooming within the same sex or between different sexes, and other social contact. Therefore, we speculated that high similarity within the breeding region might be associated with the social behavior during the mating season. This was a simple and straightforward example of the relationship between animal social behavior and the gut microbiome.

Mitochondrial genome of captive Alpine musk deer, Moschus chrysogaster (Moschidae), and phylogenetic analyses with its coordinal species

Alpine musk deer, Moschus chrysogaster, a solitary, primitive ungulate inhabiting high elevation areas (3000–4500 m) is an endangered species facing threat of extinction globally due to excessive hunting for its musk. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of M. chrysogaster, which was 16,354 bp in length, and revealed the same gene order and genomic organization as typical Moschidae mitochondrial DNA. Start codons in 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) were all typical ATGs except ATA for ND2 and ND3 and ATT for ND5. Stop codons were all typical types except an incomplete stop codon T for COX3, ND2, ND3, and ND4. Secondary structures in 22 transfer RNA genes all showed typical cloverleaf except tRNA-Ser (AGY), in which the dihydrouridine arm formed a simple loop. No repeat units were found in the control region. The topology structure indicated that M. cupreus was primitive and located at the root of the Moschidae clade. Phylogenetic reconstruction placed M. chrysogaster as a distinct lineage, closely related to the branch of M. leucogaster, M. berezovskii (wild) and predicted a sister relationship with M. moschiferus, M. anhuiensis, and M. berezovskii (captive). However, we suggested that the genetic resources of M. chrysogaster_JQ608470 should be further investigated.

A Study on Distribution, Habitat Use and Conservation Status of Himalayan Musk Deer (<i>Moschus chrysogaster) </i>in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, India

The population of Himalayan musk deer (Moschus leucogaster) synonym Moschus chrysogaster has declined in recent decades and reached an endangered status in its distribution range. The distribution of Himalayan musk deer is very restrictive to Himalayas of Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and China hence has low population. Musk deer family is being hunted for their musk pod due to high demand in international markets specially in China and North East Asia for their cosmetic and pharmaceutical use. Due to its habitat loss and large scale poaching the species has become endangered. The species is nocturnal, crepuscular and elusive which makes it difficult to study its distribution and habitat use pattern. The present study was carried out in Dharchula range (about 100 sq. km) in Askot wildlife sanctuary (WLS), Uttarakhand, India from August 2017 to May 2019. We used trail sampling and silent drive count method to estimate the distribution, abundance, and habitat use pattern. A total 63 trail transects and 8 Silent Count Drive (SDC) walks were laid in fir mixed, temperate mixed, birch mixed and pure birch forest at different aspect, slope and elevation. We recorded 10 individuals and 39 pellet groups on 63 trail and 8 SDC walks totaling 169 km effort registering an overall encounter rate of 1.18±0.20 individuals/km. We used mixed-effect models to characterize relationships between deer presence-absence data and habitat variables. The study confirmed that musk deer uses fixed defecation sites at higher elevations (3,000-4,300 m) throughout seasons and years. This species was found to use slope ranging between 20° and 55° and were found most abundant between 30° and 45° slope. The largest fraction of musk deer presence was observed in South west aspect and lowest in Northern aspect. The birch mixed forest recorded highest proportion of total musk deer followed by fir mixed forest. The distribution of musk deer was concentrated between 3,500 to 4,000 m a.s.l. A significant difference in density estimates of Himalayan musk deer was observed across the seasons. The encounter rate was higher 1.39±0.13 during autumn and low 0.66±0.22 during winter. It was observed that the species have suffered heavy decline in population in Askot WLS due to large scale collection of a medicinal fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) locally called Keeda Jadi. Recently Ophiocordyceps sinensis also declared as vulnerable species by IUCN due to over exploitation of this fungus in this region. There is an urgent need for conservation plan for musk deer by strengthening the existing local institutional mechanism such as Van Panchayat and Gram Panchayat and integrating the interest of local community in sharing of benefits of the resources generated from the forest.

The sources of knowledge of two medieval Jewish commentators in nature issues: The case of gathering the musk (Song of Songs 5:1)

Musk, which is produced from the glands of several species of deer, was a well-known perfume throughout the Mediterranean Basin in the Middle Ages. The current article examines the meaning of the gathering operation of myrrh mentioned in Song of Songs 5:1, according to R. Joseph Ibn Aknin and Naḥmanides. The two commentators argue that the phrase ariiti mori can be interpreted as the unique manner of gathering the perfume of the musk deer in its lands of origin in the Far East. They contend that harvesting the perfume refers to gathering the perfume that the deer spreads on the rocks naturally, which is a higher quality product. The two medieval rabbis were exposed to contemporary scholars or oral traditions on the way of gathering the musk. Ibn Aknin took the information from Arabic writings, such as of al-Sirāfī and al-Masʿūdī and Ibn JulJuly With regard to Naḥmanides, his source of information on gathering musk is not clear. Contribution: This article contributes to the understanding of the issue of the sources of knowledge of scholars in medieval times and how the achieved information influenced their commentaries on the Biblical Text. The current study expounds the commentators’ interpretations from a multidisplinary perspective, such as the medieval zoology and perfume industry.

Characterization of intestinal microbiota and fecal cortisol, T3, and IgA in forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) from birth to weaning.

Analysis of the intestinal microbiota and physiological parameters in mammalian infancy can reveal health status. In this study, we used a combination of molecular and immunochemical approaches to assess fecal microbiota as well as Cortisol (Cor), Triiodothyronine (T3), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels of young forest musk deer (FMD), from birth to one month after weaning (7 days of age–110 days of age). During development as the diet of FMD changes from consuming milk to eating plants, the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota of young FMD increased significantly. Cor levels remained unchanged throughout early development while significantly increased after weaning, T3 and IgA initially were derived from milk during lactation, significantly decreased after weaning. Correlation network analysis showed that the community of food‐oriented microbes were highly structured and that many genera were correlated. Overall, this study provides scientific insights into effective management strategies for the protection of FMD population.

Habitat Utilization by Alpine Musk Deer, Moschus chrysogaster (Artiodactyla, Moschidae), in Khaptad National Park, Nepal

The musk deer is one of the least studied species that distributes throughout an alpine ecosystem. The population of musk deer is declining because of anthropogenic pressure. Our study was conducted to understand the relationship between musk deer and their environments in the Khaptad National Park in western Nepal. We used a line transect survey to observe the pellet of the musk deer in the study site. Our study found that the pellet group of the musk deer was found higher in the forested environment followed by open grassland, trails, and edge. Musk deer preferred an altitudinal range between 2,400 m and 3,200 m. Our study did not find any signs of the musk deer below 2400 m and above 3200 m. We also found that the pellet group of the musk deer had been mostly associated with close distance to a water body; however, it was found far distance to the village. The presence of livestock and human pressure could have been the reason for the musk deer to avoid edge areas. Anthropogenic pressure should be reduced in the musk deer habitats for long-term musk deer conservation in Nepal.

Reference gene screening for analyzing gene expression in the heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of forest musk deer.

The screening of reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in forest musk deer (FMD) tissue is of great significance to the basic research on FMD. However, there are few reports on the stability analysis of FMD reference genes so far. In this study, We used qPCR to detect the expression levels of 11 reference gene candidates (18S rRNA, beta-actin [ACTB], glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH], TATA box-binding protein [TBP], hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 [HPRT1], tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta polypeptide [YWHAZ], hydroxymethylbilane synthase [HMBS], eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1 [EEF1A1], succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit A [SDHA], peptidylprolyl isomerase B [PPIB], and ubiquitin C [UBC]) in heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of FMD. After removing 18S rRNA on account of its high expression level, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and ΔCt algorithms were used to evaluate the expression stability of the remaining genes in the five organs, and further comprehensive ranking was calculated by RefFinder. According to the results, the selected reference genes with the most stable expression in the heart of FMD are SDHA and YWHAZ, while in the liver are ACTB and SDHA; in the spleen and lung are YWHAZ and HPRT1; in the kidney are YWHAZ and PPIB. The use of common reference genes in all five organs is not recommended. The analyses showed that tissue is an important variability factor in genes expression stability. Meanwhile, the result can be used as a reference for the selection of reference genes for qPCR in further study.

Coccidian parasites in the endangered Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii) in China, with the description of six new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae).

We examined 674 fresh fecal samples from forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii Flerov) in Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces, China, for coccidian oocysts and 65% were infected with Eimeria spp. Previously, only four Eimeria species were known from Moschus spp. Here we describe six new Eimeria species. Eimeria aquae n. sp., in 38% deer, has ovoidal oocysts, 32.0 × 23.0 μm, micropyle (M) and scattered polar granules (PGs) of various sizes are present, sometimes oocyst residuum (OR) is present; ovoidal sporocysts, 14.1 × 7.5 μm, with Stieda body (SB) and sporocyst residuum (SR). Eimeria dolichocystis n. sp., in 11% deer; cylindroidal oocysts, 36.6 × 18.9, with a M, 1 PG and OR; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.9 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria fengxianensis n. sp., in 7% deer; ovoidal oocysts, 36.3 × 25.2, a M and PGs present but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.9 × 7.3, with SB and SR. Eimeria helini n. sp. in 24% deer; subspheroidal oocysts, 27.0 × 24.1, OR and PGs often present, but M absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.5 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria kaii n. sp. in 26% deer; ovoidal oocysts, 33.2 × 20.7, M and PGs present, but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 14.4 × 7.5, with SB and SR. Eimeria oocylindrica n. sp., in 17% deer; cylindroidal oocysts, 36.0 × 21.4, M and 1-2 PGs present but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.8 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria dujiangyanensis n. nom. is proposed to replace E. moschus Sha, Zhang, Cai, Wang & Liu, 1994, a junior homonym of E. moschus Matschoulsky, 1947.

Metagenomics analysis of the gut microbiome in healthy and bacterial pneumonia forest musk deer.

The forest musk deer (FMD, Moschus berezovskii) is an threatened species in China. Bacterial pneumonia was found to seriously restrict the development of FMD captive breeding. Historical evidence has demonstrated the relationship between immune system and intestinal Lactobacillus in FMD. We sought to elucidate the differences in the gut microbiota of healthy and bacterial pneumonia FMD. The bacterial pneumonia FMD was demonstrated by bacterial and pathological diagnosis, and the gut microbiome of healthy and bacterial pneumonia FMD was sequenced and analysed. There are three pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus equinus and Trueperella pyogenes) isolated from the bacterial pneumonia FMD individuals. Compared with the healthy group, the abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the pneumonia group was changed, and a high level of Proteobacteria was found in the pneumonia group. In addition, a higher abundance of Acinetobacter (p = 0.01) was observed in the population of the pneumonia group compared with the healthy group. Several potentially harmful bacteria and disease-related KEGG subsystems were only found in the gut of the bacterial pneumonia group. Analysis of KEGG revealed that many genes related to type IV secretion system, type IV pilus, lipopolysaccharide export system, HTH-type transcriptional regulator/antitoxin MqsA, and ArsR family transcriptional regulator were significantly enriched in the metagenome of the bacterial pneumonia FMD. Our results demonstrated that the gut microbiome was significantly altered in the bacterial pneumonia group. Overall, our research improves the understanding of the potential role of the gut microbiota in the FMD bacterial pneumonia.

Wildlife diversity along the altitudinal gradients in the Garhwal Himalaya

Rich biodiversity is of fundamental significance for the foundation and adaptability of the precipitous biological system. In any case, this huge biodiversity begins vanishing at a quick rate because of human interference and over-exploitation of timberland and other common assets. The status of wildlife in Uttarakhand at Himalaya is much better than in other regions of India. But it becomes slowly disappearing due to the human encroachment and over-exploitation of forest and other natural resources. Musk Deer along the higher spans and Sambar, Yelping Deer, and so forth underneath the tree line are significant warm-blooded creatures. The present investigation was done in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand to uncover the effect of height and microclimatic conditions on wildlife. It is extremely vital and very fundamental for the individuals of the present era to go profoundly through the world of wildlife.

Закономерности вертикального распространения млекопитающих горного массива Мунку-Сардык

The Munku-Sardyk mountain range is an important link in the Eastern Sayan mountain system, performing a barrier and refugial role for various mammalian species, in the transition zone between the Central Asian steppe and the Siberian taiga. Thus, the southern steppe slopes are the northern limit in the distribution of the Tuvan and Mongolian voles, Tarbagan marmot, tolai hare, mountain weasel and manul. For the Altai mole, brown bear, sable, Siberian musk deer, reindeer and elk, the southern border of their distribution lies in the forest zone of the Khubsugul region. The paper presents the basic information about the features of the vertical distribution of mammals on the southern and northern slopes of the massif. The complex structure of the vertical zonation of the mountain range and the harsh habitat conditions are of paramount importance in the distribution and number of mammals inhabiting it. The species composition of communities in five high-altitude belts is presented: forest-steppe, mountain- taiga, subalpine, alpine and nival. A comparative analysis of the degree of similarity of mammalian communities, depending on the altitudinal zonality and exposure of the slope, using the Jaccard coefficient, based on the analysis of qualitative data, has been carried out. A high degree of similarity of the lower belt with the higher one was revealed on both slopes of the mountain range. The highest degree of similarity between the mountain-taiga and subalpine belts was noted, and the lowest degree was observed in the forest-steppe and nival belts that were separated from each other. The low species diversity in the nival belt is associated with the harsh habitat conditions associated with the absence of protective feeding stations and mechanisms of adaptation to hypoxia in most mammals living in the lower part. When comparing the community of mammalian faunas between the belts of the southern and northern slopes, a high similarity of mountain-taiga belts and a decrease in the proportion of common species with height were noted. The obtained information eliminates the existing gaps in the territory poorly studied in the zoogeographic plan and makes it possible to form a unified environmental policy in the transboundary region.

МОРФОЛОГИЯ ЛЕГКИХ У ПЛОДОВ МАРАЛО

Maral breeding is a promising branch of animal hus-bandry in the Altai Region and the Republic of Altai. Being semi-wild animals, marals travel long distances, mainly in mountainous areas in larch and pine forests and on high-altitude plateaus of the Republic of Altai. The following deer species range in the Altai Region and the Republic of Altai: Siberian musk deer(Moschus moschiferus), elk(Alces alces), sika deer(Cervus nippon), reindeer(Rangifer tarandus), and maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus, Severtzov 1872). According to V.G. Lunitsyn, the regions of the Re-public of Altai account for 98% of all velvet antler products produced in Russia which are exported to the countries of the Asian-Pacific Region. The specimens were taken from maral fetuses of the age from 1 to 3 months obtained at forced slaughter. The fetuses were weighed, the lungs were extracted and weighed, and the specimens were for-malin-fixed (10-12% solution), washed in tap water;and slices were prepared by a freezing microtome. The slices were hematoxylin-eosin stained according to Van Gieson. The tissue specimens show that all orders of bronchioles in the lungs of maral fetuses, especially in the caudal lobes, are clearly expressed. In the bronchi of the lungs of fetuses at the age of 3 months, the muscle layer of smooth muscle cells is expressed. At this age, the spaces similar to alveo-lar passages are visible.The diameter of the alveoli in the form of tubes at this age is about 2-5 μm. In the micro-slides under study, vessels in the lungs of fetuses at the age of 1-3 months are characterized by rapid growth. Con-nective tissue elements surrounding the bronchial tubes with capillaries are formed.

The hidden risk of using umbrella species as conservation surrogates: A spatio-temporal approach

The use of a charismatic umbrella species as surrogate for sympatric species is often advocated as an efficient approach. However, comprehensive evaluations from a spatio-temporal perspective are few, leaving the long-term effectiveness of such practices remain uncertain. We modeled the habitat change for giant panda and eight sympatric mammalian species using observations from extensive camera trap surveys and remotely-sensed environmental predictors during two time periods, early 2000s and early 2010s. We found that the degree and spatial pattern of the habitat suitability change varied among species. The overall habitat suitability improved between the early 2000s and early 2010s for seven target species including giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca, suggesting positive effects of several recent conservation projects in restoring natural landscapes for certain species groups. However, the current nature reserve system designed for giant pandas did not adequately cover critical landscapes for several species, including the two species who experienced net habitat loss, Endangered forest musk deer Moschus berezovskii and Vulnerble Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus. To conserve multiple species simultaneously in this region, we recommend establishing nature reserves for other threatened species who share dissimilar habitat needs with giant panda, and adding a widely distributed omnivores, Asiatic black bear, as a surrogate species in central and southwest China. These findings reveal the risk of using umbrella species as a conservation shortcut in protecting animal communities in China, and have substantial implications for other regions where the majority of the conservation funds are directed toward a single charismatic species.

Diet Overlap Between Livestock and Wild Herbivores in the Greater Himalaya

Understanding the niche usage and dietary habits of wild ungulate populations is crucial to monitoring their response to livestock grazing and changes in habitat quality. Livestock grazing is common throughout the Himalaya and may reduce available forage for wild ungulates, but few studies have assessed the impact of livestock grazing on the diets of wild herbivores in the Greater Himalaya. We assessed forage availability and used microhistological analysis to compare the diet composition of livestock (domestic goats and sheep) and 2 wild herbivores (blue sheep Pseudois nayaur and musk deer Moschus sp.) in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. We calculated the diet preference and niche breadth of each species and the diet overlap between each pair of species. Our results suggest that musk deer may browse trees more than previously understood. In addition, blue sheep consumed fewer graminoids in the autumn than has been previously published. The seasonal increase in shrub and herb consumption by blue sheep during the winter may be amplified and shifted to earlier in the year as a result of reduced graminoid availability after intensive livestock grazing. We recommend monitoring livestock numbers in the study area and limiting livestock to current numbers to avoid further reducing forage availability.

Construction of knowledge graph of forest musk deer based on BiLSTM-CRF model and DPA method

Forest musk deer is a national key protected species, but due to overhunting and habitat destruction, wild musk deer has disappeared in large areas. Constructing a knowledge graph in the field of forest musk deer can standardize the relevant knowledge in the field of forest musk deer and lay a good foundation for wildlife protection and ecological construction. In order to construct the knowledge map of the forest musk deer, the entities were further subdivided first, and the BiLSTM-CRF model was used to identify the entities of the BIO-labeled data. After analysis, it was found that the model used in the experiment performed better. Secondly, the Dependency Parsing Analysis method was used to identify the relationship, and the relationship between the entities was smoothly extracted.Finally, the Neoj4 graph database was used to realize the storage and visualization of the knowledge graph of the forest musk deer. This research transforms the unstructured text in the field of forest musk deer into structured data. Through the systematic sorting of relevant knowledge in the field of forest musk deer, it can provide wildlife protection, artificial breeding of forest musk deer, intelligent knowledge services and other aspects some new technical means in the field of forest musk deer.

Complete mitogenome of Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus) and its comparative phylogenetic relationships.

Kashmir musk deer, Moschus cupreus (KMD) is one the most threatened species endemic to the Himalayan region of Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Herein, we have sequenced, annotated and characterized the complete mitogenome of M. cupreus. The investigation and comparison of the mitogenome provide crucial information for phylogenetic analysis to understand the evolutionary relationships. The mitogenome of KMD was 16,354bp long, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and non-coding control region. Its composition was highly A+T biased 68.42%, and exhibited a positive AT-skew (0.082) and negative GC-skew (- 0.307). The phylogenetic analysis suggested that KMD was a primitive and extant species in the genus Moschus, whereas Alpine musk deer (M. chrysogaster) and Himalayan musk deer (M. leucogaster) were the closest relatives. It indicated the placement of M. cupreus within the monotypic family Moschidae of musk deer. Hence, itprovides a better understanding of lineage identification and musk deer evolution for further research.

Identifying personality traits and their potential application to the management of captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii)

Since the 1950s musk deer (Moschidae) are kept in captivity for the production of musk, a glandular secretion used in Chinese traditional medicine and as an ingredient in cosmetics. Most recently, forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) raised in captivity were reintroduced to augment depleted wild populations. The most prominent behavioral and social characteristics of musk deer are anxiety, a timid, solitary lifestyle and territoriality, making musk deer difficult to breed. Individual differences in the personality of captive male musk deer could allow breeders to sort bold individuals that are suitable for commercial farming from those with a shy and more timid personality suitable for reintroduction. We attempted to identify what behavioral variables and what novel stimulus tests are the most effective to characterize whether an individual is bold or shy. To measure boldness in 31 adult males, we used a two-step approach: i) using a Principal Component Analysis to identify reference behaviors that are indicative of either a shy or a bold personality, and ii) to establish individual boldness scores based on those reference behaviors and compare them between four novel stimuli. We obtained two ‘bold PCs’ with high axis loadings from behaviors that are typical for curiosity, territorial marking or that represent the ordinary daily activity of a ruminant, as well as three ‘shy PCs’ that received high axis loadings from behaviors that are typical for anti-predator responses, intimidation or displacement behavior.Although all tested stimuli were verified suitable, the unfamiliar human being was the strongest stimulus to test boldness, followed by leopard feces, a beach ball and a leopard dummy. Using cluster analysis, nearly three quarter of tested individuals were identified as shy, while only one quarter was classified as bold. Previous studies on poultry and domestic ungulates, demonstrated that through continued selective breeding for boldness, the overall personality in the population is driven towards a calm temperament in the majority of the individuals. This might be beneficial for musk production but will have adverse effects on successful reintroductions due to reduced individual fitness and domestication effects.

First camera-trap record of the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal

AbstractThe snow leopard Panthera uncia is the flagship species of the high mountains of the Himalayas. There is potentially continuous habitat for the snow leopard along the northern border of Nepal, but there is a gap in information about the snow leopard in Gaurishankar Conservation Area. Previous spatial analysis has suggested that the Lamabagar area in this Conservation Area could serve as a transboundary corridor for snow leopards, and that the area may connect local populations, creating a metapopulation. However, there has been no visual confirmation of the species in Lamabagar. We set 11 infrared camera traps for 7 months in Lapchi Village of Gaurishankar Conservation Area, where blue sheep Pseudois nayaur, musk deer Moschus leucogaster and Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus, all snow leopard prey species, had been observed. In November 2018 at 4,100 m, 5 km south-west of Lapchi Village, one camera recorded three images of a snow leopard, the first photographic evidence of the species in the Conservation Area. Sixteen other species of mammals were also recorded. Camera-trap records and sightings indicated a high abundance of Himalayan tahr, blue sheep and musk deer. Lapchi Village may be a potentially important corridor for snow leopard movement between the east and west of Nepal and northwards to Quomolongma National Park in China. However, plans for development in the region present increasing threats to this corridor. We recommend development of a transboundary conservation strategy for snow leopard conservation in this region, with participation of Nepal, China and international agencies.