The Hangul or Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) is the only surviving race of the Red Deer family in the Indian sub-continent since the Shou (Cervus elaphus wallichi) of Bhutan is now considered extinct by experts. The Hangul is listed as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the international Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Dachigam is home to the last viable population of Hangul in the world.

The Hangul was once distributed widely in the mountains of Kashmir with small populations outside Jammu Kashmir in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. A population of more than 2000 Hanguls had been recorded in 1947. In recent years the Hangul population has drastically declined from its past distribution range, and reportedly a census conducted by the State Wild Life Protection Department in and around Dachigam had recorded 143 animals with only 17 males. Shockingly, by the end of the week-long survey, the number had dropped to 137 with the death of six animals. The latest survey done in March 2006 by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun put the number at 190 Hanguls.

According to Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir, Farooq Jeelani, the decline of the Hangul is due to a combination of factors including overgrazing, biotic interference, sheep rearing and drastic shift in predator-prey ratio due to a sudden increase in the leopard population inside the Dachigam park. While catch-phrases like 'habitat management','long term Hangul conservation project', 'artificial breeding centre', 'RFID tagging' are freely being used in seminars and press-releases, this noble animal is softly passing into extinction.

May you rest in peace, Noble Hangul.


Update:
Kashmiri Hangul faces extinction threat

News Links:
Kashmir stag on verge of extinction

A case for Hangul

Kashmir's Wildlife Department officials today set ablaze furs worth over 2 million dollars. In a grand symbolic gesture - to celebrate the 'World Wildlife Week' - reportedly 77 lots comprising 29 sackfuls of animal skins were set ablaze on J&K High Court orders by Wildlife authorities in presence of senior court officials and representatives of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCG), Srinagar Municipal Corporation, and Forest Department officials.

Update:
2 more truckloads of banned fur destroyed




News Links:
Truckload of banned fur destroyed

Skin of rare species found in surrendered stock

Image copyright Greater Kashmir

It is heartening to hear the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests describe birds as the best indicators of the state of biodiversity, and to realise that he is aware that national parks and sanctuaries of Jammu and Kashmir have been recognized as globally important Bird Areas .

I hope that the PCC puts his money where his mouth is and ensures that Kashmir's threatened wetlands, including a number of Ramsar sites, are aggressively protected.





Number of Migratory Birds visiting Kashmir in winter: 600000
Number of Important Bird Areas as identified by BNHS : 21


News Links:
In winter 6 lakh migratory birds visit valley

Encroachment of Haigam Wetland

Image copyright Dr. Bakshi Jehangir

The war of attrition between two ferocious groups of predators - humans and large carnivores - continues with fatal results for an unfortunate few. How long is it before the latter are wiped out from the valley in the absence of any concrete measures being taken by the concerned authorities to minimise the Man-Animal Conflict?


Read More:
Man-Animal Conflict

According to a recent news report from Greater Kashmir, thousands of birds may have perished in a freak storm that lashed the valley on the 18th of May 2007.

From the news report:

Nearly, 21,000 birds were killed by powerful winds that swept across the Valley on Friday, experts said.

'About 20,500 birds comprising mostly sparrows died during the high velocity winds on Friday in 40 villages of Beerwah Tehsil,' Sajad Nabi Parray, working with the Environmental Sciences Division of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences, told Greater Kashmir.

The birds were mostly affected in the Kanihama area where nearly 900 birds died in the storm. Besides, 105 dead sparrows were found in Narbal block. 'The death of birds was painful as strong winds tossed them on the ground. Most of them were eaten by dogs. I buried about a hundred birds to prevent outbreak of diseases,' he said. 'The main reason for heavy impact of the winds is the uncontrolled felling of trees across the Valley,' said Sajad.

When contacted, Chief Wildlife Biologist of Wildlife Department Dr Mir Mansoor said the department was unaware of the matter. 'If the reports are true then it is definitely a serious matter. We will have to first collect samples of bird carcasses and we can reach any conclusion only after postmortem,' Dr Mansoor said.

Five persons were killed and over 100 injured in the storm which swept the Valley at 80 kms per hour.



Image copyright Dr. Bakshi Jehangir