By Mohammad Hanief
The Kashmir stag also called Hangul is a subspecies of Central Asian red deer endemic to Kashmir and surrounding areas. It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northern Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it is found primarily in the Dachigam National Park where it receives protection. A small population has also been witnessed in Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in south Kashmir.
Hangul (Cervus hanglu hanglu), the state animal of the of UT of Jammu and Kashmir and is one of the eastern most distributed species of red deer inhabiting the temperate coniferous forests in western Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir. Hangul is critically endangered as per IUCN RED LIST DATA and listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wild-life (Protection) Act, 1972. It was once widely distributed in the mountains of Kashmir and parts of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh.
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.
Of the present distribution range in Dachigam Landscape only viable population of Hangul occurs in Dachigam National Park and only some small groups are present in its adjoining protected areas which includes 10 conservation Reserves (CR), Tral WS and the Overa Aru Wildlife Sanctuary (WS). Within the Dachigam National Park of 141 kms also, the animals are restricting their movements mostly to lower and middle part because of various disturbances in the upper i.e., summer range of this animal. The Hangul movement and presence has been recorded in the Tral WS and Wangat CR during recent winter season.
The population of the unique Kashmiri royal stag, vernacularly known as the Hangul, is on marginal increase with the latest census showing the estimated number of this endangered species rising to 289 against 263 in 2021.
According to a report of Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir with the collaboration of 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 that involves participation of researchers, field staff, university students, NGOs and NGIs.
Till date nine such annual exercises have been carried out during March of 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 (Qureshi & Shah, 2004, Qureshi et al. 2009, Charoo et al., 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2019). 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). In the present population monitoring exercise, 55 Transects (each of average 3km) were traversed and three such repeats were done. Out of the three attempted repeats, only two repeats were considered for data analysis.
Based on the direct animal sightings, a mean population number of hangul was estimated to be 275 individuals at Dachigam National Park. Also, at Shikargarh, in Tral wildlife sanctuary, which is known to be second home for hangul, 14 individuals were recorded based on the camera trapping exercise being carried out at Conservation Breeding Centre.
Degradation 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 in lower Dachigam and poaching have contributed largely to the Hangul habitat degradation and hence decline of the Hangul during the recent past.
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 higher parasitic prevalence rate (32.26%) during summer has been attributed possibly to be influenced by cross-species parasitic infection from the livestock when the Hangul shares its habitats with livestock in both lower and upper Dachigam.
The recent scientific studies on 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.
The low fawn to female ratio and fawn survival is presumed to be attributed to stress owing to the biotic disturbance in upper Dachigam compounded with nutritional stress and fawn predation by common leopard, Asiatic black bear, jackal , red fox and stray dogs of shepherds and army installations. The predation by leopard and black bear, both of which prey principally on the young deer seems to be the worst threat for. Studies indicate that the predation on Hangul by leopard comprises 60% of biomass of leopard diet which is very high in winter and summer when the Hangul has a limited distributional range to move in Dachigam National Park.
The Scientific studies conducted by by WII and SKUAST-Kashmir have indicated a decrease in genetic heterozygosis in Hangul population over a period of time and resultant susceptibility to inbreeding depression resulting from low population size.
The sensitivity analysis indicated that there is a 25% chance of extinction in 100 years. Increasing the chance of poaching to 39% with additional winter mortality with a 5% chance of occurrence will substantially increase the extinction risk to 90%. There is as such a dire need for urgent measures to arrest the loss in heterozygosis and declining trend of the Hangul population.
The Department of wildlife protection has been carrying Hangul population estimation exercises since a long time. Several methods have been tried to monitor the population of Hangul e.g., Holloway (1971) conducted a systematic count in November 1969 and February 1970. He divided the area into six blocks, each block was scanned by a group of individuals so as to maximize the detection. Gee (1965) guesstimated population size in 1957 and 1965. Schaller (1969) estimated population during the rut and concluded that rutting period is not good for population estimation.
However, in 2004 the trail/ transect method was standardized by the Department of wildlife Protec-tion with technical support from Wildlife Institute of The low fawn to female ratio and fawn survival is presumed to be attributed to stress owing to the biotic disturbance in upper Dachigam compounded with nutritional stress and fawn predation by common leopard, Asiatic black bear, jackal, red fox and stray dogs of shepherds. The predation by leopard and black bear, both of which prey principally on the young deer seems to be the worst threat for.
Apart from population estimate exercise, an effort was made to collect the biological samples of hangul to understand the genetic diversity/population demography/health monitoring. All the samples have been stored and will be analysed accordingly.
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 ex-situ 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 ratio’s and the reasons associated.
Trees are important for the survival of the Hangul population but as is the case in so many habitats, the biodiversity and indigenous ecosystem of the region is under threat due to heedless human activities, poaching, livestock grazing, constant fragmentation, and wildlife trafficking. The careful planting of trees will help improve the habitat cover and increase the availability of browsing material for the Hangul as well as help in water catchment.
Dachigam National Park is said to be the last abode of critically-endangered Hangul which is known for its magnificent antlers with 11 to 16 points, and is the only surviving race of the Red Deer family of Europe in the sub-continent.
- The author can be mailed at [email protected], X (Twitter): @haniefmha
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