Natural Monument—Korean Musk Deer in Mayang

Musk deer lives in the Mayang workers’ district in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province in the northern part of Korea.

This mountainous district, over 1 200 metres above sea level, is overgrown with such needle-leaf trees as larch, Abies nephrolepis and spruce, such broadleaf trees as white birch and aspen, and such lower plants as usnea, moss and mushroom. Therefore, it is a place favourable for the inhabitation of musk deer.

Male and female musk deer have no horns. The male’s long canine teeth hang down out of its lips.

The male has a musk bag around its navel, which is covered with bundles of long hairs.

The musk deer is 75 to 95 cm long and weighs 8.5 to 10 kg with a short tail of 3 to 6 cm. After mating between November and December, the female drops 1 or 2 babies between May and June the following year.

This useful animal which produces musk, a Koryo medicinal material, is under good protection as a natural monument.