Monitoring of hunting and commercial mammals. Animal musk deer: description, interesting facts, photo Siberian musk deer
The Siberian musk deer, or fanged deer, inhabits an area stretching from Himalayan mountains and the Tibet highlands Eastern Siberia, the Korean Peninsula and the Sakhalin Islands. Mostly musk deer settles in coniferous forests, covering the steep slopes of the mountains, mainly at an altitude of 600 to 900 meters, and in the Himalayas this deer can be found at an altitude of more than 3000 meters.
Musk deer is a small deer. The length of its body is less than 1 m, the height of the animal at the withers is only 70 cm, and the weight of the musk deer ranges from 11 to 18 kg. Distinctive feature in the structure of the animal - the presence is disproportionate long legs, which the deer can climb without much effort to eat lichens on tree trunks and the needles of some conifers.
In addition, musk deer, unlike ordinary deer, does not have horns, but boasts fangs. Until now, scientists cannot definitely say what musk deer tusks are for. But shamans from ancient times used the fangs of musk deer to conduct mystical rites.
A photo. Siberian musk deer.
For a while, the fanged deer was even considered a vampire that feeds on the blood of animals, but later it turned out that this was not so. Musk deer, like any deer, is a herbivore. Only males have fangs, with the help of which they fight with an opponent during the rut. Sometimes the wounds can be so severe that the defeated male may die.
A photo. Siberian deer with fangs
A distinctive feature of the musk deer is its musk gland, which secretes musk, an aromatic substance used in medicine and perfumery since ancient times.
Especially widespread use of musk is known in Chinese medicine, where musk is the main component in more than 200 medicines. Indeed, Indian scientists after a series of studies have proven that musk has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent.
A photo. Musk deer.
Due to the presence of a musk gland in the musk deer, whole line wishing to hunt this deer. The hunting of the animal took on perverted forms, as the hunters cut out the iron from the musk deer, leaving the dead animals in the taiga.
Such a barbaric attitude towards the small deer led to a sharp reduction in its numbers. Therefore, measures were taken to preserve this species, and the musk deer was included in the Red Book as an endangered species.
To obtain such a valuable musk, musk deer began to be bred on special farms. The first farms of this kind appeared in Saudi Arabia where musk began to be legally mined.
A photo. So here he is cute - a deer with fangs
And now we offer a video: Siberian musk deer in the wild, winter. Beautiful!.
More information about the Siberian deer with fangs can be found in the following video.
Moschus moschiferus
Siberian Musk Deer (English), Moschushirsch, Sibirischer Moschustier (German), Porte Musc de Siberie (French), Almizclero Siberiano (Spanish).
Latin name species comes from Greek word moskhos, musk, and moschiferus, meaning "carrying musk". The Buryats call the musk deer "kuderi", the Orochens - "anda", the Yakuts - "mekcheke" and "bichen", the Mongols - "hyuder". Altaians call it "toborko", "tabarga", "toorgy".
DESCRIPTION. It is a small, hornless, deer-like animal, but the males grow long, curved upper fangs protruding from under upper lip by 7-9 cm. They play the role of a tournament weapon. Females have smaller upper fangs. Body length up to 1 m, height at the withers up to 70 cm; weight - 11-18 kg. The hind legs are longer than the front ones, therefore, in a standing musk deer, the sacrum is 5-10 cm higher than the withers. The head is small, the ears are large and rounded, the tail is very short. The hooves are long and thin, with well-developed false hooves. The hairline is thick, coarse and brittle. The coloration is dark grayish-brown above, lightening downwards to dark yellow, with more or less pronounced spots on the back, sides and rear of the body. Two almost white stripes run from the throat along the sides of the neck. Young individuals have a complex pattern of stripes and spots on the body. Each hair on the upper part of the body is whitish for two-thirds of the length from the base, then becoming brownish-gray and at the end blackish-brown.
Musk deer differ from real deer in that it has a gallbladder, but does not have facial glands. The metatarsal and tarsal glands are also absent. The male has a musk gland in abdominal region, which, from the age of three, secretes a brownish, wax-like substance, widely used in the manufacture of perfumes and in oriental medicine.
BEHAVIOR. Musk deer usually keeps alone, less often - in groups of up to three heads. In family groups, contacts between animals are peaceful, but they are extremely aggressive towards strangers. During the rut, real fights take place between males of the same age - the animals chase each other, trying to hit the croup, ridge or neck of the enemy with their front legs or fangs. During prolonged fights, one of the fighters often knocks the other to the ground, beats him with his hooves, and then plunges his fangs into him, which can lead to the death of the vanquished.
Musk deer mate in December-January. After 185-195 days, females give birth to 1-2 cubs. Young musk deer reach sexual maturity at the age of 15-18 months. The musk deer is an excellent jumper, with almost unparalleled maneuverability. It is capable of galloping, without slowing down, to change the direction of travel by 90 °. Fleeing from the pursuer, the musk deer, like a hare, confuses the tracks.
The diet of musk deer is dominated by epiphytic and terrestrial lichens. In winter, their share in her diet is 65-95%. This feeding habit determines the distribution of musk deer over isolated areas. As an additive to the diet, it also eats fir and cedar needles, some umbrella plants, blueberry leaves, ferns, horsetail and others. vegetable feed.
Usually, animals feed on windfall trees covered with lichens, nibbling them from fallen branches and collecting lichen litter from the snow surface. The foraging musk deer can climb an inclined tree trunk or jump from branch to branch to a height of up to 3-4 m.
Musk deer have many natural enemies. On the Far East its main enemy is the harza, which can hunt alone and even in a group. The lynx often lies in wait for the musk deer while feeding, the wolverine and the fox pursue.
Their life expectancy in nature is only 4-5 years, but there are cases when in captivity individual specimens lived up to 14 years.
LOCATION. Dark coniferous areas of the taiga with placers and rock outcrops. There, the animals live sedentary, occupying individual plots on average from 300 hectares in summer and up to 10-20 hectares in winter.
SPREAD. Most of Siberia and the Russian Far East, including Sakhalin Island, as well as northern Mongolia, Northeast China, and Korea. Keeps mainly at an altitude of 600-900 m, rarely up to 1600 m above sea level; only in Tibet and the Himalayas it rises to a height of 3000 m or more.
The musk deer, called the smallest "deer" on the continent, is one of the most common hunting trophies not applicable. First, on the territory of the Russian Federation, until recently, hunting for musk deer was prohibited. Secondly, a miniature artiodactyl animal weighing 15-16 kg, which prefers a solitary lifestyle in extremely difficult places, is, at first glance, an unenviable prey. Nevertheless, the musk deer, more specifically, the male, is of undoubted value. And it is not determined by the size and quality of the skin or the gastronomic qualities of the meat.
From time immemorial, male musk deer are the "supplier" of the best and most expensive musk in the world. Musk or, as it is also called, “stream” is a specific endocrine product that is extremely in demand in perfumery, as well as in folk medicine throughout the Asian region. He became main reason barbaric extermination of musk deer over the centuries. A cautious animal, perfectly able to hide from any enemy in an impenetrable thicket, turned out to be defenseless against human traps and traps. Fortunately, in last years the number of musk deer has grown so significantly that amateur hunting is exclusively using firearms- does not pose a threat to the population. Moreover, for such a fishery, musk deer is a very, very difficult game. Hunting for musk deer is mainly limited to the autumn-winter season. The most popular are three options: hunting with a dog, solitary hunt from the approach and the same thing, but with the participation and help of an experienced huntsman. According to many hunters, the hunting of this animal in certain seasons does not cause any particular difficulties, since the musk deer is usually trusting, and sometimes behaves even stupidly in the face of danger. There are cases when a musk deer enters a recently prepared trap.
If you have to hunt without a dog, then the guarantors of its success will be outstanding observation and the ability to accurately hit the target at a long distance. Musk deer is not a fan of long-distance routes. Therefore, finding a fresh trail, you can be sure that it is somewhere nearby. It is important to be able to notice this master of disguise, and having noticed, not to succumb to the temptation to come closer. The shot should be one and for sure.
Subspecies of musk deer in Russia:
Siberian or common musk deer- the largest. This form is characterized by a reddish-brown color. The length of the skull reaches 164 mm. Distributed in Altai, in the mountain taiga of Eastern Siberia to the west to the Yenisei to the east to the river. Lena, in Transbaikalia, Northern Mongolia, Greater and Lesser Khingan and in the west of the Stanovoy Range
Verkhoyansk (Arctic) musk deer(Moschus moschiferus arcticus) - smaller than Siberian. The coloration is darker, black-brown. Lives in the north-east of Siberia.
Far Eastern musk deer(Moschus moschiferus turovi)- the smallest of the subspecies. The color of the coat is rich, dark, chocolate brown. The bases of the hair are not pure white, as in the previous two, but grayish. Skull length up to 157 mm. It lives in the Sikhote-Alin region and west to the Zeya River.
Sakhalin musk deer* (Moschus moschiferus sachalinensis)- dimensions are the same as those of the Far Eastern subspecies. The coloring is lighter. It is distinguished by a narrow interorbital space of the skull. Lives on about. Sakhalin.
Korean musk deer(Moschus moschiferus parvipes) - it is characterized by an elongated shape of the muzzle and lower jaw, juvenile signs in the structure of the skull. Inhabits the Korean Peninsula and adjacent territories
This edition takes into account the following trophy categories:
Siberian musk deer(Moschus moschiferus moschiferus)- mountain forests of Eastern Siberia from the Yenisei to the Lena, Transbaikalia, west of the Stanovoy Range. (competition table, photo gallery)
Altai musk deer- Altai. (competition table, photo gallery)
Musk deer Verkhoyansk(Moschus moschiferus arcticus)- inhabits the Verkhoyansk Range and the Chersky Range to the west to the Lena River and to the east to the river. Kolyma, Aldan and Stanovoy Ridge. (
musk deer, this is an unusual artiodactyl, which gave rise to many myths and superstitions associated with its feature - long fangs. Because of these fangs growing from the upper jaw, the deer long time was considered a vampire who drinks the blood of other animals.
In ancient times, people considered him evil spirit, and the shamans tried to get his fangs as a trophy. The name of the deer in Greek means "bearing musk". The appearance of the musk deer has attracted naturalists since ancient times, and many are still willing to travel hundreds of kilometers along mountain trails to see it live.
Habitat
Almost the entire world population of musk deer is distributed in the north. The habitat of the species is the mountains of Altai, Sayan, the systems of the mountains of Eastern and Yakutia, the Far East and Sakhalin. Deer live in all taiga forests of mountainous areas.
On the southern territories the species lives in small pockets in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Korea, Nepal. There was also a deer in, near the foothills of the Himalayas, but it is practically exterminated there at the present time.
The same fate befell him in the mountains of Vietnam. Musk deer lives in dense forests on steep mountain slopes. Most often you can meet him at an altitude of 600-900 meters, but they are also found at 3000 meters in the mountains of the Himalayas and Tibet.
Musk deer very rarely migrate, preferring to stay in a selected area of the territory. Females and deer of the year have a small territory, while adult males, older than three years old, occupy up to 30 hectares. taiga forest for their lands.
Females and underyearlings are mainly guided by the amount of food, and the habitat of individual males depends on the number of females in the territory, and the absence of other males. On the territory of each male usually live from one to three females.
This unpretentious deer has adapted to life even in the boreal northern forests. Temperature fluctuations from East Siberian taiga very high: from -50 to +35 C⁰, but still these artiodactyls live there too.
Starting from the right bank of the Siberian Yenisei and to the Pacific Ocean, a gloomy, endless taiga grows, three-quarters of which are in the permafrost zone. Vast plateaus and ridges, covered with dense forests of fir, cedar, and spruce, are completely impassable.
And only narrow animal paths between fallen trees will help the traveler find a landmark. These dreary, cold, empty forests, completely overgrown with lichens and mosses, were chosen by musk deer for their home.
Lifestyle
Despite the seeming gloom of these taiga forests, deer feel safe there. After all rare beast can sneak up on them silently. It is almost impossible for a brown bear or wolf to get close to a musky deer musk deer- the crack of broken branches will surely warn the victim, and she will quickly take off.
Even the agile wolverine, lynx and Far Eastern marten are not always able to catch this dodgy deer - it can change direction sharply by 90 degrees and confuse the tracks like a hare.
Only on days of snowstorms and winds, when the forest cracks and branches break, the musk deer will not hear the creeping predator. The deer has a chance to hide if he manages to do it at a short distance.
The musk deer cannot run for a long time, physically its body is very dodgy, but shortness of breath quickly appears at high speed, the deer has to stop to rest, and on straight terrain it cannot hide from the swift and hardy ones.
But in the mountainous areas, the musk deer has developed its own tactics of protection from persecution. She confuses the trail, winds, and goes to places inaccessible to her enemies, making her way there along narrow ledges and ledges.
AT safe place the deer waits out the danger. Natural data allow the musk deer to jump from ledge to ledge, to pass along narrow, only a few tens of centimeters cornices.
But if it is possible to escape from a lynx or a marten in this way, then when a person is hunting for a musk deer, this feature is taken into account by experienced hunters, and even their dogs specially drive the musk deer to the places of sludge so that a person can wait for a deer there.
The value of musk deer for humans
BUT musk deer hunting has been going on since ancient times. If earlier the goal was to get an unusual skull of a deer with fangs, now the animal is valued for its gland that produces muscle.
In nature jet of musk deer necessary for males to mark their territory and attract females during the rut. Since ancient times, man has used musk deer for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.
Even the ancient Arab healers mentioned in their annals the musk of musk. In Rome and Greece, musk was used to make incense. In the East, it was used for cooking medicines for rheumatism, heart vascular diseases, to increase potency.
In Europe, steel apply jet Siberian musk deer in the cosmetic and perfume industry. In China, more than 400 types of medicines have been created on the basis of musk.
The male musk deer begins to produce musk at the age of 2 years, and the gland functions until the end of his life. It is located in the lower abdomen, next to the genitals, dried and crushed into powder, it brings 30-50 grams of powder.
Nutrition
Small in size (no more than 1 meter in length and 80 cm in height) musk deer weighs only 12-18 kilograms. The diet of this small deer is mainly epiphytes and terrestrial lichens.
In winter, this is almost 95% of the diet of musk deer. In summer, it can diversify the table with blueberry leaves, some umbrella plants, fir and cedar needles, and ferns. Deer, as it were, let the lichens grow up until the new winter.
While feeding, it can climb sloping tree trunks, jump along branches and climb to a height of 3-4 meters. Unlike domestic animals, wild deer do not eat out food completely, but try to collect lichens little by little so that the feeding area is preserved. Musk deer do not have to share their food with other animals, so there is always enough food.
Reproduction and lifespan
The deer's solitary lifestyle changes when the rutting season begins. In November-December, males begin to actively mark the territory with their odorous glands, put up to 50 marks per day. For this, hills are used.
They try to expand their territory, and often meet with neighbors. In the struggle for a place under the sun, and therefore for a female, deer are quite fierce battles. When meeting, two males first simply walk around each other at a distance of 6-7 meters, exposing their fangs and rearing their hair, thus giving themselves confidence and extra size.
Most often, the younger deer leave the territory. In the case when the forces are equal, a fight begins, where sharp fangs and hooves are used. Deer spare no effort, break off their fangs and deeply injure each other in the fight.
After mating, the female bears 1-2 cubs, which are born in the summer, and reach sexual maturity in 15-18 months. They live only about five years. In captivity, their age reaches 10-12 years.
Currently, the musk deer population in the country has about 125 thousand individuals. Although in the old days the musk deer was almost completely exterminated, the species still survived, and now it belongs to the commercial ones. The number is regulated by hunting farms and a certain number of permits are issued for shooting musk deer in different regions countries.
(Moschidae). The Latin name of the species comes from other Greek. μόσχος - musk. Moschiferus translates as "bearing musk".
Encyclopedic YouTube
1 / 2
✪ musk deer | rare and endangered animal species of Russia
✪ Musk deer
Subtitles
Appearance
In my own way appearance and behavior of the musk deer occupies an intermediate position between deer and deer. The length of her body is up to 1 m, the tail is 4-6 cm, the height at the withers is up to 70 cm; weight - 11-18 kg. The hind legs are unusually long; therefore, in a standing musk deer, the sacrum is 5-10 cm higher than the withers. The tail is short.
Unlike deer, to which the musk deer is sometimes referred, it does not have antlers. Males have long curved fangs protruding from under the upper lip by 7-9 cm; serve as a tournament weapon. They also have a musk-producing abdominal gland.
The coat of the musk deer is thick and long, but brittle. Color brown or brown. In young animals, fuzzy light gray spots are scattered on the sides and along the back. 0/3 incisors, 1/1 canines (the upper ones in the male are very strongly developed and protrude from the mouth in the form of tusks directed downwards and somewhat bent backwards, 5-7 cm long), 6/6 molars, no horns and lacrimal fossae; stomach with 4 sections; the tail is very short. The overall build is reminiscent of deer. The hooves are thin, sharp and can be strongly moved apart, and the animal also relies on underdeveloped hooves. Thick fur, red-brown or yellow-brown, white below; body length up to 90-100 cm, shoulder height 50-55 cm (the female is somewhat smaller).
Spreading
The musk deer is distributed from the Eastern Himalayas and Tibet to Eastern Siberia, Korea and Sakhalin, inhabiting steep mountain slopes overgrown with coniferous forest. Keeps mainly at an altitude of 600-900 m, less often up to 1600 m above sea level; only in Tibet and the Himalayas rises to a height of 3000 m or more.
Lifestyle and nutrition
Favorite habitats of musk deer are dark coniferous areas of the taiga with placers and rock outcrops. In these areas, animals live settled, singly (rarely in groups), occupying individual plots on average from 30 hectares in summer to 10-20 hectares in winter.
The musk deer is an excellent jumper, almost unparalleled in maneuverability. It is capable of galloping, without slowing down, to change the direction of travel by 90 °. Fleeing from the pursuer, the musk deer, like a hare, confuses the tracks.
The diet of the musk deer is dominated by epiphytic and terrestrial lichens. In winter, their share in her diet is 65-95%. This feeding habit determines the distribution of musk deer over isolated areas. As an additive to the diet, it also eats fir and cedar needles, some umbrella plants, blueberry leaves, ferns, horsetails and other plant foods. Usually animals feed near windfall trees covered with lichens, eat them from fallen branches and collect lichen litter from the snow surface. The foraging musk deer can climb an inclined tree trunk or jump from branch to branch up to a height of 3-4 m.
Musk deer have many natural enemies. In the Far East, her main enemy is the kharza, which hunts musk deer in families. Often the lynx lies in wait for the musk deer; a wolverine and a fox are chasing.
Social structure and reproduction
Musk deer keeps alone, less often - in groups of up to three goals. In family groups, contacts between animals are peaceful, but they are extremely aggressive towards strangers. During the rut, real fights take place between males of the same age - the animals seem to be chasing each other, trying to hit the croup, ridge or neck of the enemy with their front legs or fangs. During prolonged fights, one of the fighters often knocks the other to the ground, kicks him, and then plunges his fangs into him, which can lead to the death of the vanquished.
Musk deer mate in December-January. After 185-195 days, females give birth to 1-2 cubs.
Young musk deer reach sexual maturity at the age of 15-18 months. Their life expectancy in nature is 4-5 years, 10-14 years in captivity.
Musk deer
On the belly of the male musk deer is located musk glandfilled with a thick, pungent-smelling brown-brown secret. One gland of an adult male contains 10-20 g of natural musk - the most expensive product of animal origin.
The chemical composition of musk is very complex: fatty acid, wax, aromatic and steroid compounds, cholesterol esters. The main carrier of musky odor is the macrocyclic ketone muscone. Volatile components of musk carry information about the age and condition of the male and can accelerate estrus in females.
The first mention of musk in Europe dates back to 390 AD. e. Medieval doctors Ibn Sina and Serapino knew about him. In the XIV century. Marco Polo pointed to the presence of especially valuable musk in the country of Eringul, apparently located on the territory of modern Mongolia or Western China. Musk in the East was added to medicines for melancholy, and was also worn in bags on the chest to prevent the evil eye and spoilage. Musk was also widely used by Arab and Tibetan folk healers as a means to enhance sexual potency in men.
Musk is widely used in oriental medicine at the present time. In China, it is part of more than 200 prescription drugs.
In Europe, musk medical preparation It does not enjoy much success, but here it has found another application - in the perfume industry as an odor fixative.
In addition to the musk gland, male musk deer have glands on the inner surface of the tail that secrete a secret with a sharp "goat" smell. During defecation, feces, in contact with the gland, acquire this smell.
In the middle of the 20th century, the first musk deer farms appeared in Saudi Arabia, where musk is extracted in a humane way, without injuring the animal.
Animals are caught by stationary box traps, which excludes the development of a defensive reaction in animals to humans as a dangerous stimulus. To attract musk deer to the trap box, food bait is used - lichen or grain. The captured animal is transferred to an immobilization box, the design and dimensions of which do not allow the animal to move. The male is then euthanized with an injection of xylazine in combination with ketamine. Immobilization and sleep last an average of 40 minutes, and the full recovery of the animal's motor activity occurs in four to five hours. Before squeezing out the musk, a silver spatula with a groove is first introduced into the bag, through which the secret of the gland is brought out.
After the selection of musk, the immobilized male is kept all this time in a special box.
He gained particular popularity in the Middle East, where black musk is the most popular men's fragrance. Aroma - sharp, tart, persistent.
Classification
- Siberian musk deer (M. moschiferus moschiferus) - extended to
Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus Linn) is one of the smallest and most unique representatives of deer in the northern hemisphere. This small deer (some researchers distinguish the musk deer as an independent family), no more than half a meter high at the withers, has a number of specific features. So, the musk deer has no horns, but the males have strongly developed upper fangs that stick out of the mouth down, and their ends fall below the chin. These fangs grow throughout life, reaching 7-10 centimeters in adult males, while they have a sharp cutting back edge. In females, the upper fangs are short, and they do not protrude beyond the lip. In the life of male musk deer, they are as important as the horns of other representatives of deer.
The musk deer would look more slender and graceful if it were not for the developed hind limbs (the hind legs of the musk deer are one and a half times longer than the front ones), which makes the musk deer look like hunched over. Rib cage in musk deer, it is short and narrow, indicating an inability to run for a long time. However, in the process of evolution, the musk deer acquired other advantages that allowed it to survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of the mountains for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of years. So, a soft horn rim on the hoof cover keeps it from sliding on the stones and helps to deftly overcome the ice. The musk deer has developed amazing ability maintain body balance. Even when running fast, it is able to change direction by 90 degrees. It is easy to turn around and run back along your trail or instantly stop in your tracks and hold on to a small stone. Strong hind legs allow the musk deer to make magnificent acrobatic jumps, both in height and in length.
The protective coloration, in which weakly outlined light brown spots are scattered in disorder on the general dark brown background of the body, sides and back of the musk deer, makes the musk deer almost invisible in the forest. And not only in static, but also during movement. Such a coloring seems to dissolve a small deer against the background of growing and fallen trees, among rocky cliffs and stones of the dark taiga. With age, spotting decreases and may disappear altogether. Two light stripes stretch along the neck of the male from the chin to the front legs, as if dividing the body into two parts. This helps the musk deer to remain invisible when sunlight and shadow play. The belly of the musk deer is light brown or grayish in color. The hairline consists mainly of densely adjacent, slightly sinuous large guard hairs. In winter, the core layer is extremely developed in them, which helps the animal to keep warm in severe frosts. 
The historical range of the musk deer occupied almost the entire eastern half of the Asian continent, replete with vast mountain systems and stretching from the northern border of the taiga to southern China, Burma, Vietnam, the greatest mountains of the planet - the Himalayas, India. Occupying such a vast territory, the musk deer has insignificant differences, forming several geographical forms, the so-called subspecies.
More than 90% of the total world population of musk deer is concentrated in the northern territory of Russia. mountain systems Eastern Siberia, Yakutia-Sakha, Altai, Sayan, Magadan and Amur regions, the Far East (except Kamchatka) and Sakhalin - everywhere in the mountain taiga forests you can find this little deer.
The southern habitats of the musk deer are islands of small foci where the musk deer lives and has survived. In addition to Russia, musk deer lives in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Korea, China, Nepal. In India, where the musk deer occupies a biological niche mainly at the upper border mountain forests Himalayas and in the mountain forests of Vietnam, this deer is almost universally exterminated and is rare. The same fate befell the musk deer in densely populated Eastern China. In Nepal, it can only be found in certain areas, mainly in well-protected national parks.
By virtue of its biology, the musk deer is a highly specific ungulate animal that has adapted to living in mountain taiga landscapes. Here she mainly inhabits middle belt mountains, giving preference to the dark coniferous forests of the taiga, consisting of cedar, spruce, fir and larch. Favorite habitats of the musk deer in similar forests- areas with dense undergrowth and thickets of shrubs with rock outcrops. The density of musk deer in the dark coniferous taiga, corresponding to ecological features of this species, can reach 30 individuals per 1000 ha. However, our East Siberian taiga forests do not always meet the requirements for musk deer, and it is their variegated mosaic of vegetation that causes a large uneven distribution. Musk deer can also be found in secondary forests that appear on old burnt areas, however, the places of their presence are always tied to the remains of old dark coniferous forests. The plasticity of the musk deer as a species lies in the fact that it is able to live in forests devoid of rocky outcrops. If the taiga is windy, where there are many shelters and shelters in the form of fallen trunks, musk deer can live there with the same density as in rugged mountainous terrain.
Northern forests, or, as they are also called, boreal (named Greek god north wind Borea), grow in one of the most severe climates on the planet. The temperature range in the East Siberian taiga is from -50°C to +35°C, and, nevertheless, this deer was able to master these spaces in the process of evolution. Throughout the entire territory from the right bank of the great Siberian river Yenisei to the Pacific Ocean there is a continuous series of vast plateaus and ridges connected with each other by spurs. Endless taiga forests grow here, three quarters of which are located in the permafrost zone, consisting of cedar, spruce, fir, larch, growing here in continuous arrays. Dark cedars and dense thickets of fir and spruce to blackness - such is the kabaroja taiga. Only larch forests transform such a taiga, but here, along the valleys of rivers and streams flowing down from the slopes of the mountains, dark coniferous giants grow. In these gloomy forests, only narrow animal paths littered with dead trees allow a traveler on foot to pass. The world of musk deer is a taiga, where mosses and lichens climb high on trees and fancifully dress them, either completely covering the trunks, or hanging from the branches with tassels and fringes, making them even more unattractive to human eyes. Strange, saddening forests. 
In gloomy thickets littered with fallen trees, even the eternal enemies of the musk deer - the wolverine, the lynx or the most beautiful Far Eastern marten, the kharze (a native of the Himalayas) - is not easy to sneak up on the musk deer. Large predators - brown bear, wolf - almost never manages to get musk deer. The usual sounds that warn the musk deer of a possible danger in such a forest are the crackling of branches, the rustle of leaves, and the creak of snow. Only when the wind rages in the taiga, breaking off old branches and knocking down a snowy hut, does the musk deer react to the noise to a lesser extent, and the predator has a chance to catch this deer, sneaking up close to it, and not chasing it for a long time, taking it to starvation. Constantly on the alert, ready to instantly take off, possessing swiftness at short distances, evasiveness, the musk deer simply physically cannot run for a long time. All of its evolutionary abilities to survive in the conditions of the taiga did not require endurance, with prolonged pursuit, the musk deer develops shortness of breath, it is forced to make frequent stops to rest. The relentless pursuit of the predator inevitably led to the death of the musk deer, and here it developed a special tactic. Winding and confusing the trail, she goes to the sludge. Making his way along ledges and narrow cornices, he climbs into a place inaccessible to a predator and stays there until the threat to her life has passed. In addition to jumping from ledge to ledge, the musk deer is able to pass along overhanging eaves, the width of which often does not exceed several tens of centimeters. And given that the trail is at a considerable height, this is a serious test for the musk deer itself. It is on this feature of the musk deer to escape from danger that the hunt for it is often based. A good animal husky chases the musk deer and does not get confused, succumbing to all sorts of tricks that the animal does. Constant harassment forces the musk deer to sludge. The hunter can only go out to intercept, sensitively listening to the sounds of the chase, or approach the barking of his four-legged assistant. Knowing the places of sludge, you can come up in advance and hear the approach of musk deer by the sound of hooves and rapid breathing. This method of hunting musk deer is the most interesting and reckless, as it allows you to enjoy the work of the animal husky.
Young kabaroks learn this method of protection from their mother. In May-June, before calving, females stay close to shelters. Having brought one - two, and occasionally three cubs weighing only 300-500 grams, the mother almost immediately begins to teach them how to survive. At first, she teaches them to hide, but already at the age of 3-5 weeks, the musk deer begins to teach young musk deer to go to the sludge. To do this, the female gives a signal of false danger and quickly climbs the rocks, the cubs, in an effort to keep up with the mother, repeat all her movements after her. Unadapted, weak kabaroks can die, falling off a narrow ledge, but this is a kind of natural selection. The favorite food of the musk deer is various types of terrestrial and tree lichens. Musk deer in search of food moves with a slightly lowered head. Having found a lichen, she raises her head, sometimes crouches, can stand on her hind legs, while stretching her legs and dancing. Musk deer can remain in this position for up to 10 seconds. Sometimes he uses low horizontal branches of trees or the trunks themselves as a support, throwing his front legs on them in order to comfortable conditions cut with sharp incisors the most delicious strands of lichens. When looking for food in their area, the musk deer clearly focuses on dense and dark places where lichens grow in abundance. A leisurely transition from one fallen tree to another is a typical manner of movement of the musk deer. It is the excess of tree lichens that determines the presence and density of musk deer in one or another part of the taiga. An amazing sense of balance and natural dexterity allow the musk deer to climb lichens along inclined tree trunks to a height of up to 5 meters, deftly clinging to the bark and branches with their sharp hooves. The musk deer does not always do these circus exercises, preferring to collect lichen fragments from the surface. snow cover. Constant replenishment of feed for musk deer in winter time occurs due to the fall of fragments of lichens and branches overgrown with lichens, under the influence strong winds or snow. The musk deer prefers to eat small fragments of lichens 1-2 cm long. In larger strands, it eats only a part, which makes it possible for it to reuse them in the future. This is a very important adaptation of the musk deer to living in a permanent territory. Wild ungulates, unlike domestic animals, always leave part of the food, moving from place to place, and do not eat it completely. During the snowless period, the musk deer willingly switches to the leaves of shrubs, herbaceous plants and mushrooms; it, as it were, gives the lichens the opportunity to rest, recover. In the conditions of dark coniferous mountain taiga, musk deer have practically no competitors in nutrition. In the summer, the musk deer, like other ungulates, suffers from heat and the appearance of midges. It is in summer that it migrates to the zone of loaches, in search of salvation from blood-sucking insects. For the winter, it will again descend into the taiga, into the lower and middle belt of mountains, although it often lingers on the upper border of the forest. When high snow falls, and in eastern Siberia it does not cake, the musk deer moves to steep slopes and mountain ridges, where the snow is either blown away by the wind or slides under its own weight. The musk deer arranges daily haul-outs in places protected from the cold wind. 
The musk deer prefers to live in permanent areas without making any significant migrations. It is active, as a rule, at dusk and at night. Only in winter, following the tracks, one can trace its daily activity, nutritional habits, the degree of use of the occupied territory, favorite crossing routes, places of daytime rest. According to the observations of hunting scientists and hunters-traders, the size of the habitats of musk deer of different sex and age is different. The maximum plots (up to 300 hectares) have adult males, starting from the age of 3 years. In females of the year of both sexes, the areas are 5-10 times smaller. Already in the second year of life in males, they begin to increase almost 2 times. On the plots of males older than 2 years in different years live from one to four females. The role of adult males is very important for the musk deer population, and hence for the survival of the entire species; thus, along the boundary of the plots of males, females and underyearlings occupy places with a strong interval, undergrowth of conifers, where food and protective resources are the highest. The distribution and movement of males, starting from the third year of life, depend on the nature of the forest to a lesser extent. Adult males react primarily to the dispersal of females and neighboring males. During the day, males "patrol" the habitat and travel long distances - up to 5 km. The life of an adult male is much more endangered, they are more often attacked by predators, but such is the price for the right to pass on their genes to the next generations of musk deer. Females and underyearlings, especially on cold winter days, move little.
Individual areas of musk deer of the same sex can overlap each other, and to the greatest extent they overlap in males during the rut. Close contacts between individuals occur infrequently, but at high numbers they do occur. This is mainly the breeding season when pairs form. Males take part in the rut from the third year of life, and females can bring offspring as early as two years of age. For musk deer, who lead a mostly solitary lifestyle, communication based on smells is a constant way of communicating. Marking of the habitat area in males is carried out in two ways: by applying specific marks with the smell of glands on various towering objects and by leaving sharp-smelling excrement. Both males leave marks all year round. Adult males mark habitat areas most intensively in late November - December - up to 50 marks per day. At this time, the rut comes, in this season the males master largest area. It was then that in the frosty air from the male musk deer comes a pleasant smell of musk. In January, the activity of males decreases, and the individual territory is reduced again. The reaction of males of different ages to marks, both their own and those of others, left in different time, are not the same. Since strong adult males with grown fangs are the owners of the sites, in the absence of horns, the upper fangs acquire a special role in the struggle for possession of the female, and hence the protection of their individual site from rivals. When two males meet in the same territory during the rut, conflicts occur. Basically, there is intimidation of the enemy. Two males, equal in strength and age, walk in a circle at a distance of 6-7 m from one another and, raising their heads up, bare and show their fangs to each other. At the same time, the wool stands on end, increasing the true size of each. In most cases, the demonstration ends with one running away, usually young, but sometimes fights break out. With fangs, males tend to strike at the body of the enemy, the fangs often break off. During fights, males hit each other on the ridge and rump with their front legs, jumping high at the same time. Broken fangs of males and scars on the body - confirmation of the seriousness of tournament fights of equal physical strength and age of males. All the musk deer living in this area use the trails during deep snow, and, unfortunately, poachers use this, putting their nooses on the musk deer. Hundreds and thousands of musk deer perish in vain in the loops. 
The musk gland, which produces a secret created by evolution for the prosperity of the species, and which has become a curse to the musk deer due to the endless persecution of people, is located under the skin of the abdomen between the navel and the genitals. Kabarozhya stream has long been valued in the East, and with the advent of the cosmetic and perfume industry - in Europe. Musk in traditional oriental medicine is considered an unsurpassed analgesic and remedy for cardiovascular diseases, helps with colds and rheumatism, increases potency. In China alone, more than 400 medicines are known, in the manufacture of which musk is used. Kabarozhi musk is mentioned in the writings of ancient Arab doctors. The Greeks and Romans used it to make incense ointments.
The musk gland begins to produce musk when male musk deer reach maturity, that is, from the age of 2, and the gland is actively functioning until the age of 11. Musk glands were extracted from wild-caught musk deer and dried in the sun. From the dried musk gland, you can get from 20 to 50 grams of musk powder.
After a significant reduction in the number of musk deer in the wild in Asian countries, they are seriously engaged in keeping and breeding musk deer in captivity. And although musk deer is considered a difficult species to breed, musk deer began to be successfully bred in China in 1958. Currently, in this country there are more than two dozen large and small farms specializing in breeding musk deer, and the number of livestock is more than two thousand. There are similar farms in South Korea, India, Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan, which also receive precious musk from captive deer.
In fairness, it should be noted that for the first time they began to breed musk deer in captivity in Russia. In Altai, back in the 18th century (one of the periods when there was an extraordinary demand for musk, and the number of the beast was undermined everywhere), the first farms for keeping musk deer appeared. It was from Altai in 1772 that the musk deer was delivered to Western Europe, in the zoo of Paris.
On the scientific base"Chernogolovka" in the Moscow region in 1976 a farm was built, where 2 males and 3 females of musk deer were brought, from which the first offspring were received the next year. Over the entire period of the farm's existence, more than 200 kabaroks were born here, among which were individuals of the 7th generation. All these facts indicate that, with proper care, the musk deer is a very plastic species, it is able to live in new places where it has never been found before. The main difficulty in breeding musk deer is the need to get as close to natural conditions as possible. Musk deer need areas of dark coniferous forest with windfall trees for living, and under the canopy - thickets of shrubs and clearings with herbage. adults coniferous trees give a permanent shadow. Shrubs or tall grass cover provide shelter and food source. In addition, the litter of the dark coniferous forest contains a specific set of microorganisms that are part of the intestinal microflora of the musk deer in the first days of life. In the conditions of flat European forests, rocks and stony placers are imitated by boardwalks at a height of 2.5 - 3.0 meters, where the musk deer considers itself safe and escapes from mosquitoes, horseflies and midges. Once upon a time, the musk deer was the main game animal in the expanses of Eastern Siberia, providing a livelihood for many generations of Siberians. The history of hunting this animal tells that the musk deer has repeatedly lost commercial value due to overindulgence. But again and again, like a phoenix bird, it restored its numbers, confirming the plasticity and survival, which is especially evident with proper protection or a drop in demand for musk deer. At present, the number of musk deer in Russia is probably about 150 thousand individuals. It would seem that there are no particular reasons for concern, but in recent years, in addition to poaching, a new threat to its existence has appeared - commercial logging of taiga forests, especially in the Far East. And yet I would like to end the essay on musk deer on an optimistic note. The musk deer could also live in other territories of Russia, where historically it has never lived. Such could be the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Ural Mountains, and other suitable territories. But this requires the resuscitation of the nationwide program to restore the number of wild animals. An ancient and very interesting hunting object of the Russian fauna, the musk deer deserves not only to be the prey of hunters, but also to acquire the status of a popular trophy species. This deer makes it possible not only to hunt it in the dense taiga, virgin forests, but also bring significant income to the regions where it lives. This requires a reorientation of Russian hunting and game management towards sports, and not fishing, as it once was in our country. And this has been proven in countries where hunting brings both joy to numerous trophy hunters and money, partly returned to the wild. Hunters in Russia must understand for themselves that musk deer, deer with “saber-toothed fangs” are a real hunting trophy!
Why do musk deer have fangs? The answer to this question is not entirely obvious, if only because these animals are loners, and even extremely shy. It was not possible to observe them in the wild for quite a long time, and the shamans of the peoples of Siberia used the fangs of the musk deer as amulets.
Such secrecy and mystery gave rise to a lot of speculation, to the point that the musk deer, supposedly a predator, blood drinker other animals. Of course, this is complete nonsense, and today there can be no unscientific speculation on this topic. Scientists have long established that the musk deer is a herbivore.
By the way, only male musk deer have fangs: they replace their missing horns. Their length sometimes reaches 9 cm and this is a very impressive weapon, albeit a "tournament" one. During the rutting period, male musk deer, fighting for superiority, cause serious damage to each other. Sometimes the wounds received from the opponent are so severe that the animal dies.
"Well, deer have fangs instead of horns. So what?" Oddly enough, the musk deer not only looks rather unusual for a herbivore. The male musk deer has a musk gland on its belly. Actually, for the sake of musk, the musk deer, as well as the muskrat, was mined very actively until it was under the threat of destruction.
Musk- strongly smelling aromatic substance of animal origin. Aroma - sharp, tart, persistent. It is used both in oriental medicine and in perfumery production.
In the Middle Ages, musk was used as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent during epidemics of cholera and plague. During the Tudor era in Great Britain, musk was added to medicines for melancholy. European physicians until the middle of the 19th century prescribed musk for paralysis, nervous disorders, infectious diseases, bronchial asthma, as an anticonvulsant for epilepsy, various spasms of smooth muscles, colic.
To date, in China, musk is part of more than 200 medicines. Studies conducted in India have shown that this substance has a general stimulating effect on the heart and central nervous system and is also effective as an anti-inflammatory agent.
When it was discovered that the musk deer has a musk gland, hunting began for these animals. Moreover, hunters were only interested in glands. It got to the point that, having obtained what they wanted, the killed animals were simply left in the forest. This led to a reduction in the number of musk deer. For the sake of preserving this species, the musk deer was included in the list of specially protected species. Of the subspecies living in the territory Russian Federation, the Sakhalin musk deer is listed in the Red Book, and the Himalayan musk deer is listed in the International Red Book.
However, the desired musk is still mined. Moreover, in a completely legal way: from the beginning of the 20th century, musk deer began to be bred on farms. For the first time, such an experiment was carried out in Saudi Arabia - quite successfully. Of course, such farming is a costly business, but the profit from it is significant.
In some regions of the Russian Federation, hunting for musk deer for the purpose of extracting musk is allowed. The annual harvest limit is about 1,500 animals; only males are the object of hunting.
Musk deer, leaving the chase, can confuse the tracks, like a hare.
-Already in a jump, the animal is able to turn 90 degrees and change direction or completely silently stop on the run.
- Water deer live in China. These animals are very similar to musk deer.
-The main exporters of dry musk are Russia and China.
-In 1845, the number of musk deer in the Russian part of the range was 250 thousand individuals. And in the first third of the 20th century - did not exceed 10 thousand.