Musk deer death: Pithoragarh DMwaits for report
Musk deer is protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act and is also listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
DEHRADUN: The death of three musk deer in October at Berinag in Pithoragarh district had led to a furore with the people suspecting lapses at the deer breeding centre.
Musk deer is protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act and is also listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Pithoragarh district magistrate C Ravishankar said he was waiting for the autopsy report so that he can take necessary action if there was any lapse. The staff at the deer breeding centre were told to be more careful in the upkeep of the animals and to take swift action if they noticed any illness and another anomalies.
The DM said he would keep a strict eye on the activities at the centre in view of the fact that the number of musk deer was going down
The Ayush department had established the facility at Berinag in 1977 with only one deer on a 1 acre farm. There were 20 musk deer at the farm but three died on October 4. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly was contacted to carry out investigation. It was alleged that the deer were fed below standard food following which the IVRI team took stock of fodder and living conditions.
Musk is extracted from the genital glands of the male. It is traditionally used in over 50 Ayurvedic and 150 Yunani medicines. Musk deer are found at an altitude of 10,000 to 14,000 ft on the Himalayas.