Status, Habitat Utilization, Threats and Conservation of musk Deer (Moschus Chrysogasterhodgson 1839) in Langtang National Park, Central Nepal.

Abstract

"Status, habitat utilization, threats and Conservation of musk deer(Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson 1839) in Langtang National Park,Central Nepal" was carried out in Musk Deer Conservation Area of LNP.The study was conducted spending more than 516 hours (16 February2005 to 4 th October 2005). The study applied the indirect method identifying 5 differentblocks in the habitat for the status and habitat utilization of musk deer inLNP. It mainly deals with types of fecal deposits, distribution of thosedeposits in different topography and forests. The study also deals withother related evidences found in the study area. Questionnaire surveyprovides the additional information regarding its threats and conservation. Forty-five different fecal deposits were found and 3musk deerwere sighted. Block B was found to be the appropriate habitat for muskdeer. 68.8 percent of fecal deposits were recorded in Block B. Differenttypes of fecal deposits found in Block B were very fresh and fresh(22.5%), old (38.7%) and very old (16.3%). Thirty-three species of plants were recorded from the quadratesplotted in the study area. Among themBetula utiliswas found the mostdominant species . High percentage of fresh droppings were also recordedin Betula forest and maximum old deposits were recorded in mixedforest. Animal trail was found preferred by musk deer. Forty percent ofobserved droppings were found on animal trail. Similarly, 8.88 percent of Relic sites were found in animal trail. High number of bedding sites wererecordedinBetulaand mixed forest. Questionnaire survey revealed that musk deer in LangtangNational Park is in declining state. Seventy percent of the respondentsagree about the poaching activity of musk deer in their area. Apart fromthis, tourists, local people and livestock are the major threats to musk deerin Langtang. High degree of habitat deterioration, livestock grazing,illegal hunting and predator such as Snow Leopard are the major threatsin that area. Therefore, these issues have to be addressedfor a long termsurvival of the endangered musk deer species in Langtang National Park.