back to article Oh, dear! Scientists uncover Afghan VAMPIRE DEER

Just as the kids in the US are taking to the streets for spooky fun and sugar overloads on Halloween, scientists have rediscovered a long-forgotten species of deer that might just freak you out. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said its researchers had documented a species of musk deer continues to live in remote parts …

  1. Vociferous

    "We hope that conditions will stabilize soon"

    Yeah, it's toast.

    1. Mark 85

      Re: "We hope that conditions will stabilize soon"

      Even if things politically, etc. do stabilze, at that price for it's scent gland(s), it can still be toast. Poaching knows no rules.

      1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: "We hope that conditions will stabilize soon"

        ...and splatting the story all over the press will really help keep it safe and secret.

        1. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

          Re: "We hope that conditions will stabilize soon"

          Now that this has been publicised I fully expect that the killing teams from China are already on their way to exterminate them within the year.

          One can only hope that they encounter the Taliban before they manage to kill 'Bambi'.

          1. Swarthy

            Re: "We hope that conditions will stabilize soon"

            "One can only hope that they encounter the Taliban before they manage to kill 'Bambi'."
            Would that be better Bambicula?

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What's it doing out in the day time? Shouldn't it burst into flames or something?

  3. frank ly

    I wonder if it can eat wild garlic leaves

    Just wondering.

  4. skeptical i
    Coat

    Stinky, bad dental work, worth more dead than alive ...

    ... co-workers?

    1. chivo243 Silver badge

      Re: Stinky, bad dental work, worth more dead than alive ...

      or how about distant relatives you only see at holidays

  5. Khaptain Silver badge

    Move along nothing to see

    In the UK you have had Muntjac for a long time. Muntjac(Mastreani) are a very small deer that have smalll tusks similar to the deer in the article.

    I am just getting prepared to go deer hunting this morning, Roe Deer, so I will keep a look out for any of the "Bloodthirsty Herbivores...."

    1. Vociferous

      Re: Move along nothing to see

      Actually transplanting these deer to the UK might be the best way to preserve the species. Preserving in captivity is controversial, but it does work, and has to date saved a dozen large mammal species from complete extinction. It could save these guys too.

    2. Mage Silver badge

      Re: Move along nothing to see: Muntjac

      "have had Muntjac"

      Did we eat them all?

    3. Eddy Ito

      Re: Move along nothing to see

      If I'm not mistaken there is also a small population of Chinese water deer which is very similar to the musk deer, 'fangs' and all however water deer are actual deer, cervidae, where musk deer, moschidae, are not and may be more closely related to oxen and antelope than deer.

  6. i like crisps
    Linux

    DON'T BE SO VAIN DEAR!

    Look, its actually stopped and posed for the Photographer!

    ICON: Penguins are the natural enemy of Vampire Deers

  7. Scroticus Canis
    Alert

    Photoshop or genetic mangling?

    Looks like a chupa-chihuahua-cabra head stuck on a hare's body. I know it was Halloween an' all but....

    1. Frumious Bandersnatch

      Re: Photoshop or genetic mangling?

      What, like a chupalope, you say?

      In the spirit of thinking "horse" before "giraffe", I think it's more likely to be just a regular jackalope and not some weird cross with a chupacabra. Still obviously a vampire variety, though.

  8. i like crisps

    From that self satified look on its face...

    ...i think he just ate Thumper.........bastard!

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The first thing i noticed about it as the kangaroo like hindquarters

    It is truly an odd looking beast. Hopefully someone can capture a few or at least get genetic samples for eventual cloning, because Afghanistan hasn't been stable for the past few centuries, I don't know why we'd expect anything to change soon.

    1. Paul Johnston
      Flame

      Afghanistan

      Afghanistan seems to cope quite well when other nations stay out.

      The surprise is it is still around until you consider the nature of the terrain it lives in.

    2. alwarming
      Angel

      ecause Afghanistan hasn't been stable for the past few centuries

      Usually political and economic stability has inverse co-relation with habitat preservation. (Though I do see your point that it'll be hard to run conservation projects here).

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Market question

    If they were considered extinct for 50+ years, how were the poachers able to sell the musk?

    "This stuff is so RARE no one's seen one for half a century..."

    "Sure, sign me up, I'll buy all ya got for $45,000!!"

  11. Andy The Hat Silver badge

    Why do people want to smell of deer's excretions?

    They'll be smearing whale vomit over themselves next ...

    1. alwarming
      Paris Hilton

      Why do people want to smell of deer's excretions?

      http://www.fragrantica.com/notes/Musk-4.html

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