Endangered Musk Deer Captured on Camera in Neelum Valley of PAK

Nosheen Khawaja*

MUZAFFARABAD: For the first time ever, a video capturing a rare musk deer, which is an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN Red List), was recorded in the snowy mountains of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Wildlife photographer Abdul Hadi, based in Islamabad, documented this rare footage during his expedition.

Embarking on his journey from Islamabad to Neelum Valley on November 6, 2023, Abdul Hadi set out to locate and film a musk deer. Reaching Aurang Kel in the Neelum Valley on the evening of November 6, he stayed overnight and, on November 7, accompanied by two wildlife game watchers, ventured into the forests of Aurang Kel. Despite covering an arduous 18 kilometers through four feet of snow, encountering a deer in the initial three days proved challenging, as it managed to evade being filmed.

Reflecting on the expedition’s challenges, Abdul Hadi shared, “The place where the deer survive is always tough to walk in. We trudged through snow up to our knees, enduring the freezing cold. My back swelled, and my knee hurt. We slipped and fell often, making the trek very difficult. This expedition was the riskiest so far.” Despite the obstacles, the team discovered musk deer footprints every two kilometers in the snow.

On the expedition’s concluding day, November 10, they successfully filmed a female deer. Describing the moment, Abdul Hadi noted, “Witnessing the delightful scene of the female deer chewing fodder under a Birj tree, we captured a video. The female deer stayed there for 2 to 3 minutes before swiftly running away on sensing danger. Despite the challenges, I am pleased to say that we achieved our goal.”

Abdul Hadi revealed that local residents shared that musk deer were on the brink of disappearance in the region during the years 2009-2010 due to harsh and indiscriminate hunting practices. He mentioned that locals disclosed three to four deers being hunted every day during that period or before, with male deer specifically targeted due to the high prices their musk fetched. In April 2011, the UK-based charity Rufford Small Grants Foundation funded a conservation project for Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus Chrysogaster) and their habitat in Aurang Kel Neelum Valley in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Implemented by conservation scientist Doctor Baseer-ud-din Qureshi, the one-year project involved a survey that unveiled the existence of around 12 to 15 musk deers in Aurang Kel. Under this initiative, the wildlife department in Aurang Kel recruited two game watchers to oversee hunting activities and prevent the illegal trade of musk.

Musk Deer captured by photo and videographer Abdul Hadi in its habitat of snow-covered mountains in Aurang Kel Wildlife Park of Neelum Valley in Pakistan Administered Kashmir on November 10, 2023.

Simultaneously, an awareness campaign was executed. Wildlife photographer Abdul Hadi emphasized that the awareness campaign, vigilance by game watchers, and the growth of tourism in the area contributed to stopping hunting, as people now have alternative means of income. He believes that since people stopped hunting musk deer, their population has increased, estimating the current population to be between thirty-five and forty-five musk deers. He said there might be fifty to sixty musk deers based on habitat capacity. He advocates a formal scientific study to validate this estimate.

Identifying four main threats to musk deers in the region – deforestation (Loss of habitat), cattle grazing, human interference, and poaching – Abdul Hadi asserted that hunting is not a significant threat, as game watchers have nearly stopped hunting. He underscores the need for protective measures, suggesting increased staff for monitoring the vast area, declaring it a sanctuary or game reserve, or incorporating it into the Gurez Musk Deer National Park to ensure conservation, which is located close to Aurang Kel.

In March 2020, the AJK Wildlife Department released a Himalayan Musk Deer, after medical treatment. into the Aurang Kel forest after its recovery. The deer had been rescued by local residents after they noticed it had sustained injuries, and the positive aspect is that they refrained from harming it. Although the Wildlife Department shared images of the musk deer, there is no video footage as it was not recorded.

In only various parts of Neelum Valley in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, musk deers are found.

In a study conducted from April to November 2002 and published in the Journal of Biological Sciences in 2004, researchers examined the distribution of Himalayan musk deer in Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The survey revealed a population of around 120 musk deers, facing threats from poaching, over grazing and deforestation at lower altitudes.

Musk Deer captured by photographer Abdul Hadi in its habitat in mountainous region of Aurang Kel Wildlife Park of Neelum Valley in Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

In the January 2008 issue of the Pakistan Journal of Zoology, a study led by Qamar Zaman Qamar from Breath Foundation Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and Maqsood Anwar from PMAS – Arid Agriculture University investigated the distribution and population status of Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus Chrysogaster) in Machiara National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Conducted in November-December 2006, the study utilized the line transect method, sighting 31 musk deers from 19 sites. The total estimated population in the park was 64 individuals, marking an increase from the 2004 estimate of 35 animals, and in 2002, 22 musk deers were sighted. This rise was attributed to the success of the Protected Areas Management Project, involving local communities in conservation efforts.

The study emphasized the seasonal migration of musk deer and highlighted the crucial need for the protection of both sub-alpine scrub forest and Himalayan moist temperate forest habitats. A study, published in Current Science in September 2006, revealed that data obtained from 209 hunters showed at least 40, 42, and 45 musk deers were killed annually for musk pod collection from 2000 to 2002. The findings highlight a rapid decline in the species due to hunting, habitat destruction from grazing, commercial logging, and medicinal plant extraction.

Photo and videographer Abdul Hadi captured Musk Deer in mountains of Neelum Valley of Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

The Director of the Wildlife Department, Naeem Iftikhar Dar, emphasized the need for increased studies on the population of musk deers, attributing the rise to enhanced awareness and better control of hunting and trading. While acknowledging the difficulty in determining the exact number of musk deer in Neelum Valley without a comprehensive survey, he underscored habitat destruction and human interference as significant threats to the species in the region.

The Director emphasized the urgency of safeguarding the habitat of musk deer and proposed the declaration of more areas as game reserves or the inclusion of additional areas in established protected zones. He also highlighted the necessity to strengthen the department with increased human and technical resources, emphasizing the importance of research-based management for effective conservation efforts.

*Nosheen Khwaja, a dedicated writer passionate about Society and environment and can be contacted at: nosheenabid821@gmail.com

—–