Deforestation is a severe threat to the musk deer's long-term survival because the deer can only live in a few areas. 200 million cm 3 of China's forest resources were cut down in the past 25 years in order to harvest the timber stock in trade for commerce. For a long period, China cut more of its forest than they could replant. The cycle of over-harvesting the deer's musk continued until the exploitation severely reduced the musk deer's population.Īnother threat comes from the habitat loss by deforestation. After the 1980s, the production begins to steadily decline due to hunting for their musk glands. New sightings of musk deer were later spotted in upper northeast Asia and Russia these places where the deer were spotted soon opened their own musk markets. Most notably in the Sichuan plains, the musk production accounted for 80% of the domestic trade in the 1950s. The decline of the Siberian musk deer's population began in China where the deer population was most abundant. 3-Methylpentadecanone ( muscone) was not identified among the secretion lipids. Cholestanol, cholesterol, androsterone, Δ4-3α-hydroxy-17-ketoandrostene, 5β,3α-hydroxy-17-ketoandrostane, 5α,3β,17α-dihydroxyandrostane, 5β,3α,17β-dihydroxyandrostane and 5β,3α,17α-dihydroxyandrostane can be isolated from the steroid fraction.
Siberian musk deer preputial gland secretions are constituted of free fatty acids and phenols (10%), waxes (38%) and steroids. Democratic People's Republic of Korea: unknown Declining.Russian Federation, Far Eastern population: 150,000 Declining.Russian Federation, the Eastern Siberian population: 27,000–30,000 Declining.Russian Federation, Sakhalin population: 600–500 Declining.Ī distinct subspecies roams the island of Sakhalin. Males grow the teeth for display instead of antlers.
The most striking characteristics of the Siberian musk deer are its tusks and kangaroo-like face. In 2016, the Korean company Sooam Biotech was reported to be attempting to clone the Siberian musk deer to help conserve the species. It is possible to remove the gland without killing the deer, but this is seldom done. Only a few tens of grams can be extracted from an adult male. It is hunted for its musk gland, which fetches prices as high as $45,000 per kilogram. The Siberian musk deer is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. It prefers altitudes of more than 2,600 m (8,500 ft). The species is largely nocturnal and migrates only over short distances. The rocky location provides crevices and crags for the musk deer to hide from many predators, such as lynx and wolverines.ĭifferent views of the skull of a Siberian musk deer Most Siberian musk deer are generally nocturnal, inhabiting the mountainous taiga and found in shrub-covered slopes where foods are abundant.
Another way the Siberian musk deer will mark its territory is by defecating in already marked territories or unclaimed territories. While placing the various branches around the circle, the deer will often do an olfactory examination and turn the back of its body towards the marked territories. When marking their territories, musk deer gather fallen branches, tree trunks, as well as plant stems, and place them in a circle. Musk will mark their territory, warning trespassing deers not to cross the boundary. Females can give birth to 1–3 offspring, usually between the months of May through June. Once the male and the female deer have procreated, the females will become pregnant for over 6 months. Tusks that are longer and stronger create a more intimidating stance and become more attractive to females as the offspring of that male are likely to become healthier. These tusks are used to compete with other males and attract females. It takes approximately a year for the Siberian musk deer to reach maturity, with an average deer living 10–14 years.ĭuring breeding season, male deer will grow tusks instead of antlers. The musk deer also inhabited Sakhalin Island before its separation from the continent during the Quaternary period. The musk deer evolving in the mountain forests of eastern Asia spread widely since the Pleistocene in the mountain regions of Central, South-East Asia and in the north it spread to the south of the Soviet Far East. The earliest findings of the musk deer belong to the Upper and Middle Pleistocene and they all come from places in China and from the south of the Soviet Far East. Siberia, North Mongolia, Russia, North China and Korea – M.