Seasonal behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Moschus sifanicus</Emphasis>): Rut and pre-rut comparisons |
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Authors: | Xiuxiang Meng Qisen Yang Zuojian Feng Hongfa Xu Genevieve C Perkins Jinchao Feng Dongjing Zhang |
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Institution: | (1) College of Life and Environment Sciences, Central University for Nationalities, Beijing, 100081, China;(2) Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China;(3) College of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China |
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Abstract: | Alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus), well-known for their musk production, are endemic to western China. Due to historical unrestricted illegal hunting and
habitat loss, captive farming has been employed as a means of conserving this endangered species and developing sustainable
musk harvesting techniques. For captive animals, an understanding of behavioral characteristics is vital to improve management
practices. This study addressed a lack of information regarding the behavioral characteristics of alpine musk deer; specifically
daily activity patterns in respect to gender and reproductive season. From August 2002 to January 2003, focal sampling was
employed to observe 32 adult captive alpine musk deer (13 females and 19 males), at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF), located
at Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province, China. Results indicated that the general behavioral patterns were
similar between female and male captive alpine musk deer throughout both reproductive and non-reproductive seasons (rut and
pre-rut season). Both male and female alpine musk deer demonstrated tail-pasting behavior during rut season, a previously
male-only behavior trait. Female musk deer also rested comparatively more than males during pre-rut season. |
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Keywords: | Alpine musk deer Moschus sifanicus captive behavioral comparison sex-class reproductive season |
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