Himalayan Musk Deer ‘Moschus chrysogaster’ is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in IUCN red list of Threatened Species in Appendix I by CITES for Nepal.

It is found in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) Mustang and Manang districts, Kanchhajung Conservation Area (KCA), Sagarmatha National Park, Langtang National Park, Shy Phokshundo National Park, Rara National Park, Khaptad National Park, Makalu Barun National Park and Manaslu Conservation Area, there is lacking the specific Musk deer research and conservation awareness programme.

People in the Himalayan have hunted musk deer for commercial purposes since the early seventies. In Mustang this remains the sole reason for the decline in the musk deer population. So that there is necessary to raise conservation awareness to local people for the conservation of musk deer and its associated ecosystem.

The aims of this project are to find out about population status, distribution, habitat utilization, past and present poaching activities/trade pattern, develop participatory conservation action plan and conduct conservation awareness programme in the ACA of Mustang districts of Nepal.

This project will be provided management prescription to ensure long-term survival of Musk deer in its natural habitat.