In light of the current global extinction crisis, understanding how and where drivers of population decline will take effect has never been more important. Climate change is expected to be a major driver of species extinctions in the 21st century. Average changes in greenhouse gas concentrations are expected to produce directional changes in climatic conditions, and increase the level of inter-annual variability in these conditions. Droughts are a significant component of such climatic variability, and can have a devastating impact on animal populations.

Out of seven species of Musk deer found in Asia, five are present in India. One of these species, the Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), is found in Uttrakhand Himalayas, is endangered (IUCN 2011) and listed in Appendix I of CITES. This species is also listed in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The species has been exploited for its „Musk‟ for centuries and due to large scale poaching and extensive habitat destruction, it is restricted to a few isolated pockets in the Himalayas.

Here the researchers present an observation on the rutting behaviour of the nationally threatened population of Red Deer in Kashmir, Cervus elaphus hanglu, commonly known as Hangul, in the Dachigam National Park (DNP).

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