434 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



In the upper Himalayas, according to Vickers (in Louis, 1894, 

 p. 160) , "musk deer . . . literally swarm above 10,000 feet, but so 

 cute and retiring are they . . . that I have never bagged one .... 



"They are frequently snared for the musk of commerce, and the 

 method employed is identical with that for pheasants, viz. a sharp 

 pine-clad ridge is chosen, along it for some hundreds of paces a 

 rough hedge is thrown up, unpassable except at certain places where 

 a rope noose attached to a bent sapling is arranged to catch the 

 animal." 



Kinloch (1892, p. 253) records the Musk Deer "from Gilgit to 

 Bhutan, "and adds: "It is . . . much less common . . . than it used 

 to be, for the value of the musk is well known, and no animal is 

 more persecuted. In some of the more rugged parts of Kashmir, 

 such as Gares and Tilel, and in the rugged district of Pangi, it is 

 probably now as numerous as anywhere. The Ganges valley used 

 to be a favorite locality, but I believe that few deer are now left 

 there." 



Burrard writes (1925?, pp. 143-144) : "Indians poach them 

 everywhere. . . . Musk pods will sometimes fetch as much as Rs. 

 30, a huge sum to a hillman." 



The Musk Deer is greatly reduced in numbers within Indian 

 limits. It has been recommended for special protection by the All 

 India Conference. Shooting is controlled by regulations in Kashmir 

 State. The musk pod is much in demand for perfume. (Bombay 

 Natural History Society, in Hit., December, 1936.) 



In Kashmir the animal is plentiful, but it is impossible to give 

 even an approximate number. If a decrease should take place, it- 

 will be due to the high prices offered by exporters, making it worth 

 the poachers^ while to take the risk of game laws. The musk pod 

 forms a very important ingredient of many Indian medicines and of 

 perfumes; hence its high value. Shooting is prohibited except under 

 a special license, for which a prohibitive fee is charged. Heavy 

 penalties are imposed for poaching, and protection is thus very ade- 

 quate. (Game Warden, Kashmir, in Hit., May, 1937.) 



Musk Deer were formerly plentiful in the forested hills of Kumaun 

 above 10,000 feet. Now they are very scarce and confined to a few 

 isolated areas in the Almora district. Netting, noosing, and shoot- 

 ing are the causes of depletion. No measure is taken for the preser- 

 vation of the species. (Major Corbett, Joint Secretary Game 

 Preservation Association of the United Provinces, in lilt., March, 

 1937.) 



The Game Warden of the Punjab and North West Frontier Prov- 

 ince reports (in litt., November, 1936) that the species is now never 

 seen in localities where it was once common. Relentless poaching 

 is perhaps the sole cause for its decline. The musk is used as a 



