In terms of natural beauty, Nepal is simply unmatched. Unbeknownst to most, this small Asian nation is much more than just the untamed Himalayan range. Lush rainforest, great possibilities to see magnificient wildlife, and rich flora are all found in the lowlands of Nepal. Since the environment is so important to a locale's spirituality, most mountain ranges and lakes are associated with religious mythologies. Within the bounds of the national parks are several tribes and villages, and frequently the locals are more than willing to tell tourists about their collective past. Nepal is one of the few places in the world that truly satisfies a yearning for nature and culture. The stunning national parks of Nepal established a global standard for community cooperation, the preservation of wildlife and forests, and sublime natural beauty.
Sagarmatha National Park, located in the Himalayan ecological zone in the Khumbu region of Nepal and covering an area of 1,148 sq. km, has a similar level of natural beauty. The park is mostly made up of rough terrain and gorges of the high Himalayas, extending from Monjo at 2,845 m to the peak of the world’s highest mountain Sagarmatha at 8,848 m above the sea level. The park covers higher catchment regions of the Dudhkoshi and Bhotekoshi rivers. Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Thamserku are other mountains that are higher than 6,000 m high. The renowned Sherpa tribes of Nuptse, Amadablam and Pumori, whose lifestyles are intricately entwined with Buddhist principles, reside here. Religious festivals like Dumje and Mane Rumdu are frequently celebrated at the famed Tengboche and other monasteries. Other well known monasteries include Thame, Khumjung, Pangboche, and Tengboche. Sagarmatha National Park was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 due to its exceptional natural features.
Pine and hemlock wood are found at the park’s lower elevation. Fir, juniper, birch, rhododendron trees, scrub, and alpine plant groups can also be found there. The park is the habitat to over 118 bird species, including the Impeyan pheasant, snow cock, blood pheasant, red billed chough, Himalayan tahr. It is also home to red pandas, snow leopards, martens, and Himalayan mouse hares.
Himalayan Musk Deer, a species that has been threatened due to illegal activities of poachers, can be found in the picturesque Sagarmatha National Park. The Himalayan musk deer, also known as the white-bellied musk deer, is a species of musk deer found in the Himalayas of Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, and China. The IUCN Red List classifies it as endangered due to overexploitation, which has substantially caused its population reduction.
They exhibit such traits as well developed dewclaws, large toes that aid stability on steep slopes, and a dense covering of thick hairs with air-filled cells to protect them against the intense cold. White bellied musk deer are extremely well suited for higher elevations. They lack antlers, a characteristic shared by all musk deer, instead they have a set of enormous, easily broken canines that are constantly growing. Their tusks can grow to a maximum length of roughly 10 cm. These deer have a muscular build, with hind legs that are noticeably larger and more muscular than the forelimbs, which are shorter and more delicate. This species prefers to bound rather than to run or jump. This species’ fawns have white patches to aid in hiding, but as they become older, these markings vanish.
The male Himalayan musk deer expel musk, a waxy substance, from a gland in their belly. Although the musk is used to mark their territories and attract females, humans use it to make perfumes and medications.
White bellied musk deer are timid and secretive throughout the day, hiding in thick covers. They emerge at night to eat in more open environments, preferring to choose leaves from trees, and shrubs with a high protein and low fibre content. They eat lower quality lichens during the winter and even climb tiny trees to have access to leaves to eat.
They live in a home with an area of up to 22 hectares and are largely sedentary. Males are ferociously possessive of their territory and only permit females to enter their spaces. Territories are identified by strategically positioned faeces sites and pungent secretions applied to the nearby plants. During the breeding season, males engage in combat with one another over females and defend their territories with their long canines. In order to avoid the chaos, the ladies hide. The males utilise their very fragrant musk to entice the ladies and draw them out of their concealment.
A female can have one or two offspring at once. Until they are around six months old and are able to eat their meals, young musk deer are solely dependent on their mother’s milk. When they are 16 to 24 months old, they reach sexual maturity. The lifespan of a Himalayan musk deer is between 10 and 14 years.
Leopards, snow leopards, Eurasian lynxs, red foxes, and grey wolves are some of its predators.
The musk that the Himalayan musk deer generate is incredibly valuable, since it is used to make perfumes and medications. The species’ worth on the wildlife trade market is further heightened by the fact that it is rare and endangered. The primary danger to the white bellied musk deer species is hunting and commerce. The deer’s musk may retail for up to $45,000 per kg which makes it one of the most expensive animal derived items in the world.
In India, Nepal, and Bhutan, the Himalayan musk deer is protected by law. It is categorised as an endangered species in Pakistan and may be found in several protected regions, but due to inconsistent enforcement of the law across its range, little has been done to stop the widespread trade of the species. A top priority for the preservation of this species is strengthening the implementation of anti-poaching regulations.
Therefore, if you spot a musk deer in the Sagarmatha National Park region, count yourself lucky!
Compiled By: Rebika Bishokarma
Photos By: World Wildlife Fund, Locus Design, Native Planet
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