Injured musk deer rescued near Tsomgo Lake after feral dog chase
An endangered Himalayan musk deer was rescued from the Tsomgo Lake area after it was found injured and surrounded by feral dogs, raising concerns about growing,
Researchers conducting routine field sampling near Tsomgo Lake in Gangtok spotted an injured endangered Himalayan Musk Deer in the lake area. The animal was reported as a sub-adult female and was noticed at around 10 am during the team’s work on a high-altitude wetland project.
The press release said the researchers saw several feral dogs barking aggressively around the distressed deer. The animal was then identified as Moschus leucogaster, a species protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Forest department rescue after feral dog presence noticed
The research team alerted the Forest Range Officer of Kyongnosla Range after noticing the situation. A forest rescue team was dispatched, and the injured musk deer was taken for treatment and further assessment.
According to the team, the incident highlights a wider conservation concern in the Tsomgo Lake area. During continued field research, the presence and activity of feral dogs has been documented repeatedly, and they say such movement appears to be increasing over time.
Artificial food access linked to growing stray dog numbers
The release states that the growth of feral dog populations has been linked to easy access to artificial food sources, including improperly managed waste. The team noted that this can help dogs survive and gradually move deeper into natural habitats near the wetland complex.
The researchers also described previous observations of feral dogs chasing or disturbing wildlife in the Tsomgo Lake complex. They mentioned incidents involving Himalayan goral, Yellow-throated marten, and Ruddy Shelducks, saying these disturbances add to the risk faced by local biodiversity. The current musk deer rescue is one example, they said, of how fast conditions can turn dangerous when feral dogs expand.
The team urged that long-term measures be planned for the area, based on systematic research and discussion with relevant stakeholders. While they said prompt rescue can protect individual animals in the short term, they stressed that a sustained response is needed to limit lasting impacts on threatened species in the Tsomgo Lake region.
