| Musk deer of China have been included in the Appendices II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1979. In China, musk deer have been listed in the First Category of the List of State Important Protected Wild Life since 2002. China and Russia are the countries inhabited by the largest numbers of musk deer. The population size of musk deer in China was approximately 2500 000 individuals in 1960s, but now the number has declined to about 60 000～70 000, and the declining basis is claimed to go on. Before 1980s the population size fallen by 50% per 10 years, but after 1980s it was estimated the time has shortened to 5 years. The cause of this has been poaching , habitat loss and degradation.Forest musk deer (Moschus Berezovskii) is the most distributing and exploited musk deer in China. It once distributed in over 20 provinces. But now forest musk deer distribute limited in Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Tibet et al regions. The population size is around 28 600～35 000 individuals. Musk deer are very shy, solitary animals. With the declining of population size the field study on the animal gets even more difficult.The aim of this study is to collect the information and experience obtains by the hunters, to determine the current and historical distribution of forest musk in Feng County, Shaanxi Province. The study was carried out in the summer of 2005 and the spring of 2006 by means of questionnaire and field survey. Current distribution was confirmed by searching and recording tracks of musk deer in the field. Historical distribution was studied by the means of interview and questionnaire. All distribution information obtained is shown by colored blocks on the digital maps. The research covered 150 villages of Feng County. According to field and mutual confirmation, 160 valid questionnaires on the current and historical distribution of forest musk deer in Feng were obtained. Then we investigated the claimed current distribution areas, which involved 69 villages, to make sure the existence of forest musk deer. At all 97 fresh tracks were searched out and the ecological factors of the tracks were collected. The results showed that:In 1950s forest musk deer distributed widely in Feng County. It existed in 127 villages of all the 150 villages. The distribution area almost covered the whole county except residential and roads areas. The distribution area could be formed to 4 mass areas surrounding Xinjia Mt, Wuliang ML. Matoutan Mt., and Bafang Mt. From 1980s on, following the introduce of snares made of wire, which was a inhumane setting offering easy kills, and the uncontrolled denudation and other human disturbing, the population of the deer began to decline rapidly, and the habitat began to reduce and degrade. The distribution areas began shrink from the road and residence. The fragmentated and isolation in the large habitat has happened. From 1950s to present the distribution area of the deer in Feng County have reduced from 228 9km~2 to 789km~2, only 1/3 of habitat left. Presently, the distribution area is severe fragmentation, and the mass areas have broken up to 12 isolated patches. Most the patches locate in the remote mountain areas which are far from human disturbance and on the edges of villages and counties. It is estimated the density of forest musk deer in Feng County based on the field investigation. The result shows the population of forest musk deer not only shrinks on population size but also reduces on population density. Presently the highest forest musk deer density occurs in Wuliang Mt. Area, which is only 1. 20± 0. 94(n=6)/km~2.The reason of population distribution area shrinking was analyzed, and the human disturbance was the most significant reason. Correlation analysis showed that the distribution of forest musk deer respectively significantly correlated to poaching, trapping technique, timber cutting, cutting for farming, grazing, medicinal materials collecting, edible fungus planting, natural disaster and tourism in different decades. It was remarkable that the number of correlation factors affecting forest musk deer distribution increased with the time. In 1950s the correlation factor was only medicinal materials collecting, but now the factors had increased to 6. 92% interviewee considered that over hunting using wire snare was the significant reason. The impact factors could be classified into two groups: one was factors impacted the forest musk deer population size including hunting and trapping technique, the other was factors effecting the habitat of forest musk deer including timber cutting et al. According the analysis of factors and distribution tested on time, it was proved that poaching and cutting were the most significant factors, and road construction side-made the hunting and cutting easier. And we found that in some area the illegal hunting and cutting still occurred.It was concluded mat the conservation and restoration of forest musk deer in Feng County Shaanxi Province should based on the pattern of distribution area and the status of habitat fragmentation. The protection on 4 mass areas' musk deer population and habitat should be strengthened. And ecological corridor should be constructed among the mass distribution areas to ensure the communication of populations. Poachingand cutting should be absolutely forbidden, and the government should strengthen enforcement. Community co-management model could be introduced. |
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