Trail in the Sagarmatha National Park with sign to protect the Musk Deer
Hiking through the Sagarmatha national park, signs from local people remind to protect the Himalaya Musk Deer. This shy Himalayan mammal species is listed by IUCN as Endangered because of a probable serious population decline. The musk produced by this genus of primitive deer is highly valued for its cosmetic and alleged pharmaceutical properties, and can fetch U.S.$45,000 per kilogram on the international market. Although this musk, produced in a gland of the males, can be extracted from live animals, most "musk-gatherers" kill the animals to remove the entire sac, which yields only about 25 grams (1/40 of a kilogram) of the brown waxy substance. Such poaching is relatively easy to accomplish and difficult to stop using only legal means.
Year: 2012
From album: Himalaya Biodiversity
Photographer: Peter Prokosch