Is musk deer actually a deer? 

While venturing into the forest, you may sometimes get a strong musky smell. Don’t worry, chances are, you are probably near a musk deer! If you ever encounter this animal, pat yourself on your back because it’s extremely rare! A musk deer is a mammal belonging to the family of Moschidae.   

These rare creatures grow to be about 3 feet long and 2 feet tall, with a short tail. On an average, they weigh 11 to 18 kgs and have a dark brown fur coat. Musk deer are commonly found in Asia, China, Russia and Korea. They are creatures of mountains and are nocturnal (active at night) by nature. They are hunted for the musk from their glands, which has put them at the risk of illegal poaching. Their declining numbers have made them an endangered species in many regions of the world! But did you know that the musk deer is wrongly called a deer? 

Not actually a deer! 
Yes, you heard it right! Musk deer are not actually deer. They do not possess many physical attributes of a true deer. For example, true deer have antlers, but musk deer do not. Also, musk deer possess a set of fang-like tusks in front of their mouth, which is not present in true deer. The most obvious is the presence of a musk gland in the musk deer! This is what makes them so precious.  

Musk gland costs these animals their life 
Have you wondered why these musk glands make the musk deer so precious and sought after? The fragrance. However, the fragrance is not the only novel quality of deer musk. It is believed that it offers healing and medicinal properties for humans. It is said to help reduce swelling in humans due to its anti-inflammatory property. The musk possesses other properties too: Relieving soreness of joints, nerve problems, convulsions and headache too. While there is not enough evidence to prove these claims, these unproven claims are enough to make people hunt the musk deer. However, it’s the rare musk glands that they are mostly hunted for. Let’s see why! 

The worth of a deer musk!  
The rarity of deer musk makes it more valuable than gold! The average capacity of a musk gland is about 30g, and it contains musk grains about half of its weight. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one gram of deer musk costs about USD 45,000. Therefore, the musk glands are the most valuable part of the musk deer’s body. Just one grain of deer musk can perfume millions of cubic meters of air. The scent is more persistent and penetrating than any other substance known to humanity. Imagine getting your hands on something this valuable!   

Why is musk a manly odour? 
Do you ever wonder why a musky smell is considered a manly trait? Well, the reason is quite apparent! Musk is produced from the musk gland which is present only in male musk deer. The musk gland is present near the genital of the male musk deer and is meant to attract the female for mating.