Srinagar- Even as the population of the Kashmiri stag, also called locally as Hangul, is stable, there is no considerable improvement in its population due to various concerns, the department of the Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir (DWLP) has said in a report.
Hangul is a critically endangered species as per IUCN, Red List Data, a Schedule I Species in Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
A fresh survey conducted by the wildlife department along with many NGOs, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer reads: “The species is under threat based on the vulnerability of population w.r.t population viability, population structure, dwindling population, habitat vulnerability and possibility of inbreeding. The species needs considerable immediate global attention.”
The present population monitoring exercise results show a marginal increase in population from the past estimates (2019: 237; 2021: 261; 2023: 289).
“The basic demographic ratio of male: female and female: fawn ratios are skewed. The number of Hangul which were not distinctly identified by the participants may have also accounted for the more skewed ratios,” the report adds.
Hangul was once widely distributed in the mountains of Kashmir and parts of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh in an arc 65km in width to the north and east of Jhelum and lower Chenab rivers.
During the recent past, the distribution range of Hangul appears to have been drastically reduced, possibly due to habitat fragmentation and associated factors. Some small or relic populations are also reported to be present in some areas in Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Anantnag Districts, according to the survey.
The Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir (DWLP) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and local research institutions, has been regularly monitoring the Hangul Population in the Dachigam landscape since 2004 through scientific methods.
The report says that till date nine such annual exercises have been carried out during March of 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 . The Hangul population estimates in the past were 197 (2004), 153 (2006), 127 (2008), 175 (2009), 218 (2011), 183(2015), 214(2017), 237 (2019), 261(2021).
The survey further revealed that the population of Hangul has shown a marginal increase. However, due to Habitat fragmentation and poaching, Livestock Grazing, Ecological threat, Predation etc there is no considerable increase in population numbers.
The report notes that owing to the large scale biotic interferences in Hangul’s habitat, in the form of excessive livestock grazing in its erstwhile summer habitats, grass cutting, fuel and firewood collection, human trampling owing to men and vehicles of paramilitary (CRPF) forces camped inside Park and employees of more than six other Government departments in lower Dachigam and poaching have contributed largely to the Hangul habitat degradation and hence decline of the Hangul during the recent past.
It further says that the livestock grazing in Upper Dachigam has been considered to prove harmful to Hangul in the long run. Apart from competition for food resources, chances of transmission of disease also exist as there has been confirmed evidence of transmission of John’s Disease to Hangul in Dachigam in 1978.
The report says that the recent scientific studies on the current Hangul population trend have indicated that the species could go extinct if serious management and Conservation interventions are not made immediately.
The studies indicate that besides biotic interferences, some of the major ecological issues, concerning the decline in the population and long- term conservation and survival of the Hangul are Low breeding and disturbed viability. The ideal ratios of 40-50 Male/100 female & above 60 fawn/100 female reported in Red deer populations, however in case of hangul it is significantly skewed.
It further notes that the recent sightings of Hangul based on camera trap evidence in Tral Wild- life Sanctuary is encouraging, 14 individuals were camera trapped recently. Likewise, the photographic evidence captured by the officials of Dept. of Wildlife Protection in Wangat Conservation Reserve also shows that the habitats outside Dachigam National Park can be promising to hold a contiguous population of Hangul at Landscape level.
“The upper reaches of this landscape if properly managed and made available for Hangul can have an immense positive impact on hangul in terms of increasing the number and sustaining a genetically viable population,” reads the report.
It further adds that the habitat improvement measures and Landscape level planning approach taken up by the Department in the recent past (shifting of sheep breeding farm, notification of Tral WLS) will have long term conservation benefits for Hangul and for other wildlife as well.
“However, these measures need to be augmented by the existing conservation efforts of successful captive breeding. There is still a dearth of vital information on basic ecological knowledge on this important species. Research is needed to understand the skewed demographic ratios and the reasons associated,” the report said.
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