Published by TRAFFIC Europe, Brussels,
Belgium.
© 1999 TRAFFIC Europe
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Suggested citation: Homes,V. (1999). On
the Scent: Conserving Musk Deer - the
Uses of Musk and Europe’s Role in its
Trade. TRAFFIC Europe.
ISBN 90-9012795-X
Front cover photograph: Male Siberian
Musk Deer Moschus moschiferus.
Photograph credit: H.-W. Schuldei, Leipzig
Zoo.
Printed on recycled paper.
ON THE SCENT: CONSERVING MUSK DEER - THE USES OF MUSK
AND EUROPE’S ROLE IN ITS TRADE
by Volker Homes
Young Siberian Musk Deer Moschus moschiferus
Cr
edit
:
F
rank Me
yer and Bruno Schneider
,
Leipzig Zoo
iii
CONTENTS
Contents
iii
Acknowledgements
v
Executive Summary
vi
Introduction and background
1
Methodology
2
The musk deer: biology, distribution, conservation status and protection
3
Morphology
3
Taxonomy
4
Ecology and behaviour
4
Habitat and ranging behaviour
4
Communication between animals
5
Reproduction
5
Food
5
Predators
5
Distribution and population
6
Population in the Soviet Union and Russia
8
Conservation status and protection
9
Loss of habitat as a threat
10
Hunting as a threat
10
Hunting in the Soviet Union and Russia
10
Legal protection of musk deer species
12
The musk gland and musk as a product
13
Other “musk” species in the animal and plant kingdoms
14
The global trade in musk
15
Exports of musk deer specimens
17
Imports of musk deer specimens
18
Trade in raw musk only
18
Trade in and from the Soviet Union and the CIS republics
25
Russia’s export quotas for musk
26
Trade to and from Germany, France and Switzerland
26
Information from the CITES Management Authorities in Germany, France and Switzerland 30
Information from musk re-exporting companies in Germany and Switzerland
31
Summary of trade data in raw musk
32
iv
The illegal trade in Europe (including Russia)
32
Russia
32
Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, UK and the Netherlands
32
Prices for musk
33
The uses of musk
34
Use in the perfume and aromatic substance industry
34
Musk fragrance: historical use
34
Musk in the present-day perfume industry of Europe
35
Information from perfume manufacturers in Germany, France and Switzerland
36
Information from European, German and French associations of perfume-manufacturers
37
Musk use in perfumeries outside Europe
38
Use of musk in homeopathy
38
Use of musk in traditional East Asian medicine
40
Synthetic musk
40
Musk deer farming and management of musk deer in zoos
41
Musk deer farming
41
Capturing musk deer and extracting musk from live animals
42
Musk deer in European zoos
42
Conclusions
43
Recommendations
46
Glossary
51
References
51
Footnotes
55
Appendices of trade data
56
