Consider the following statements about the Himalayan Musk Deer:
1. It is native to the Indian subcontinent.
2. It is regarded as a primitive or “true” deer species globally.
3. It is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question

Consider the following statements about the Himalayan Musk Deer:
1. It is native to the Indian subcontinent.
2. It is regarded as a primitive or &ldquo;true&rdquo; deer species globally.
3. It is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

A recent report of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) reveals a mix-up in identifying the Alpine musk deer with the Himalayan musk deer.

Statement 1 is correct: The Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster), also called Kasturi mriga, is found in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan etc. In India, it occurs in protected areas like Dachigam National Park (J&K) and Nanda Devi National Park (Uttarakhand).

Statement 2 is not correct: While musk deer are primitive in evolutionary terms, they are not classified as &ldquo;true deer&rdquo;. True deer belong to the family Cervidae, whereas musk deer belong to a separate family called Moschidae. So, calling them &ldquo;true deer&rdquo; is taxonomically inaccurate.

Statement 3 is correct: The Himalayan Musk Deer is listed under Appendix-I of CITES, which provides the highest level of international trade protection for endangered species.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
Consider the following statements about the Himalayan Musk Deer: 1. It is native to the Indian subcontinent. 2. It is regarded as a primitive or “true” deer species globally. 3. It is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None