Rare 'Vampire' fanged deer spotted for the first time in 66 years
When you think of a deer, you may not think of fangs in the same sentence. However, a species of fanged deer that hasn't been seen in 66 years was recently spotted by scientists in northeastern Afghanistan, according to a Wildlife Conservation news release published Friday.
In a recent edition of the journal Onyx, researchers reported five sightings of musk deer in Afghanistan, where a population of them live, the Washington Post reported:
They saw one lone male in the same area three times, one female with a child, and one solitary female - which may have been the same deer without her young. The researchers report that the deer were difficult to spot, and couldn't be photographed.
Male musk deer's vampire-like fangs are not used to suck blood but rather during rutting season.
But it is their scent glands that have helped contribute to them being listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List - the glands selling for up to $45,000 on the black market. The musk has been used in traditional medicines and perfumes for centuries. This particular species is now endangered as a result of intense poaching and habitat loss, and the last time a scientific team spotted one was back in 1948.
"Musk deer are one of Afghanistan's living treasures," said Peter Zahler, co-author of the study and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) deputy director of Asia programs. "This rare species, along with better known wildlife such as snow leopards, are the natural heritage of this struggling nation. We hope that conditions will stabilize soon to allow WCS and local partners to better evaluate conservation needs of this species."
