# Utilization of Enclosure Space by Critically Endangered Musk Deer in Captivity

## TL;DR

This study shows that Alpine musk deer in captivity prefer shelters, especially in the center of enclosures, and that adults and males use them more than others.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific shelter use patterns in captive Alpine musk deer and suggests enclosure design improvements for better welfare and conservation.

## Key findings

- Captive Alpine musk deer prefer the central shelter area with the highest utilization rate.
- Adults and male musk deer use shelters more than subadults and females.
- Shelters are key resources for coping with heat and social stress in captivity.

## Abstract

Musk deer are small forest animals native to Asia that produce musk, a naturally scented substance widely used in traditional medicine and perfumes. Due to excessive hunting and habitat loss, wild populations have declined sharply, and many musk deer are now kept on breeding farms for conservation and sustainable musk collection. However, living in fenced enclosures is very different from living in the wild, and limited space may affect the animals’ health and well-being. This study focused on the Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), a mountain-dwelling species, to understand how individuals use space inside captive enclosures, especially shelters, which are covered structures that provide shade and protection. Researchers observed 70 musk deer at a breeding farm in China during summer, recording where the animals spent their time. The findings indicated that captive Alpine musk deer exhibited distinct spatial preferences across enclosure sites, with the highest utilization rate recorded for the central shelter area. Adult musk deer used shelters more than subadults, and male musk deer used shelters more than females, likely because males are more territorial with higher ranking in the social hierarchy. However, at equal population density, no significant difference was detected between all-male groups and mixed-sex groups. These findings demonstrate that shelters are essential resources for captive musk deer, serving as safe resting places that help them cope with heat and social stress. The findings suggest that breeding farms could provide more shelters in different areas of enclosures to reduce competition between animals, improve animal welfare, and ultimately support long-term conservation and sustainable musk production.

Enclosure space constitutes the fundamental habitat for captive animals, directly influencing domestication success and production performance. Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), an endangered ungulate present on the Tibet plateau and surrounding areas, has been commonly farmed in captivity as an essential strategy for the ex situ conservation and sustainable musk production. In captive musk deer farming, understanding spatial selection patterns within enclosures is critical for improving farming practices. To evaluate patterns of space use under captive conditions and the effect of enclosure designing, we studied 70 captive Alpine musk deer housed in 17 enclosures at the Zhuanglang Musk Deer Breeding Farm (Gansu, China) during the summer of 2022 (from July 1st to August 29th). Focal sampling and all-occurrence recording were adopted to collect the behavioral data of the musk deer, and the point occupancy rate was calculated to analyze the enclosure space utilization patterns. The results showed significant differences in activity site selection and shelter use time among captive musk deer (p < 0.05). The central enclosure site (G5), which contains the shelter, exhibited the highest utilization rate (21.21 ± 9.19%). Shelter use was significantly higher in adults (22.09 ± 7.80%) than in subadults (17.27 ± 3.98%) (p < 0.05), and significantly higher in males (29.55 ± 5.65%) than in females (20.86 ± 7.95%) (p < 0.05). However, at equal population density, the shelter use time between all-male and mixed-sex groups was not significant (p > 0.05). These results reveal that captive Alpine musk deer display distinct shelter use patterns, with shelters acting as key spatial resources. Therefore, this study provides practical implications for optimizing enclosure design (e.g., increasing shelter quantity and improving spatial distribution) to enhance the welfare and productivity of captive Alpine musk deer.