Himalayan musk deer (Moshcus leucogaster) behavior at latrine sites and their implications in conservation

Abstract

Elusive species often use latrines which also serves as communication and information hubs. Thus, studying behavior at latrines may provide critical insights into the species' ecology and behavior. While it is established that musk deer use latrines for defecating, very little is known about the endangered Himalayan musk deer (Moschus leucogaster) and their latrines. We examined musk deer behavior from the various video clips lasting 238 min altogether, captured at latrine sites during both breeding and non-breeding seasons in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. A total of 428 visits by musk deer and 479 behavioral events by them were captured. We constructed an ethogram to describe musk deer behavior and compared behavior across individuals and sex using parametric and non-parametric tests. We found that musk deer are crepuscular and nocturnal animals. Both male and female musk deer repeatedly and independently visited shared latrine sites as well as exclusively used latrine sites. The proportion of male musk deer visited latrine sites were significantly higher than that of female musk deer. Hence, male musk deer were found more active (>2 times) than females during both seasons. The most frequently observed behavioral activities at the latrine sites were defecating, sniffing and browsing, followed by scrapping and covering, and ignoring the latrine sites. The defecating and sniffing activity were performed throughout breeding and non-breeding seasons to establish communication among peers and to claim territory. Based on the behaviors observed at the latrine sites, we can presume that Himalayan musk deer likely use latrines to convey various messages, including personality, maturity, sexual status, and territory marking among conspecifics. These findings of this study can be used for the conservation of musk deer in its natural habitat and replicated in captivity to enhance breeding performance that improves long-term conservation prospects for this species.

A brighter shade of future climate on Himalayan musk deer Moschus leucogaster

“…2 ). These influences on the distribution of musk deer should be considered in the context of their effects on vegetation because the habitat suitability of musk deer strongly depends on vegetation 27 , 28 , 39 , 42 , 47 . In the Himalaya, tree growth is largely influenced by moisture availability from melting snow in the pre-monsoon season (i.e.…”

“…Because these prior studies ended up with a model that is enormously influenced by temperature related variables, they identified vast stretches of the high Himalaya including barren tall mountains and deserts of Tibet as current suitable habitat for Himalayan musk deer. The ecology and behavior of the animal requires forest and shrubs with reasonable density and canopy in its habitats 27 , 28 , 39 , 42 , 47 . The animals are shy in nature and prefer to hide in vegetation 28 , which does not exist higher than 6000 MASL or in the deserts of Tibet.…”

“…Another pair of recent studies by Khadka et al 25 and Khadka and James 26 predicted that vast areas of the Himalaya including barren high-elevation mountains and dry Tibet currently harbor suitable sites for Himalayan musk deer. It is widely accepted that Himalayan musk deer live primarily in forested areas in the Himalaya 27 – 29 and not alpine areas higher than 6000 m ASL or the deserts of Tibet. The problematic distributions predicted in these prior studies resulted at least partly from taxonomic misidentification, which until recently was somewhat unavoidable.…”

“…Males are highly territorial and their home ranges do not overlap 37 . Because latrines are set up within a home range at a location that is highly likely to be detected by other animals, the latrines are consistently found in the suitable habitats of musk deer 27 , 28 , 39 . Consequently, many previous researchers, such as Green 40 , Green 41 , Shrestha and Meng 39 , Shrestha and Moe 27 , Singh et al 42 , used latrine sites as a reliable proxy of musk deer distribution.…”

“…Latrines (Fig. 1 b) are preferably constructed close to trees and under canopy 27 , 28 , 40 . They can be identified easily; they have heaps of old and fresh pellets which are characterized by their musky smell, cylindrical shape and a size smaller than the pellets of goat ( Capra aegarus ), as observed by several prior researchers 27 , 28 , 42 , 43 .…”