The distribution, status and conservation of the Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

A survey to understand distribution, status and conservation of Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) was conducted in 2017 using camera traps. A pair of camera traps were installed in five habitat areas based on preliminary occurrence information gathered from local herders, forestry staff and unpublished reports. The camera traps were deployed in the field for five months from June through November 2017. Essential ecological parameters such as vegetation, herb species, slope aspect, elevation and indirect evidence of the species were collected from established transects. The survey results were used to develop musk deer habitat suitability and a species distribution model in MaxEnt.Findings indicate that the musk deer currently inhabit small areas and their distribution is more fragmented than in the past. Intensive competition from unregulated grazing, Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) collection and poaching were observed as major threats to conservation. Initiation of transboundary landscape conservation programs, strengthening of patrolling forest resource collection and grazing are recommended for maintaining and ensuring viable population of the Himalayan Musk Deer in SWS. Keywords: Bhutan, Musk deer, Camera traps, Livestock distribution, Meta-population, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS