A large-scale nationwide survey of the endangered musk deer has been completed in Bhutan, covering 17 dzongkhags with the deployment of nearly 500 camera traps across vast stretches of alpine forest. Yangyel Lhaden A large-scale nationwide survey of the endangered musk deer has been completed in Bhutan, covering 17 dzongkhags with the deployment of nearly 500 camera traps across vast stretches of alpine forest.

The survey, implemented by the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) with support from WWF Switzerland and WWFBhutan, will provide Bhutan’s first comprehensive data on the population, distribution, and habitat use of the endangered species.

The information will establish a national baseline for long-term monitoring and inform future conservation planning.

In addition to monitoring musk deer, more than 400 forestry officials conducted Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) patrols and anti-snaring operations to strengthen wildlife protection in some of the country’s most remote landscapes.

Known locally as Lachum , the musk deer is among Bhutan’s most secretive mountain mammals, inhabiting steep, rugged forests at high elevations. Its nocturnal and elusive behaviour has long made population assessments difficult, leaving major gaps in scientific knowledge.

The nationwide survey follows the launch of the four-year Prevention of Extirpation of Musk Deer in Bhutan project last year. One of the project’s key objectives is to generate scientific evidence to guide a national conservation action plan while reducing poaching in priority habitats by at least 50 per cent by 2029.

Globally, musk deer populations have declined by more than 50 per cent over three generations, resulting in their classification as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species is also listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits international commercial trade.

Although protected under the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 2023, the species continues to face severe threats from illegal hunting. Male musk deer possess a small musk gland that produces a fragrant substance highly valued in traditional medicine and the perfume industry. The lucrative illegal trade has made musk deer one of the country’s most heavily poached mammals.

Habitat degradation further compounds the threat. As an important prey species for the snow leopard and a vital herbivore in alpine ecosystems, the loss of musk deer could have wider ecological consequences, affecting predator populations and forest ecosystem balance, according to conservationists.

Following the completion of fieldwork, forestry officials are processing thousands of camera-trap images and analysing field data collected from across the country.

The photographs will not only confirm the presence of musk deer but also identify important habitats, movement patterns, and areas vulnerable to poaching.

The information is expected to strengthen anti-poaching measures and improve habitat management.

By Yangyel Lhaden
Source: Kuenselonline.