Archive · 25 Nov 2025
Musk Deer Spotted in West Bengal After 70 Years
Scientists have found pictures of a musk deer in a forest in West Bengal, India.
This is a big deal because people thought these deer had disappeared from the area for almost 70 years.
The pictures were taken by special cameras set up to watch animals, especially red pandas.
The cameras caught six pictures of the musk deer at night.
Even though the pictures aren't very clear, the scientists could tell it was a musk deer because of its long ears and other special features.
This finding is important for understanding and protecting wildlife in the eastern Himalayas.
Scientists captured photographic evidence of a musk deer in Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal.
The sighting confirms the species' presence after nearly 70 years of believed extinction in the state.
The images were taken on 17 December, 2024, during a camera-trap survey under the Pan-India Assessment and Monitoring of Endangered Species programme.
The project primarily focused on monitoring red pandas but also recorded the musk deer.
The photographs showed distinctive features like elongated hare-like ears, absence of antlers, and visible upper canines, confirming the genus Moschus.
- Who
- Scientists and researchers under the Pan-India Assessment and Monitoring of Endangered Species programme
- What
- Photographic evidence of a musk deer in Neora Valley National Park
- When
- 17 December, 2024
- Where
- Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal
- Why
- To assess and monitor endangered species, primarily focusing on the red panda
- Location
- Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal
- Date of Sighting
- 17 December, 2024
- Programme
- Pan-India Assessment and Monitoring of Endangered Species
- Species
- Musk Deer (Genus Moschus)
- Distinctive Features
- Elongated hare-like ears, absence of antlers, visible upper canines
- Publication
- Cambridge University Press India journal